Hello! I've been reading posts, and have
made a couple myself now, for the last
couple hours.
My husband and I want to try to have a
child in the near future, but one thing
that is a huge barrier is that is is very
painful for me to have intercourse. By
painful, I mean excrutiating. If anyone
has seen the movie "seven" there is a
scene where the psycho killer killed a
prostitute by forcing a man to wear a
strap with jagged blades on it- my pain
reminds me of that scene. I have been to
several doctors, had several tests, been
on several medications, nothing works. My
primary doctor tells me I might have
endometriosis because the pain seems to go
in cycles coinciding with my meunstral
cycle- it reaches its peak right before my
period, and my period is accompanied by
intense, sharp cramps in the abdomen and
breasts; these cramps begin no later than
a week before, but sometimes up to two
weeks before my period starts. Apparantly
these are all signs of endometriosis, but
the doctor told me it could take up to
nine years to diagnose, and until then all
I can do is take over the counter pain
medicine.
This pain is ruining my life. My husband
and I can't make love anymore, and i've
had to see a counselor because even when
he just touches me, it sends thoughts of
the pain running through my body... It's
awful to cringe away from my own
husband...Sometimes I can't wear certain
pants even, because certain pant styles
make me sore. Everything from my love
life to my wardrobe to my daily activities
is dominated by this pain.
Has anyone else experienced mind-blowing
pain??? I know this isn't normal, but I
can't be the only one experiencing it
-eff
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PattyV
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 1103 Location: Chicago area
Posted: 08-14-04 08:44am
So sorry to hear of your pain.Have you
considered a second opinion?I would see a
gynecologist who specializes in pelvic
pain.No,you don't have to deal with it and
I wish more docs(male especially) would
listen!If you have to get a referral,
first,get a list of referrals from your
ins. Co..That listing or maybe even the
web site should have the list of docs and
the focus of their practice.Like;dr.John
jones specialty-gynecology, primary focus
-infertility.Something like that.If you
don't need a referral,look under the
hospital in your area with the best
reputation for their specialists.Many
women have painful intercourse and there
are several things that could be causing
it.See a specialist,maybe they have more
info than your doc.Best of luck to
you!Patty
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 08-14-04 09:21am
It does not take up to nine years to
diagnose!!!!!!!Your doctor is a quack.
All they do is laproscopic surgery and
they can tell whether or not you have it.
That is the most insane thing I have ever
heard!
Anyway, if you do have endometriosis,
they can cut it out and it will make it
easier for you to conceive. However, it
almost always grows back and the pain will
return, but you can conceive easier after
it is removed.
This disease can be very, very painful!
They think I have a mild case, and that
hurts badly enough. I am on birth
control to help with my pain (and it does
help a lot) but that of course wouldn't
help you since you want babies! I
haven't had the surgery done because they
usually remove it if it is in there and I
don't want mine removed. They will only
remove it so many times before they
recommend a hysterectomy. My feeling is
I would rather deal with the pain and save
my surgeries in case I ever do want to
have a baby. A friend of mine had a
hysterectomy at 24 from this disease.
Thank god she had her babies in high
school. Everything does happen for a
reason.
Anyway, definately get a different doctor!
There are pain pills and methods to help
deal with the pain. Unfortunately many
women live with this kind of pain and even
a hysterectomy isn't a perfect solution.
Good luck to you, but please drop your
doc!
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PattyV
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 1103 Location: Chicago area
Posted: 08-14-04 09:26am
Whoa,angie!!You go girl!!! patty
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 08-14-04 11:48am
Lol, I am sorry! Docs like that just
make me mad!
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Effervescence
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 34
Posted: 08-14-04 12:08pm
Thank you, it seemed like nine years was
an insane amount of time! I can't imagine
living in this sort of pain for nine
years! (over the counter pain relievers
do absolutely nothing for it)
i, too, am on birth control to ease the
pain, but it doesn't really 'ease' the
pain- it just makes the pain more
predictable. I take orthotricyclen, so I
can go by the color of the pills i'm on
that week: when i'm still in the white,
the pain is bearable, but barely. Light
blue, I can expect some discomfort from
walking a lot or vigorous exercise,
certain pants cuts etc, but intercourse
doesn't hurt nearly so bad. The dark blue
pills signify my worst time- that's when
the cramps become severe, intercourse is
out of the question, and so are many
physical activities such as yoga, pilates,
and karate (which are my normal fitness
activities) I call this week my 'fat' week
the green is about
the same as the dark blue, except i'm on
my period, so i'm even more miserable.
I'm scheduled to see a specialist in four
months, I had to beg for the appointment
too. It's not easy to get in to see a
specialist... I think she will have me
schedule a laproscopic surgery- it seems
to be the path i'm headed down. It kinda
scares me.. I don't want a camera in my
abdomen! I'm really scared of needles and
knifes, and things that puncture the skin
in general (even bee stings...) i'm also
scared because a woman I work with has
endometriosis, and she's had a lot of
complications with her current pregnancy,
and she told me it's very painful!
I just want to know what is wrong with me.
Every time I see a new doctor, it's the
same exact thing. They ask me tons of
questions, that used to make me feel a bit
'dirty' but now I have a conditioned
response to each one, because the
questions are always the same, they do a
very painful exam, and run std tests even
when I tell them the last doctor did that,
and it's virtually impossible anyway
because my husband is the only person i've
ever even kissed, and even though he had
one partner before me (he was previously
engaged) he has been tested for everything
while in the army. They still run the
tests telling me it's standard procedure,
and they want to be thorough and bla bla
bla... Then they prescribe an antibiotic
and tell me to take ibuprofen. One doctor
told me to try eating more fiber... Dunno
what that was about, but I tried it and
still nothing. At this point i'm willing
to try anything. If a doctor tells me to
eat pickles whil hanging from my toes on a
hanger in my closet, i'll do it just to
see...
-eff
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 08-14-04 12:22pm
Do you live in the u.S? Or are you in
canada or one of the other countries where
you have automatic healthcare, but have to
wait forever to see a specialist?
Honestly, I think you should see a
different doctor. Tell him/her that you
are pretty sure that you have
endometriosis and you want the test to
find out. When I was having the same
problems as you, I got into a "specialist"
the very next day. They can switch their
schedules around if you make them or if
you are in enough pain.
Ask to switch birth control pills. The
combination pill (the kind that you are
on) didn't help me very much either. Now
I am on nordette (the same level of
hormones three weeks, and then placebos
for your period) and it helps a lot more.
Also, if your periods are too painful you
can skip your period. Just go straight
from you last row of active pills to your
new pack of pills. You just have to let
yourself have a period every third month.
Now, this may or may not work for you.
It kind of works for me, but I still get
light cramps and spotting. Some people
get their period anyway, and some don't
get a period at all. It is worth a shot
if your pain is as severe as you say it
is.
Their are more complications with
pregnancy when you have endo than their
are without it, but for the main part you
should be happy pregnant. Pregnancy is
the only thing that keeps endo under
control and your pain should be relieved.
However, there is a higher chance of
miscarrying so you would just have to be
extra careful those first few months.
I am not trying to worry you, but just to
give you the facts. Advil would be the
only over the counter med that would work
(because it is an anti-inflammitory) but
if that doesn't work then you would have
to go on prescription pain pills. Not
necessarily strong, mind controlling ones,
but ones that would specifically target
your pain.
That is all I can think of for now....Let
me know if you have any questions!
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Effervescence
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 34
Posted: 08-14-04 18:27pm
I live in the us, but I think I get put on
the back burner a lot because i'm on
student health insurance, and I am young
and timid... I'm going to start getting
more aggressive about this though, when
someone is sick, they need assistance
regardless of their age and social class.
It makes me sad that i've been given the
run-around, and a little angry too.
hotasfrick
wrote:
also, if your periods are
too painful you can skip your period.
Just go straight from you last row of
active pills to your new pack of pills.
You just have to let yourself have a
period every third month.
i've thought of doing this, but am
concerned that it will interfere with my
cycle, making conception even harder when
I come off the pill. What are the
physical effects of continually taking the
hormones? I know it would make me not
have my period, or at least have a strong
feeling of that, because even on the rare
occasion when my period comes a day or two
late, it always ends as soon as I start my
new pack. Sometimes I only have two or
three days of bleeding because of this
(the cramps etc. Still last a week
though) but the bleeding is usually a lot
heavier when it comes a few days late.
I'll ask about switching birth control-
really the main reason i'm on ortho is
because I could get it through the college
at a discounted price ($10 a pack!) but
now the discount is no longer available,
and if it means feeling better, I should
look into switching! When I started the
pill, it made me severely nautious for
weeks, will I repeat that if I switch, or
will my body not be able to tell? It's
probably different for everyone
though...
Wow, I didn't realize I had so many
questions when I first posted!
-eff
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 08-14-04 18:36pm
Okay, where to start.Lol.
Yes, I am also very shy/timid (believe it
or not!) and get the runaround also. I
try to put my foot down, sometimes it
works and sometimes it doesn't. But,
this is your health and your life and you
need to tell them how it is! But, I would
seriously consider going to a different
doctor and seeing if they will get you
into a specialist sooner.
If you have a family planning type clinic
in your area then you can get b/c pills
discounted. I pay $10/pack for nordette,
whereas ortho was $8.
My doc told me that skipping your period
is absolutely fine as long as you let
yourself have a period every three months.
I honestly do not think that this
affects you any more than taking the pill
the "normal" way. But, like I said, it
may or may not help you. However, they
actually recommend this to people who have
really bad periods. Therefore, it may
help you a lot.
Speed of conception after you get off of
birth control really just depends on your
body. Some people get pregnant right
away whereas some peope wait a year or
two. But, if I were you I would worry
right now about keeping your pain under
control. Even if you do get your
laproscopic surgery done and they find/cut
out endo tissue, staying on the pill will
help keep the tissue from growing back.
No, it will not stop the tissue from
coming back, but it will slow the process.
This way, when you are ready to go off
of the pill and try for a baby, you will
still be more fertile than you were before
the surgery.
I don't know if switching pills will make
you sick or not. Ortho (when I tried it)
mad me sick and I had to stop using it.
Nordette didn't make me sick at all. The
only side effect I get now on this pill is
breast tenderness. But, it is starting
to not be as bad. So, anyway, that
really depends on your body and how you
react to the pill.
I hope this made sense. Let me know if
you have anymore questions or if I didn't
answer one!
patty
