Could I have endometriosis?

[Fin24]

I'm fifteen and no one seems to believe that I have something wrong with me and won't let me see a doctor. I was researching and came across endometriosis and I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me what they think.

Anyway, about three months ago on the days before my period I had multiple bouts of severe pain that lasted about an hour and I just ended up on the floor trying not to scream. When my period came it lasted eighteen days and was heavy and had clots. About a week later I had two days of random bleeding. My next period I had the extreme pain again as well as the heavy, long lasting period with clots.

This month, I've been extremely tired, I've been sleeping for about sixteen hours a day. Approaching my period my stomach was sore and firm and i had no desire to eat. Again i had pain and all the other stuff as well as sudden urges to use the bathroom.

A lot of websites say that I'm to young to get endometriosis, though. My mom just says I'm exaggerating it all and that because I'm in bed all the time, I'm lazy. But this is completely different from my normal period.

The pain is seriously so bad that I try to force myself to throw up and scratch my stomach until it bleeds.

Does this sound like endometriosis? What should I do?

[ticked]

I would like to say you are not exaggerating your pain. To me is sounds very possible that it is endo but the only way to actually diagnose is through lap surgery. I went through the same thing with my parents and I am 38 now and it is only after having me suffer for all this time that my mother has started to listen. It is sad when the proof is right in front of her.

I have a lot of journals in my bio if you want to read them and if you have any questions please contact me, I am always here.

[Palomo_MD]

I am so sorry to hear of your struggle! I do not know if you could have endometriosis or about being "too young." The symptoms you've described do sound very similar to things I've struggled with with what I believe to be endometriosis (I have not been officially diagnosed because surgery is the only way to know for sure, but my mom has it and I share similar symptoms.) And the fatigue is something I ESPECIALLY can relate to as I struggled with that a lot when it hit me the worst - right at the start of soccer season my senior year in college. Everyone just thought I was being a baby and unable to keep up with the pace. I knew there was more to it though. It turns out I WAS anemic which can most likely be attributed to the high volumes of blood loss from my crazy new (absolutely awful) periods. I was experiencing crazy heavy blood flow and getting my period twice a month! Or so I thought. It turns out I was actually bleeding between peruods. - to the point that in one month, I tracked 21 days with significant blood flow! All this to say, irregular periods can cause a lot of blood loss which can lead to anemia/fatigue. You will need to get your iron levels up. I would suggest spinach and red meats. My fiance started making me a steak after each of my home games to try to keep my iron levels up. You could also ask you mom to start cooking using a cast iron skillet. It is a way that she can help you out that is far less expensive than a doctors visit but should still help your energy levels! (I know it sounds hard to believe but it really has been shown that just by COOKING in a cast iron skillet your body can take in enough iron to make a difference.)

All of that is for anemia though, and won't help with you agonizing pain. One thing I think might be worth considering is ovarian cysts:I had one when I was in high school and it was the mist excruciating pain I've even been in. I remember going and sitting on the toilet because I didn't know what else to do and holloring out in pain because I thought I was going to die. I broke out in a cold sweat, couldn't control my breathing - I wanted to crap or vomit or ANYTHING that would make the pain go away but it was in a place I had never experienced before. My mom took me to ER and they admitted me for possible apendicitis but in the end they concluded it must have been a cyst that burst. Cysts are fairly common, usually you won't even know they are there, some are slightly painful but then there are those that are agonizing - especially when they ruptute. I have known women who had them often enough that they had to have surgery to get them removed.

If you are experiencing symptoms from endometriosis or something similar, I am very sorry that no one believes you or will take you to the doctor. It may encourage you to hear, though, that many women who DO go to the doctor and try dozens of different birth controls become so fed up with the results, they end up approaching it with diet and exercise anyway. When I went to the doctor she told me "I don't know what's wrong with you but you can take this birth control or be miserable for the rest of your life." And that was it! Most likely if you go to the doctor, even if they are more patient with you, they will just end up putting you on some type of birth control without ever getting to the bottom of it anyway. I've seen too many of my friends get on the pill and then suffer acne problems, weight gain, and mood swings and then still have issues with their menstal cycle. Also for many who take birth control, it is harder to regulate your cycle and/or have children whenever you are ready. And since infirtility is often already a risk with endometriosis I would advise steering clear of messing with your body's hormones even more by introducing more that will throw of its ability to regulate itself.
After my experience with the doctor I went home and decided to dedicate myself to a healthy routine - running for 30 minutes every day before work and ONLY eating fresh meats and vegetables. Within 2 months my irregularities were gone and my periods slowly went back to what was normal for me. I would strongly encourage you to start there, and by looking into diets that help with your symptoms before pursuing a birth control. That's all just based on what I have found and my experience. I wish you the best!

God bless.