I was wondering if anyone has endometriosis. I was just diagnosed, and doc wants me to take a drug that makes your body think it is in menopause. I was wondering how it effects the pouch.
I am having a hard time getting my GI and Gyno to come up with a solution for me. They haven't discussed it with eachother, but they have both told me that surgery would be benificial, but probably too risky because of all the adhesions.
Any ideas or experiences?

I don't have endo, but my partner Suzan does. What is the drug they want to give you? What stage are you in (if you know)? Suzan has had surgery once for it to cauterize the growth. Her doc tried to put her on Lupron, but we refused as it can have some scary side effects. It has been 5 years since her surgery and she is starting to have problems again. If she has to have surgery again it will be at the Cleveland Clinic where they do excision surgery that gets 99.9% of the endo growth and almost guarantees no return growth.

I don't know what stage I am in. I think it was Lupron she wanted me to try. I'd go for the surgery in a heartbeat, but I can't find a surgeon willing to take the risk. Did Suzan have a lot of pain with the endo? What are the stages of it? How did she know it was back?

Suzan had terrible pain before she finally had surgery. The pain would cripple her. She would describe a giant band wrapping around her stomach getting tighter and tighter. Surgery made a huge difference. She had virtually no pain after she had recovered. Since she refused the Lupron she continued on birth control therapy - on for three months then off for a week. Her cycles were crippling in pain but the three months in between were fine. I think she was in stage 1 or 2 (I think there are 4 or 5?). The stage is just an indication of how much endometrial growth you have.

Since adhesions are an issue for you I would find a surgeron that does excision vs cauterization. Excision is much more complex and requires a surgeon that specializes in it. They use tiny little scissors to cut the endo out. This way they get the roots. Think of it like weeding a garden. If you just cut it off at the ground and leave the roots then the weed is bound to return. If you cut below the surface and get the root then chances of it returning are less. The only surgeon we found in the tri-sate area that does this type of surgery is at the Cleveland Clinic. If you are going to do the surgery then having the excision done will reduce your chances of having to have it again.

Over the past year Suzan has been having endo attacks more frequently. We are just going to wait and see what happens.

Thank you Tricia! Best of luck to Suzan.

I had lazer ablation twice for my endometriosis. I was losing a lot of blood both with the endometriosis and my UC and as a result was very anaemic so both my Gyno and GI decided that something needed doing.

The first time was fine and I didn't have a period for 2 years, then I started bleeding heavily (on Christmas day of all days) and it just didn't stop for 9 months so I had the lazer treatment again and this time my Gyno managed to get it all. That was when I was in my early to mid 30's (I'm now 51) and I haven't had a period or the pain that goes with them since.

Shell

Hello,

I have endometriosis and I did the Lupron (menopause) treatment and I would never do it again. I was completely miserable! I was 20 when I did it and if that's a preview of whats to come later in life, god help anyone who has to deal with me :P I had night sweats, constant hot flashes, I was always irritable, sweat all day every day, etc...
It was supposed to be a 6 month treatment and I only made it through 4 before I decided to go back to the birth control (3 months at a time continuously). If I had to choose between the Lupron shot and the lapro surgery again, I would definitely go with the lapro. The only reason I didn't to begin with was becasue (at that time) I have never had any other surgeries... I was basically just scared. Now, of course, with the UC surgery, I would certainly have chosen the lapro.

I'm sure everyone responds differently to the Lupron shot and I'm sure some people are happy with the results - I just happened to have a bad experience with it. I am still taking the birth control pills in 3 month increments and it works out ok, however, my periods are still insanely painful... they're just not as frequent so it's a little more tolerable.

I know this doesn't help with the issue of adhesions but I just wanted to let you know my experience with the shot.

Sarah