Doctor blaming pains on IBS....

[cm071803]

Over 5 years ago i had a doctor tell me that my stomach pains around the time of my period was IBS, I questioned it since my mom and sister has endometriosis and the dr. didn't listen.  I ended up having a ruptured cyst on my ovary, doc did a lap and yes, found that I did have the early stages of endo.  Since then i switched doctors and a couple years after the lap when the pains/syptoms started to worsen again, i decided to get pregnant, which happened pretty quickly.  Now that's it's been two years, all the symptoms are coming back.  Painful intercourse at times, low back pains around time of period, pains that feels like a hot knife is stabbing me and one of my major complaints is that I feel like i have to go to the bathroom and can't for a few hours.  during that time the pains are so bad that i shake and feel nauseous, eventually having diarrea.  I've seen my doctor 3 times this year due to a large cyst on my ovary that seems to grow/shrink before and after my period.  So, my last check up he forgot that he recently switched my pill and said that it sounds like I had IBS.  I'm frustrated because if it was IBS, wouldn't i be experiencing these problems all month and not just right around my period?  If I don't have endo, then that's great, but I really hate that given my syptoms and that I was diagnosed with it a few years ago, that he can quickly blame it on IBS.  I have an appointment with a different doctor in a few weeks and hopefully he can help.  If anyone has any advice, i would appreciate it.  I'm probably leaving things out, but I don't want to make my venting too long=)

[Chefchex]

IBS = I be stumped lol.
Get yer last operative report and see if adhesions were encountered.
Docs know about adhesions but maybe not about recent advances.

Anyone who has endo is at risk for adheisons

Find out anbout ARD before you have any surgery!

Try International adhesion society....dont look on dr websites as the info is there to sell you a surgery generally.

All the best
Chef

[evthing4reason]

hmmmmm, i am having a lap done in a few weeks to see if i have endo or if it is just scar tissue from recently lodsng my baby at 19 weeks or from the uterine infection i had after. But a few years ago i was diagnosed with IBS and was on pills for it for a while but then symptoms went away (also change birth conrtrol in this time). I only went off the pill in septemtber and had gotten pregnant right away, after my loss i went back on the pill til ready to get pregnant again now that i am off, i ave severe abdonimal pain (the same i had when diagnosed with ibs) and pianful intercourse, they had treated me for another uterine infection a few weeks ago but then the blood work came back no infection.....so maybe all these years and being treated for ibs, all along it was endo that ws being control ny birth control???I guess i will have to wait and see, funny i just had my period and it was when i had the least amount of pain all month

[ducky7654]

Hi, I was the first one to post regarding your post on Drs saying it is all IBS. I was told that for 2 1/2 years and I kept at it never being satisfied with that diag. because my symptoms were too severe to be IBS. I had 2 second opinions for endometriosis- 2 drs said it wasn't- more of a GI issue and the 2nd second opinion really listened to what I had to say about my continued suffering and said he would do the surgery.

I had the surgery Tuesday, May 20th and not only did my dr. find a bunch of Endometriosis, he found that I had a twisted bowel which was causing more pain then usual for endo. I had to have a resection of my bowel and it was repositioned to what should be normal for a bowel. Mine was in a zig zag position and was the reason I could not have a bowel movement on my own.

If I didn't keep persisting that it wasn't IBS and it was something more serious, who knows what would have happened to me. I have read that a twisted bowel can be fatal( not to scare you but it scares me)

[cm071803]

thanks for your comments.  i went to a new doctor yesterday and still really didn't get any answers.  except learning that i have a tilted uterus.  i feel like i'm all screwed up.  i was suppose to get my period a week ago and i still haven't gotten it yet.  i took a test and it says i'm not pregnant, so why am i so late (which i'm never late).  And, today i have really bad pains in my left side ovary and in my back.  part of me wants to call my doctor again and request one more ultrasound.  i'm so frustrated because i'm missing work a lot due to this.

[destini85]

I have recently been diagnosed with endometriosis and have had ibs for years. your symtoms do not sound like ibs i would diffentially say they sound like endometriosis. I would keep switching drs untill you hear what you want. My dr said the number one symptom for endo is pain during or after sex. He said if you have that then almost diffientially you have endo. I was just recently diagnosed with endo and about a yr ago started getting pain after sex and finally went to see the dr for it as soon as i told him he knew it was that. I have had ibs for years and never did sex effect it. My dr had me do laposcopic surgery he said that is the only way to be for sure that is what it is. also my endo is much worse around my cycle and my cycle was never the effect on my ibs. I have also read alot about endo and they say alot of ppl are miss diagnosed and drs diagnose it as ibs.. sounds alot like you.. let me know if this has helped you any thanks

[rapunzel542]

avoid fats for a month,  dont eat ready made  processed meals, choose white meats rather than red, limit your bread intake and go for wholemeal not white flour based products, suppliment your diet with  a handful daily, of sunflower seeds and  pumpkin seeds, start each day with a glass of pure cranberry juice, drink a smalll glass of pure pineapple juice after your main meal (pineapple has a natural enzyme that helps break down food in the stomach) before you go to bed take about 4 to 5 spoons of live yoghurt, it doesnt have to be flavoured  ( I took natural,  plain, live greek yoghurt)- something like that, dont know how difficult it is to obtain in the States?  limit your coffee intake, avoid all together if you can, but if you do have a cup drink a glass of water after.  drink water daily, flavour it with some of your cranberry or pineapple juice if it helps. try to drink a cup of green tea, now you may like me and think its the worst thing you've ever tasted !! but try it its excellent for healing.  eat kiwi. avoid citris fruits, bananas, tomatoes, cheese, milk, eggs, chocolate, margerine, (butter is ok on your bread).   so basically you are eating good low fat meals, chicken, fish, fresh vegetable, brown rice, wholemeal breads, drinking water, eating protein packed nuts, fruit that doesnt build up acid or take 3 days to digest (bananas!) it may be tough for a couple of weeks but you should feel better and lose a few pounds in the bargain.  maybe a few relaxation exercises might help maybe you could join a class in your area?  take time to sit down at the table, not on your lap in front of the TV!  and eat your meals, dont rush them, I am no expert I can only pass on what I did and say that it worked 100% whenever I feel that my stomach is playing up again I follow the above rules for a week.  I try to always include live yoghurt and cranberry and pineapples in my diet to re-inforce my digestive tract.  hopefully this will help but dont forget to check with your Dr.  I do hope you can manage as I see you arn't eating much at the moment that wont help to live on suppliment drinks!  if your any good at cooking try making up some  vegetable soup, that would  easy to eat.  let me know how you get on lets hope the Endo isnt back!

[AILE]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ANSWER.

I will definatelly try what you suggested. Do you mind giving me more IDEAS of what to eat.

What things are EASY for the STOMACH to DIAGEST?

[rapunzel542]

just a thought, you could have unbalanced your digestive system, this often happens after illness or stress.  I experienced similar, really awlful pains in my ribs and round my back that doubled me up as well as severe painful bloating after eating, I went to see a Contact Reflexologist.  She described everything I was experienceing without me telling her anything about myself or why I went to see her! she told me I was'nt digesting food and it was passing through my body half digested hence the pains and cramps, it has a knock on effect of making you malnourished, as all the goodness in food wasnt being absorbed,  it puts the gallbladder under strain as more and thinner bile is overproduced to try and digest food, in fact  nearly all the vital organs are effected making you feel run down and constantly uncomfortable.  Try building up your digestive sysem for a month, take about 5 spoons of 'live' yoghurt each night before retiring, also  include cranberries, kiwi fruit,  fresh pineapple in your diet, (can be pure juice - not with added sugar or made from concentrates though)  avoid all white rice, bread, bananas, dairy products, tea and coffee.  basically you are avoiding hard to digest food and including foods that will build up the digestive styem so you process everything you eat properly.  restoring the correct levels of good bacteria in your stomach and gut. do it for a month and see if things improve. It worked for me.  I had endometriosis and then the break down of my marriage, I guess I had been ill then under  stress for over 4 years, no wonder my body reacted! good luck!  it cant do you any harm to try, but dont give up on complaining to your dr took me 2 yrs to be diagnosed with endo, felt like I was carring a house brick around in my pelvis too!

[AILE]

I am 34 and have bad ENDOMETRIOSIS found on Dec 26, 2007 by Laparoscopic AND Dr. Just got rid of 85% because It was EVERYWHERE (Got LUPRON shot) ...
Now I don't know what to do. Lost 15 pounds, NO APPETITE (Just drink 3 ensure per day), Burning feeling in my rib bones and pelvic bones, sometimes I feel like a balloon is inside me and somebody is bloowing it and I just want to DIE. I burp even with a drop pf water, Nausea (Never Throw up)
Hade CAT SCAN Abdomen, MRI PELVIS, Colonoscopy, Ultrasound Abdomen, Upper GI, HIDA SCAN (Gallblader) MRI Abdomen, and Whole body BONE scan...

My stools are different very grissy and soft. Feel tingling on right rib, Feel that something walks or moves around me, is a weard feeling that seems to be from ribs but MAYBE is my INTESTINES ...

I don't know what to do ... My Dr. Screwed up when I asked her to have a Hida scan test to see if my gallbladder was working LESS than 69% because that is how is was on 2005 ... But they never listen to you she sent me for one that didn't look for it ...

I think I am dying ... Do you think is my ENDOMETRIOSIS

[ducky7654]

I've experiencing the same thing for 2 1/2 years and have all kinds of GI tests which all come back fine. I am 100% certain that my GI issues are a direct result of Endometriosis even though all drs think it's IBS, stress or Psychological. All the symptoms are there. Go with your gut feeling and keep nagging your drs. It's the only way to get relief. I've been finding that drs know as much as we know. and that through research, we know more.