Endometriosis Question...

Grace682

Hello Everyone! I'd first like to say I've been sent here after posting on other boards with very little luck. So here I am and here's my story in...Long story short, I've been in & out of the hospital since the beginning of February with severe abdominal pain. I've I had so many tests done & was finally sent to my OBGYN whom I've been seeing since I was 16 and with out even checking me she reads the reports and files from the hospital stays and drops the bomb. I have endometriosis. I'm also told there is a chance I may never have children. She wants to give me a shot that will put me through a menopause state for a whole year. I must be honest I'm going through all these emotions and the thought of never having children is heartbreaking. I adore children. So I feel I should go and have a 2nd opinion. Am I wrong? I don'r know anyone who has this nor have I ever heard of it. I surely hope someone can give me some insight on this. Side note, I've never had children & in June I'll be 30 years old. I feel like the life has been sucked out of me.

If you've had this or are going through it please share your thoughts and what the healing time is if any.

Feeling very hopeless...

BunnyintheYard

Hi there -

I'm sorry you are going through this.  Did your doctor give you a laparoscopy to remove the endometriosis?  How does she know you have it?  I have endometriosis and have had 2 surgeries to remove it (they are short, outpatient surgeries).  While it can cause infertility and other painful ailments, I think a lot of women with endo are able to conceive either on their own after the surgeries remove the endo, or with the help of a reproductive specialist.  

The thing about the "medicated menopause" is that from what I understand, when you are not cycling, your endometriosis is not growing.  So perhaps that is her reasoning for wanting to try that shot (lupron maybe??).  But I would definitely get a second opinion.  Definitely.

 Hope all goes well for you. 

mobiz

i would totally get another opinion.  i have severe endo, and after years and years of major pain (i was on the pill starting at 15 because of the pain--they suspected endo and if that was the case the pill would keep it from growing and actually help preserve my fertility).  Then i went off the pill around age 28 hoping to conceive, and the pain was so bad they decided to finally do laproscopic surgery --the only way they can actually confirm you have endo.  They did find it, and then removed everything they could.   I was able to TTC on my own for awhile, but at the risk of the endo growing back they wanted to be aggressive. So my son was conceived via IVF when i was 30.  Then after i had him, they said breastfeeding would suppress my endo as well, then back on the pill til i was ready to TTC #2.   I then used a frozen embryo to get pregnant this time (i'm 33) and it worked the first time.

Endo is not an infertility diagnosis (usually).  Make sure your doc checks you out completely and does a laproscopic to see what they can remove.  My doc said tons of people get pregnant on their own after the surgery--your best shot is in the first few months after you've been 'cleaned out'.  But my doc also said he has a patient who has endo, did IVF for her first child, then has also conceived naturally 3 more times since.  the best things for keeping endo from growing are being pregnant, breastfeeding, or on the pill.

keep your thoughts positive and get more info....i am a living example of having two healthy pregnancies after years and years of dealing with endo best of luck!!!

MayM

i don't typically post on this board, but i was a part of the tttc board. please excuse the lack of capitalization and formatting. my phone is being finicky. i suggest you take a step back and find a gyn who has lots of experiance with endo.  i had a large mass found during a routine exam. surgery found that i had severe endo. even though i had  been continuously on the pill without periods. i remember my feeling the same as you do now. after the surgery i did 7 months of lupron because there were too many growths for everything to be removed. a few years later i had one more surgery. a year after that i got pregnant on my own. find a dr. who knows what they are doing and then take it one step at a time. 

Dochas

A laparoscopy is the only way to know for sure that you have endometriosis.  So I would definitely go to another doctor.

Grace682

Thank you so much ladies. She never even considered laparoscopy. She just looked at paperwork from the doctors at the hospital. I think it's a bit extreme to go right to "a shot". Not to mention I'd like to start having a baby once I find the right man to do that. LOL. So I have a meeting with a new OBGYN next Monday. Let's see where this goes. Say a prayer...

iluvadam

I have tried every endometriosis treatment there is.  I was diagnosed when I was very young.  I second what PP said about a lap.  I would NEVER consent to a long lupron treatment without a proper diagnosis.  And as she stated, the only way to truly diagnose endo is through a laproscopic procedure. 

I would also like to add that I a diagnosis of endometriosis does not mean that you cannot have children.  There are so many women on here that have successfully conceived with endo.  I have three beautiful children myself. 

Go get a second opinion and don't get too worked up yet.  Let's see what the next doc says.  Hang in there girl!