Well I had a terrible experience with periods as a teenager but always assumed that was normal. Terrible clots of brown (sorry TMI) and an unstoppable flow but always took it as normal. Through my teens I had crippling head aches and toilet trouble with painful BMs and persistent UTIs. There was no pill that suited me and I'd always have breakthrough bleeds. Never did I once connect the dots that when it was period time, I would be in so much pain trying to go to the toilet.

Anyway years went by without it really troubling me except the headaches. Until after my second child....ever since then periods are just awful. I've had a pain under my right rib for over a year which doctors told me is not real; my stomach is permanently sore, my right leg hurts, back ache, tingly shoulder, painful to the point of passing out BM's, blood in my back passage, vomiting, exhausted, can’t seem to go for a wee without that pain that's there once my bladder has "deflated". I went to the docs so many times and there's only so much Gaviscon I can take from them LOL.

Until one day I saw a more forward thinking doctor who immediately thought endo and referred me to a Gynae. Went along for my scan and internal which was excruciating as always and she detected a chocolate cyst of about 3.5cm across on my right ovary and some "suspect" patches and a uterine bruise that needs to be removed. They are also going to insert the coil while I’m under. The rest I suppose will be discovered once they are in there.

I'm just panicky now because I don't know what to expect. My stomach hurts all the time now and the left side feels full and uncomfortable and going to the bathroom is just awful. My op is in August so will write again with an update.

Update September 2012
So I had my op/lap 2 weeks ago and I feel no different. Although I can still put this down to the op itself. My surgeon confirmed endo and said she "buzzed" it off where she could see it anyway and that it was not as aggressive as we thought and said it was quite mild. She also removed a cyst from my right ovary, performed uterine diathermy and put the coil in.

At this time I am struggling with going to the loo both ways (sorry TMI) and once my bladder is full I am getting the same old cramp pains I had before not to mention the same coccyx pain I had before I went in. My doctor also told me I had a "suspect" area in my groin so they have taken a biopsy for safe measure. I do hope this turns out to be a success I really do. I remain hopeful that this pain I am feeling is down to the op.

Update September 2012 #2
So I am now a month post op nearly and supposed to be "on" in about 3 days. The tingly sensation is in my shoulder again and just like before my lap, going to the toilet is as excruciating as always has been this close to my period. Shooting pains across my abdomen and also back passage. My coccyx pain seems to have gotten MUCH worse and my Dr. now has put me on Naproxen. I am so tired all of the time and ratty like always. I really feel like my symptoms are the same and with reference of going to the toilet, no better!

I am due to see my consultant on Monday next week to have all my results delivered and I have a feeling they’ll say "oh we got it all" and I’ll say "but I am still in pain" and it’ll be a start-from-scratch situation.

Can anyone shed any light on their experiences post op? And could anyone help with what I am supposed to do when consistently I feel like I am being patted on the head and given more pain killers!

Update February 2013
So I thought I would provide a little update, it has been a while....

Where do I begin, ok, well I had my op in august and during that I had the coil inserted. This did bring lighter periods but not pain relief. So every month I still had the usual "toilet troubles" pain etc. My consultant then put me on Prostap which just made me hot and I still had periods throughout my treatment. When I went back for my 3 month review, my doctor told me that I also had Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. Basically, varicose veins over my ovary. This amongst the rest of my flippin ailments has put a bit more pressure on the whole situation. Sometimes the pain in my right leg makes me fall back down, not to mention the general endo pain. Consultant has now said (during an emergency appointment for crippling pains) that the only option now is to remove my right ovary and perform a uterine ablation. At this stage I am willing to try anything!

With regards to the IUD (Mirena), well this started off being a great idea, less "flow" shorter time. Until my little emergency visit to the consultant where it was discovered that the strings have gone missing. I was then referred for a scan where I was told everything was in place and that they will probably not do anything about it until my op in April. I thought I could be on board with this and wait it out but as of last weds I have been experiencing episodes of extreme cramps that are borderline mini contractions. They keep me awake at night sometimes they are so bad. I intend to call up my doctors tomorrow in the hope they can help me. I just cannot carry on with this I really can’t, it’s ruining my life! I have had 2 kidney infections and countless UTI's in the last 4 months and I really am at my wits end! Sorry to be so neggy about it all but I am totally fed up.

Update April 2013
So the latest update as follows.....

I am 8 days post op. ovary removal, uterine ablation and left tube sterilisation. I am sore still, but I guess this is all down to the work I have had done. Won't know the results for another few weeks with regards to biopsies but my dr did confirm that along with PCS surrounding my right ovary, the endo had come back quite significantly. I only had my last lap in August so goes to sho how quickly it can come back!

Currently I am having a roller coaster ride, happy one day and extremely sad the next. I'm sure all will settle down once my hormones sort themselves out.

I have made a pact with myself now that I have had the op that what ever happens next with this endo, I'll just live with it. I'm fed up of feeling poorly. My husband has been more than supportive and thankfully we have 2 wonderful babies. So I can and do count my blessings.

Will update further once I have seen the benefits.