[jazzya]

Hi, I have been seeing doctors for 9 months now. Including family practice, GI specialist, and Gyno. I have been diagnosed with IBS which I do not believe. For the past year I have had constant stomach pain.. swelling in my abdomen... heavy bleeding with clots as big as a baseball.. always nauseous... have troubles going to the bathroom... spinal pain and pressure that is so severe it is almost paralyzing... constant headaches and migraines... leg pain... excessive crampy gas pains. You name it I have it.
I recently transferred to a doctor outside of my hometown. After one appointment.. he wants to do a laporascopy. He said he is 99% certain it is endometriosis. My surgery is in two weeks. Do you think this is what it is? What other conditions are possible? I feel like my dr is holding something back... would you suspect it is something more serious?

[cpalmist]

Have a woman friend that had endometriosis - could always tell when her period was as she would be hitting Myer's run & OJ HARD! 'With enough rum, Chuck, nothing hurts.' So she had it bad.
Deal is that endometriosis usually runs with the menstrual cycle or seems to do that.
The symptoms you are describing are pretty far out there and the fact that he wants to do a laproscopy is pretty danged significant as that is serious surgery. Have you thought of getting a second opinion from an endocrinologist or another OB-GYN outside of your town as well. Yes, it does sound like you've got some major stuff going on and I'd be ready to try about anything to get rid of what you've been going through - I'd like to hear that you got a second opinion before doing anything as drastic as what you're booked in to do. It's okay to cancel surgeries and its okay to ask for more time to get a second - its your body, your money and your life - its up to you to manage all three as no one else has such a vested interest as you do!
Oh, my woman friend - went for hormonal treatment, lost a lot of her boobs and butt for a while (she still looked Gooood!) but got rid of the endometriosis and looks Great today!

[J_9]

It is very possible that you do have endometriosis. These are some of the significant symptoms.

Now, I do agree that you should get a second opinion prior to the surgery. However, please do not let the post above scare you. While any surgery is considered serious, laprascopic surgery is actually much less invasive and is the best option.

[KISS]

My barber had it and she basically had to stay pregnant to make it go away. She eventually had a hysterectomy. A girl at work had it and so did a close friend. The close friend had a hysterectomy as well.

[LearningAsIGo]

I agree with J_9. Have a second opinion, but do not fear the laproscopy- its miniamally invasive and very common.

I don't want to scare you, but ask your doctor about ovarian cancer. Have you had any ultrasounds (pelvic or trans-vaginal)? A "CA-125" blood test would be preformed if they think this is a possibility. Don't worry yourself though, its not common, but the symptoms can be similar to what you're describing so it might be worth mentioning.

Endometriosis does sound very likely as well.

Good luck... I hope everything works out!

[R]

This is a v late reply, but I have had it and laparoscopy tells you for certain whether you have it, it also tells you whether you have a cyst, the accumulation of blood into a small ball. I have had endometriosis, turned into a cyst, got cyst removed and now, no more pains for last 2 to 3 years. And since then well there are the often stab of pain, and sometimes endometriosis does come back but its not as bad as it use to be. Too scared to go back to doctor to find out whether I have endome again. But laparoscopy is nothing to be worried about, abviously all surgeries have risk but this one simply invovles taking out anything that is there, through a small needle. Hope that helps, if you need more help ask again. And don't know why I'm replying to this even though the question was two years ago.r