I am a 29 year old female with a history of chronic pelvic pain for the last 12 years. I had several cysts when I was younger, so that has always been the excuse for my pain. I had an IUD for 3-4 years and had a lot of ovarian cysts while I had it. I eventually got it removed do to having a pelvic infection. I even had a cyst removed from my ovary about 7 years ago that was found to be borderline/precancerous. I still have both ovaries and my uterus. I even had my appendix removed several years back to try and get rid of my pain. Over the last year or so, when I have had pain, they have not found any cysts. I was then told that it was possibly a problem with my GI tract. I have had a lot of stomach problems along with this pain. I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy a few months back. They found inflammation of my stomach lining and the lining of my intestines. They believe this is from years of taking ibuprofen for pelvic pain! I was put on a medication called Budesonide for a few months that has solved most of my GI symptoms. I have 4 children. The first 3 I conceived very quickly and easily. Then I waited 6 years to have my 4th. It took me almost 2 years to get pregnant, and I had a blighted ovum miscarriage with that pregnancy. It then took me another 8 months to get pregnant with my son. He is now 2, and I breastfed him for almost 2 years. I didnt start my period again until almost 3 months ago. Since then I have felt like I had another cyst. I tried to hold out until my doctors appt, but ended up in the ER. Guess what, no cyst. I was lucky to have a very good doctor in the ER who actually sat there and listened to me and talked to me when I broke down crying from frustration! He is the first doctor to suggest I get checked for endometriosis. So now I am doing research and trying to see if I have the symptoms of it. So if anyone has read all of this, here are my symptoms which have been getting worse the last few months since my period started again.
Obviously I have chronic pelvic pain, it isnt really specific to one area. I have pain around both ovaries, in the front of my uterus, in my lower back on the sides, in my butt and I also get a lot of hip and upper thigh aching pain.
I get unbearable pain that almost feels like it is in my pelvic floor muscles that comes and goes. When it comes everything hurts! It hurts to have sex if it is to deep or it will just hurt afterwards, it sometimes hurts when I go to the bathroom (either one), sometimes it gets so bad (like right now) it hurts to sit! I have also had a pelvic exam when I am having this pain, and that was excruciating! And I have had a vaginal ultrasound and that hurts really bad too.
My last two periods have been horrible! My periods used to be so light, and barely any pain. Now I have super heavy bleeding and horrible cramps. I feel like my pain starts a week before my period and lasts until a week after.
I seem to go between having diarhea and being constipated all the time. Since I have taken medicine for my stomach though, the diarhea has mostly gone away.
I have had several ultrasounds where there is free fluid in my abdomin. They always tell me I probably had a cyst burst, but I dont think thats what happened.
Can free fluid on ultrasound be caused by endometriosis?
I have read surgery can cause endometriosis. I have had an appendectomy, an ovarian cyst removed and an amniocentisis. Could any of these caused endometriosis?
I seem to always have a high white blood cell count, does this have anything to do with endometriosis?
Any insite, advice, or pretty much anything would be appreciated. I am talking to my doctor on the phone for the first time tomorrow about this and I am in pain right now! Thanks