My girlfriend is suffering from symptoms similar to Endometriosis.

It definitely sounds like it could very well be endometriosis. I experienced the same thing. It gradually started getting worse over time for me as well. I've always had HORRIBLE periods since I started having them. I thought it was normal for them to be insanely miserable. I had blood in my urine since the beginning of February that put me on the wrong tract and pointless surgeries with a urologist. I went to my gynecologist as a last ditch effort to see if they could figure it out.

Endometriosis and interstitial cystitis are called the "evil twins" because they both have such similar symptoms. I was first diagnosed with IC but a cystoscopy came to the conclusion that I did not in fact have it. My very first visit with my gynecologist to tell them what I was experiencing and they immediately booked me to have an ultrasound done. I read a lot about how they will try to put you on birth control first to see if it will manage the pain. But thankfully they skipped right over that. At the ultrasound he said because of my age, 24, he said it would be uncommon for me to have endometriosis because I would've came in sooner with complaints. I have a very high pain tolerance since I also have a horrible history with kidney stones. He said it could also be scar tissue because I've had a c section.

He ended up scheduling me for a laparoscopy - the only way to diagnose. It will not show up on an ct scans, ultrasounds, etc. I have the surgery done and sure enough, I had stage 4 severe endometriosis that was causing all of my organs on my left side to stick together. It was excruciating pain I had dealt with for months. My periods however would be heavy then some would be so light I thought it was a joke. At my follow up, he told me he believes I've had endometriosis for at least a decade.

There is no cure for endometriosis. In some cases, not even a complete hysterectomy will cure it. If she gets diagnosed, it's all about quality of life and managing pain. Push for a laparoscopy. They will clear up whatever endometriosis they find, if she has it. Then it's a matter of keeping it at bay. I'm currently about to try a plan to manage mine. They've suggested lupron... read up on that... or birth control to keep me from having periods all together.

If she drinks caffeine, cutting back might help. Greasy foods and caffeine really triggered painful symptoms for me. Hopefully it will help a little bit until she can get answers.

Best of luck to the both of you... I hope she gets it figured out soon and gets the pain managed.

If it helps... the depression and lack of energy are big side effects of endometriosis. I know a few girls personally who suffer from the same things because of the endo. It's so painful that it literally drains your body. For months I would go through hell just to get through my work day then go home.. change into pj's and lay in bed until I fell asleep. I never wanted to go anywhere. Not knowing what was wrong with me at the time put me down even more as well.

Oh Tashakawii!

If you pray, pray she doesn't have endometriosis. If you visualize, find diagrams of healthy uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries, then visualize those into your girlfriend.

We do live with endo, and the drugs and "procedures" and surgeries that go with it, but how well we are able to live with it seems to be a crap shoot because care is so variable and there's so little predictability from one of us to the next. We all suffer.

You must hope it isn't endo because getting doctors to pay attention and do anything is brutally difficult. If your girlfriend has anxiety about leaving the house now, 999 out of 1000 docs she'll see about this will only make her less inclined to leave home.

My suggestion is that you first help her find a psychologist or psychiatrist who helps her feel better, and meanwhile document her pain and symptoms. Get her involved in keeping a calendar. No matter what's wrong, that calendar is going to help with the docs.

You are both in my prayers.

Hi tashakawaii I am new to the site aswell after being diagnosed a few months ago. I also started with cramps and pains running down my legs. I had various scans and blood tests for female cancers etc and even STIs!! before they sent me to a specialist. The endometriosis can only be diagnosed from a laporoscopy so she would have to have the operation. My diagnosis was endo all over my pelvis which explained the pains in  my legs. Ensure you push to see a specialist as as soon as I explained my symptons the doctor knew immediately that was the likely cause, I had also been chatting to a friends bf the week before who works in that field and his opinion was endo. My GP never even mentioned it as a possibility they went straight to cancers etc.

Reference her anxierty and depression I also had issues a few years (could be related I dont know). I was recommended to see a family planning specialist rather than my GP who changed my contraceptive pill and this changed my life! May not be hormone related for your gf but may be worth a try as you dont even need an appointment you can walk in to clinics locally and are not waiting for a consultant appointment.

Good luck she is lucky to have such a thoughtful and supportive bf to help her through this x