Confused and concerned

[Confused1277]

I have been having severe cramping and bleeding for years but everyone told me it was normal. I just learned to suck it up and deal with it and take otc meds to take the edge off. Recently I started having pains in my lower right side that got so bad I had to go to the er. The first time they checked for appendicitis and sent me home with some pain meds when nothing was found.  The second time I was admitted for tests which still showed nothing. At that point I was treated like a person who just wanted attention and/or drugs. I saw my on/gyn after and she referd me to a specialist. I am scheduled for an exploratory laparoscopy next month but she isn't sure she will find anything. I just don't understand why nothing can be found and yet I am still in pain. For now I am praying that they will find something during surgery. Anyone out there have any advice for me?

[ipurr2]

Hope you can get things resolved...you can challenge your insurance by giving them proof on why you need to be seen by a specialist...GI specialists do not know or understand endometriosis any better then a gynecologist...my longest surgery was 6.5 hours...and that was after the female organs had been removed...but endo left behind...to grow up my ureters, diaphragm, gallbladder as well as my colon...1/2 of it had to be removed in this surgery because of endo...which is why a specialist is STRONGLY recommended...

[Confused1277]

I have kaiser for insurance which severely limits my options for specialties. The surgeon is planning an excision at the time of the surgery if anything is found. She is also going to do a dye test to make sure the Fallopian tubes are clear and biopsies all over whether or not anything is seen. She told me that if my intestines are heavily involved she will call in the GI specialist right then to get them familiar with my case. She says the surgery could take 30mins to 3hrs depending on what is found. I am scheduled for the Tuesday after Easter. I am just hoping and praying that they do find endo at this point. At least it would be an answer.

[ipurr2]

This sounds all too familiar to us endo gals..I am sorry! Most likely it is endometriosis and the best advice I have for you is to find an endometriosis specialist who has been trained to deal with this disease as most oby/gyn's do not have the training and the only way to potentially cure the disease is to cut it out...if you see an endometriosis specialists they will not only go in laproscopically and look to see if you have it they will excise (cut) it out at the same time...it is NOT normal to have cramps that make you unable to function ~ I too was told that and did like you...sucked it up and dealt...then was treated like a druggie as well...most of us endo gals get this unfortunately! But there is hope at getting your life back in the hands of a specialist...if you give me your city/state I will try to locate the closest endometriosis specialist to you!