Hard to know where to begin really.... I’ve always suffered with heaving periods to the point where I would be off of school whenever I was on. I could easily bleed for three weeks, stop for a day and start again for another three weeks. The pain I would get every time was awful and I would experience other 'side-effects' whenever I was on.

At 16 I went onto the pill which was really good for the pain and bleeding but each pill I tried would have adverse effects elsewhere; mood swings, bloating, massive outbreaks of spots. Each month I was still eating Feminax and other painkillers like they were pick-n-mix!

At 19 I started the Depo Provera injections, which were an absolute god-send for about two years.... I'd not had a period since starting the injections but at 21 I started having some light spotting. This then got worse and I started bleeding which continued for four weeks. When I went to the doctor (which coincided with my next injection being due) I was not allowed to continue on the injection and was sent for an ultrasound scan. As my mum had had endo, my doctor suggested that this was a concern. The scan didn't show anything substantial but I was told I have "endometrial echoes" meaning that there some signs but they could disappear on their own accord or they could develop.

I was put back onto the pill which I stayed on for three years. The pain each month was just as bad as before I had had the injections, if not worse. The pain and other side-effects used to be so bad I had to make sure that I came on on a Saturday (being on the pill I worked out my dates) so that it did not stop me having time off university or work. It did however mean that I would spend one weekend every month in bed eating painkillers!

When I was about 22 I started having bleeding during and after sex. When I went to the GP he saw that I had cervical ectropion, for which I had an Ablation. Over the past few years I had also started having problems with my bowels. I was never particular 'regular' but I would go for a week without being able to go to the toilet and then get awful stomach cramps and hot flushes followed by a few hours of sickness and diarrhoea. :-( I was also finding that if I did not eat at regular times, for example if I was going out for dinner with friends, therefore not eating until 8 o'clock, I was getting the same problems with my bowels.

In June this year I went to my GP as I was beginning to feel like my periods and bowel problems were hugely impacting my life. It stopped me going out, seeing friends, or just doing anything. My GP referred me to a consultant with the intention of requesting a Laparoscopy to see the extent of the problem. The Laparoscopy should that I had extensive tissue around my organs, particularly my bowel. This was removed during the procedure. I also had another Ablation on my cervix. At the same time as my op I had a Mirena IUS fitted.

I went back to see my consultant earlier this month (September) as I was getting a lot of pain in my stomach, legs, back and pelvis. I was also getting stabbing pains through my vagina. The pictures taken in my Laparoscopy showed I have endometrial scarring on my pelvis (both sides). I am now waiting to start injection every four weeks, a 'pseudo menopause' treatment. In all honestly I’m not really all that keen but I don’t see what else I can do and I cannot carry on with the pain I am having.

This site has been wonderful for me, just seeing that there are other people out there that understand how it feels. It’s so hard to explain how it feels. I’m sure people are sick of me having 'pains.' And there are so many that think it’s just a painful period, and that you must be exaggerating, or lying.

Update October 2009

Been having Prostap for a month now, the first few weeks were awful! So much pain, just wondered whether it was actually worth it.

After that I had a period (first one since June!) which was as I expected, horrible and painful. I just felt bloated and sluggish, and generally exhausted all day, then I spent the evenings and nights laid out on the sofa.

After that though, it seemed to be working. Had a week with very little pain, sleeping better, felt much better in myself.

Saw my consultant again. Seems the endo was a lot more wide spread and aggressive than I ever imagined it was.

I'm looking at more surgery in the next six months. I now just feel so sad, no other way to explain it. Just sad! I suppose that although I knew it was happening, and I knew the situation, I kidded myself into thinking it wasn’t so bad, or would improve. Going to be staying on Prostap for another two injection cycles (three monthly injection) then I will look at surgery. I knew it could happen, and does happen, but never thought it would happen to me.

I feel like I’m coming to terms with it all over again!

Update January 2010

I had another op on Saturday; after having a four month course of Prostap, which helped my pain initially, my consultant was expecting that it hadn’t spread too much further and he was going to have a "tidy up" as it were. That's not quite what happened:

• I had a cystoscopy and uterine stenting so my bladder could be cleared, then a catheter fitted.
• Had the endo removed from my pelvis, as expected.
• Had a dye test through my fallopian tubes- good news.... they're clear!
• Then had a dye test through my fallopian tubes.... Good news- they're clear!!
• Then he found that I had extensive endo in my Pouch of Douglas which had also adhered to my back wall and bowel.

In my last lap (seven months ago) I had no endo here at all. The consultant was shocked that it had spread even though I had had hormone treatment, and it had spread so excessively! I ended up having four very large incisions to have all this endo removed. I am now in a lot of pain and barely able to move! It will get easier I know, just such a setback that even after going through a pseudo menopause treatment- its worse than it was before.

I am back to see the consultant in ten days time. I am now also off all hormone treatments, consultant wants to see how my body reacts now.

Update June 2010

Just a little update...... Had a follow up appointment in middle of May as I'd had a three month treatment break following surgery in January. Consultant basically gave me no further options with treatment etc... even though I'm still in pain and have recently collapsed (again) through pain. Was told to have children within a year then implied the only option was to have a Hysterectomy.

After a few days of freaking out completely I thought a bit more realistically. I went to get a second opinion...... So I saw another consultant this week, who although told me all the endo that was removed in January was back again, hence the pain, and I have endo in my bladder (!) and have a small cyst already, has given me some options. As I've had 2 operations within 6 months to firstly laser and then excise all endo, and its back again, he said it is not possible to just keep operating as this is not helping!

So I'm going to have Depo Provera injection as well as having the coil, in order to hopefully stop my periods. I'm also going to start taking anti-inflammatories everyday. A really interesting point I was told is that fat cells in the body contain oestrogen, therefore the more weight you carry the more hormone. So he has suggested I focus on exercise to firstly improve my strength and also to get rid of some fat cells (I'm not big- size 12!).

So am feeling pretty positive for now.

Update August 2010

So I went and got a second opinion and have been spending the last few months having a bit of a lifestyle revamp! I've been going to the gym 4-5 times a weeks, sometimes more. I started off just swimming 3-4 times a week, something easy and relaxing until I built up my energy levels. It made my pain quite bad for a few weeks, but that then went.... completely!

The last month I've been doing two hour sessions regularly and I feel completely different, so much better! The consultant was obviously right, losing weight alleviates symptoms as there is less estrogen (estrogen is found in fat cells).

I've also been taking one Nurofen (200mg) every day, for its Anti inflammatory properties. It has been fantastic!

I was at a brick wall and felt totally helpless, but a second opinion and its totally different.

Fingers crossed!

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