An update

amberlink09 · Post by **amberlink09** » Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:23 pm

Hey guys,

I haven't been on here in a while because I've been doing worse the past month after doing better for a while and I've already had three horrible colds this season and a sprained ankle on top of everything so I have been feeling pretty discouraged. Well, after my annual visit to the gynecologist a few weeks ago I'm starting to have hope again that I might finally be on the verge of a proper diagnosis so I can get on a track to feeling good again. In addition to my alternating C & D and pain (which my gastroenterologist has diagnosed as IBS) I have also had extreme bloating and pain during and after sex for about two years now, I've discussed this with my gynecologist before but not much has been done so I wrote it off as another side effect of IBS. Well, since it has been so long with the same issues now my gynecologist sent me for a sonogram and it came up with a few abnormalities, some growths on my ovaries. He is thinking there's a good chance it's endometriosis, so I will be having surgery in January to confirm/diagnose and treat it. It turns out that the endometriosis can also grow on your bowels and cause symptoms that are IBS-like in addition to causing my other symptoms. I'm once again stuck in this strange position of not wanting to have this disease, but also hoping that it's finally the answer to my problems. I will update you guys on the findings in January, and until then keep sticking to the Paleo diet (as best I can during the holiday season) and my current IBS meds while trying different supplements and things to see if they will make a difference. Thank you for all of your support!

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:56 pm

Amber, I had a very painful bout with endometriosis. I really sympathize with you as it was one of the worst pains I've ever endured (a torn ACL was right up there). I often wonder if I had known to change my diet back then (nearly 30 years ago) if it would have made a difference. My best wishes to you. Deb

jmayk8 · Post by **jmayk8** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 5:24 am

Hi Amber
Ditto on that. I was dx with endometriosis in my early 20s. I had a laporoscopy to zap most of it out and I was on continued use of birth control for treatment. Bc when I got my period, it was heavy and that's how the endo formed. So long story short, being on the BC for so many years is why i think i have my problems now along with the leaky gut. Good luck with your procedure, i hope you start feeling better afterwards.
Jenny

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 7:01 am

Hi Amber,

Sorry to learn about the continuing problems. Will keep my fingers crossed that the surgery/treatment do the trick!

Hugs,

Polly

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 5:42 pm

Hi,
Sorry to hear you are suffering like this, but hope you have a dx now, and they can fix it. Maybe you will be totally well after this.

amberlink09 · Post by **amberlink09** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 10:30 pm

Thank you everyone!

Hm. I have seen a quite a few women on here post about having endometriosis before, it does make me wonder if there's a link or maybe it's the birth control like you suggested Jenny. My naturopath has been really pushing for me to get off the birth control, but my periods are so awful they keep me in bed for days and I'm sometimes throwing up from pain so I'm too scared to do it! I wish I could find more research on this subject, there isn't much on endometriosis or microscopic colitis out there, and birth control is such a "normal" thing to take that I haven't seen that much about adverse side effects either, especially in relation to these types of issues.

Post by **tex** » Mon Nov 19, 2012 11:36 pm

Have you seen this?

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15038

Tex

amberlink09 · Post by **amberlink09** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 7:46 pm

Thanks for the link, Tex, that is really interesting! When I had my colonoscopy my doctor found places in my colon that looked irritated/inflamed, but when he biopsied them it all came back normal. I'm now wondering if those were spots where the endometriosis could be on the outside of the intestine causing that inflammation. I'm also interested in the role that birth control and extra scar tissue from the surgeries plays in MC.

Post by **tex** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:58 pm

Amber wrote:I'm now wondering if those were spots where the endometriosis could be on the outside of the intestine causing that inflammation.

You may be right, because such an attachment site would be populated with additional blood vessels that could give the illusion of inflammation.

It's known that BC pills can trigger an MC reaction. Some members have found that even the transdermal patches used for HRT can trigger MC.

I have no information on any associations between scar tissue and MC, but I had two major abdominal surgeries, 5 years apart, and during the second surgery (almost 3 years ago), it was found that my intestines were literally loaded with adhesions, all up and down the line.

Tex

Stanz · Post by **Stanz** » Sat Nov 24, 2012 5:15 pm

Hi Amber,
As is evidenced by my poll that Tex lined to above, we here have an abnormal occurrence of "endometriosis", so is it endometrial tissue or is it scar tissue caused by gluten intolerance? It would seem to me that it is the latter. I had a hysterectomy @ 26, had painful and horrible periods before that, had 2 surgeries to remove intestinal blockages caused by scar tissue. It was not fun. I haven't had any of that kind of pain for almost 30 years now and probably only took birth control pills for maybe 2 years in my life. I think it's all related to gluten damage in my case.

I hope you get some answers, I don't know if there is a way to differentiate endometrial tissue from scar tissue, but that would be a good question to ask your doctors.

kayare · Post by **kayare** » Sat Nov 24, 2012 8:33 pm

Hi Amber,

I hope you get a quick resolution to this!

Add me to the list of women with MC who had heavy, painful periods, longterm use of BC pills, infertility, ovarian cysts, repeated miscarriages, endometriosis, and a hysterectomy in my thirties. Even though i am now blessed with three beautiful adult children, it was a difficult period of time in my life.

Best wishes to you,

Kathy

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:39 pm

Amber
this is good that you are getting some clarity!

I have had digestion issues my whole life, and hormonal issues since teenage years.
long story short, 3 lots of bowel surgery has meant lots of adhesions on my bowels. I have polycystic ovaries. the bowel is adhered to my left ovary.

whenever there was hormonal inflammation occurring, it would play havoc with my digestion, like my body could only handle one inflammation at a time type thing.

Since my MC Dx, i have done lots of research about inflammation, it will cause pain where there is weakness/damage to the cells.
the main focus of the past 2.75 years since MC Dx, i have done considerable work to 'heal' the leaky gut and to reduce inflammation in the body overall. By doing this i have managed to pretty well managed to elminate the occurance of chronic stabbing pains that had occured for the 30 years before - the type that almost make you fall over if you are standing, and had me hospitalised a few times.

the elements/basis of healing the leaky gut, also regenates connective tissue. (gelatin, amino acids, zinc)

most of the battle is getting the clarity - the correct diagnosis with that information you can attain radiant health

take care