The Hidden Dangers of Endometriosis
Posted: Friday, July 20, 2007
by Lisa Petrarca
http://bowlofinspiration.blogspot.com/
I suffered for years from endometriosis and it almost cost me my life! Endometriosis is a silent, often undetectable problem for many women. I had been suffering from severe lower abdominal pain for a year. It became so bad that I started getting a fever and having trouble going to the bathroom. I went to the doctor who passed it off as some type of flu. He prescribed pain medication and told me it would pass. My stomach started to become severely bloated. When I went back to the doctor, he made me feel as though it was all in my head.
They took me up for surgery. After opening me up, they found that endometriosis had gotten outside of my uterus and wrapped itself around my intestines, thus creating a blockage. Two surgeons worked on me, one cutting away the endometriosis in hopes of saving that area of my intestines, the other performing a complete hysterectomy at the age of 34. The worst part was that had I not made it to the emergency room that night, I would have died due to the toxins that were backed up in my body for a month.
I cannot stress the importance of listening to your body. If the doctors are unable to find anything, then ask them to look for endometriosis. I had little knowledge of the damage that endometriosis could cause to my health. I trusted my doctors to “see the signs". I hope that my experience will help bring attention to the life threatening dangers of this hidden problem.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Thank you so much for this information. I've been suffering with endometriosis for 10 years now. IKm currently experiencing lower pelvic pain and painful intercourse. Also trouble using the bathroom. I wonder if I'm heading towards blockage too... I had a cat-scan nothing came up i wonder if maybe it was missed.Ellie,
I was in the hospital going through all the tests, which came up inconclusive. At one point they were going to just release me, fortunately I had a doctor who chose to open me up based on my severe symptoms.
I can't stress enough the importance of listening to your body. If something comes up negative, demand more tests and don't stop until you get the help you need. Even if you can get them to do a laporoscopy to go after your endometriosis, they might find more once they're inside.
I am not a health care professional, just someone who knew more about MYSELF and my body than they did. Please, do not stop seeking help until someone gives it to you!i am a 30 yr old who had surgery on my left ovary a yr and a half ago to remove my endometriosis. they shut down my ovaries for 9 months with the lupron shot. i have been having my menstrual cycle for 8 months now and have been having severe abdominal pains over the past 4 days. i went to the emergency room yesterday to find that i have a large mass the size of a grapefruit connecting to both ovaries and who knows to what else. i saw my obgyn today and he suggested either a complete hysterectomy or another laproscopy. my question is if i just have the lapro. to remove the endometriosis, will it just return again? or should i go ahead with the hysterectomy and not have to worry about this anymore?sincerely,aliciaAlicia,
I'm sorry you are going through so much right now. First let me start by saying that I am not a medical professional and you should be sure to discuss all your options with professional(s) (more than 1 doctor).
My (non-professional) advice on the matter...I know that Endometriosis always comes back and that having children helps it go away for a while (most women have it). Because you are still so young you need to be 100% sure (no question at all) that you no longer want children. A complete hysterectomy is very drastic for a young person.
You need to way the pros and cons of both decisions and after speaking with professionals, make an educated, and logical choice regarding this VERY permanent decision.
Personally, I had three children already and knew I didn't want anymore. The severity of my case made it a very easy choice for me, which I still do not regret to this day (8 yrs. later).
Everyone's situation is so unique and Endometriosis can be a very mysterious, hidden illness. I'm sure you will make the right decision for YOU!thank you so much for your response. my mind is going in a hundred different directions right now! I have never been the type of person who is like "i cant wait to have kids and have the feeling of a baby growing inside of me" so maybe God has his mysterious ways of working for me. Maybe my mindset was never really there to birth a child of my own, so He wouldnt let me be disappointed in the long run. My parents told me to worry about my health first and children can come later. There are other options out there for you and having a family.My question is, can endometriosis be life threatening? And if i do decide to go through with the total hysterectomy, what are some of the things you are having to deal with? Is there alot of meds? Any side effects? Im a runner/marathoner and its what i love to do. Will this prevent me from that in the future? My biggest fear is a weight gain also. I want my life back and the mood swings to go away! I am a highschool teacher/softball coach and my kids deserve me being nice :)thanks again for your time!In my case it was life threatening, however this is VERY uncommon. There are several websites to give you detailed information ie. Web MD. Please be sure to research all of your personal options for your symptoms.With my history of cysts and several laporascopy's (one which actually grew so large it completely smashed and killed one of my ovaries) and with endometriosis wrapping around my intestines creating the blockage, the hysterectomy was the BEST thing I ever did. However, most women can get relief through the laporascopic surgery.They tried the patch on me at first, however this would start to come off and I wasn't receiving the full dose I needed. I had hot flashes and mood swings. I personally would not recommend the patch.I currently take one hormone pill everyday and that's it! Because of the complete hysterectomy, the study that they did regarding breast cancer caused by hormones was only done on women going through menopause who still had their ovaries, so I was not afraid. It was the best thing I ever did, no more pain, no more cysts, no more mood swings and terrible periods. I felt like ME AGAIN!As far as activities...nothing has changed. We are a big sports family, I coached Little League, track and worked out my kids for football season. I've never had any problems. I NEVER have the pain!!Hope this helps.I am not a health care professional. I am 43 and still going through endometriosis since I was 30. I had my daughter when I was 31 and a hysterectomy at age 32. I've had scarred tissue that built up and caused a lot of pain also. The endometriosis returned when I was 35 and it was wrapped around my bowel, they told me I had a cyst but wasn't big enough to come out. the surgeries weren't over, I suffered many times for months, not being able to walk long or drive my car cause it would bring the pain on. My last surgery was a hernia behind my belly button, scarred tissue all over along with endometriosis around my right ovaries and cyst, around my bowel and intestines, and pancreas. It's already back again, this time my ovaries are being removed and because I had endometriosis so many times around my bowel, I am 99% sure that it is back there again...I can feel the smae things going on. Listen to your body women, make the doctors hear what you want done, they can't turn you down if you make a request after they tried their diagnosis that wasn't right.
I have a question for anyone who had the hysterectomy. I have endometriosis also. Lots of pain in lower left side for over 2 years and many specialist later, was told that needed total hysterectomy but never did a laproscopy which is how I read is the only way is diagnosed. Also stomach very distended and hard, is that a normal problem with endo and will that go away after hysterectomy? Any experience with these symptoms would be very helpful...I am so confused and worried that I will feel different after the surgery and dont know why they cant do the lap first and see if endo can be somewhat removed to help with pain and hys as a last resort? Thankyou for your input!!!Hi. I totally feel your pain. I have been to SO many doctors and all they want to do is switch my birth control pill. Now, like last night... I started my period yesterday, which just so happened to be late, and I'm not pregnant. I ran a fever of almost 103. Noticed that my stomach/abdominal area has been consistantly swollen now for the last few months. It never really goes down. But you were asking if you should get the laparoscopy first? YES! First of all, it's a bit less expensive! Secondly, it makes sense. I'm just going to continue looking for another doctor....who can sympathize. Hopefully I won't have a horror story in the end. Best of luck, but definitely get a few more opinions.Hi, I am 34 years old. About 8 years ago, I had a lapo and since then I have had two children. all of a sudden my stomache (where the belly button is has gotten big. It looks like I am about 3 months pregnate. I have endometriosis and I stop using the birth control pills two years ago. The doctor does not want to do a lapo even though I keep requesting for one. I have pay co pay after co pay with complaints of pain andsuffering. The doctor put me on birthcontrol. But I am wondering will this help my stomache go down. I have seen many doctors with complaints and they tell me to exercise and eat right. I am doing that but the area where my belly button is which I believe is the small intestine area will not go down. My waist however is very small. Could someone tell my what could help get rid of this.Hi girls! I have had a severe battle with endo, between the ages of 24-27 I ended up having 20 surgery's and almost lost my life multiple times. I can not stress enough to PLEASE do not agree to a hysterectomy so fast, especially if you have never had a surgery to confirm you have endo. A hysterectomy does NOT and will NOT "cure" you, my hysty was the biggest mistake of my life and has let to nothing but more serious side affects plus my endo is not gone, it's spread through out my whole body. Please do your research before taking that leap.
Lisa,How sad that you had to go through all of that suffering. But... that which Satan meant for harm God meant for good. As of my comments your article has been read by 738 people. I have a feeling that you have touched the lives of many others and maybe even helped to save a life.Blessings,Mark
Thank you for sharing your story- it put me in tears to read what you went through. I am not officially diagnosed with endometriosis, but I have many of the symptoms, and your story was a wake-up call that I do need to be careful.
I am not a health care professional, but I have suffered through endometriosis also. I'm going on my 10th surgery, this time I will be having my ovaries removed which will lesson the endometriosis to 30%. I have a cyst on my right ovary, when they removed it in November gone by, in January it was already growing back along with the endometriosis wrapped around my bowel for the 3rd time. Your body knows your pain and always listen to it in the early stages.
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