Excruciating vaginal pains during menstrual cycle (endometriosis)
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Hi all, just a quick brief run down of my history. I am a 29 year old female and was diagnosed with stage 2 endometriosis several years ago. Unable to take the pill as a severe migrane sufferer. I have had 1 child age 9!
my cycles are pretty regular. Very very heavy and clot like, average 4-5 day cycle. For the 1st 3 days I experience the most horrendous pains/cramps. I apologise in advance if this is all a little too much info but without being as honest as possible, I won't know of anyone experiences the same. I have all the normal symptoms that come with a normal period. Apart from them being extremely heavy and clot like I'd say they are pretty much regular at an average 26-28 day cycle. Myself and my partner have been trying for a baby for 3 years. Sadly we are having no luck. I know that endometriosis can cause fertility problems but along with just 10 days ago having had my gallbladder removed I feel silly for taking a trip to the drs again but for something different this time. I don't want to seem like a hypochondriac. Anyway, sorry for waffling, getting to the point as to why I am posting. I can safely say that the last 7-10 periods I've had, I have had the most unbearable vaginal pain and discomfort. I use tampons but am starting to find them very painful when wearing them. Basically, the cervix and vagina wall is so painful and tender it literally feels like I'm expanding down there. It hurts to sit at time, pain relief never completely takes the pain away, it effects my day to day duties etc. I also struggle to open my bowels which again is so painful and uncomfortable. I am wondering if I have maybe got a case of an endometriosis flare up? This is more severe and a little different from when I was 1st diagnosed so I'm unsure. I have recently had a colonoscopy done in October 2016 from bleeding g problems and also read somewhere that bleeding from that end can be a symptom of endometriosis. That came back with no problems so I know there's nothing serious going on that side of things. I've been laid up all day struggling to move because the pain I am experiences is literally driving me to tears!! Can someone please help or any advice would be so greatly appreciated. I am on day 2 of my cycle which seems like it's dragging but I can no longer cope with this pain!!! 10 days post op of a cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) still also having niggling pains from that which doesn't help matters! I am so sorry for the long winded post but the more thorough I am the less I'm hoping people may need to ask. Thank you for reading
Sonia xx
0 likes, 2 replies
aitarg35939 sonia1988
Posted
Hi Sonia:
First things first: one is only a hypochondriac if one isn't actually unwell, if one merely makes up symptoms. That isn't you. You were diagnosed several years ago, presumably via laparoscopy since you were given a stage #. You needn't apologize to the medical profession (though they owe ALL of us a big one for not trying harder to help us & for so often making endo sufferers feel as if they were hypochondriacs). Don't worry about details, we're very open & Frank in this forum.
I have never heard of an endometriosis "flare," but I know that the only time that endo takes a rest is when we force it to do so. Perhaps the term is now applied.
Yes, endo can present via diarrhea and/or passing blood rectally. That's how mine really announced itself both times as something more than very painful, heavy periods. This can also be the announcement of some other serious diseases so it's important that you see someone. Be sure to tell them about all these new & worsened symptoms, and be prepared because they may be upset that you didn't come in sooner.
As to continuing pain after your gallbladder surgery, what does that doctor/surgeon say? Have you spoken to the nurse? I cannot recall whether I had continued pain after that surgery, just that it was a long time before I could eat raw onions again ;-)
You may well need another laparoscopy, but only your doc can decide that. Good luck
sonia1988 aitarg35939
Posted
Hi there,
Yes I was diagnosed by laporoscopy not long after I'd had my son. Around a year after. It was treated there and then! That along with grumbling appendix. I have always suffered with heavy periods and also painful but as I said the last so many cycles the pains have been very much worse and slightly different. When I say flare up, I mean that the endometriosis may have come back back. I'm just struggling to cope with the pains that come with the periods!