Today I had my IUD taken out. The removal and following exam were excruciating. The pain was as severe as when I was in difficult labor.
I cried and moaned – something I never do. I’m always sensitive at those visits, but I usually am able to breath through the pain. Not today. The pain was so intense I could barely catch my breath.
Then came the best part: The doctor told me the IUD was fine.
It only took me a moment to realize what that means: it isn’t the IUD causing all the problems. (Although I highly suspect it was the initial culprit.)
The doctor reviewed my symptoms again and told me he thinks I may have something like/endometriosis. This news was very unexpected to me. He wanted to do an immediate transvaginal ultrasound, but he knew there was no way I could stand it. I was gasping for air, tears running down my cheeks. He had blood work drawn and I made a return appointment for next week.
For several years I did not want to have more children. Then life circumstances changed, and although some times haven’t been the greatest, I’m at a much happier place.
Now that may not be possible. I am somewhat devastated. I do realize things could be fine. If you have a moment to send a positive vibe I could certainly use it.
I’m taking serious antibiotics and pain medicine until next week.
My question for you:
Do you have experience with endometriosis? Do you know of positive outcomes you can share? I need more hope than I have right now.
Peace and love,
~P
My sister has endometriosis so I know from her stories how painful that can be. Resist letting them put you into an induced menopause. There are too many negatives to that treatment and doctors seem dismissive of the side effects. This probably won’t comfort you much but now that my sister is in real menopause, her symptoms are much much better.
Sending hugs… it is all I can do.
I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this. My wife developed a polyp with the IUD and had to have a DUC; they suspected endometriosis at one point and it caused her all sorts of hormonal problems until it was fixed – but it did get fixed. My thoughts and my fingers are crossed for you. Hugs.
I’m so sorry to hear you are going through this! Unfortunately, I don’t have any experience with endometriosis. But I do have experience with dismissive doctors when it comes to ladypart problems. Like the earlier post said, don’t let them force you to do something youu don’t want. There is always another way. Get a second, third, fourth, and fifth opinion if you have to. Keep fighting. We’re all behind you.
I can’t offer you anything else but you DO have my HOPE.
Thanks so much for your comments and support.
Today was a better day – probably because I didn’t have a doctor poking around down there. I’m still in a lot of pain and struggling with the side effects of the medicines.
If you know anyone who has been through this, please direct them to this post – or have them email me at pollyvincere at gmail dot com. There is just so little information out there and the fear is the worst part.
Doctors suspected me of having it, but couldn’t say one way or the other. My doc back then was a renowned guy at Magee in Pittsburgh, a women’s hospital. He’d told me that one of the best things for endometriosis was to have fewer periods. The more periods, the worse it would get. So he had me on something akin to Seasonale, before it was called that.
I’m currently on the tail end of Mirena and I dread having it taken out. Putting it in, he’d told me the pain I experienced during and esp after was the worst by far of any of his patients. Most were fine in minutes. I felt like it was labor, not that I’d know, but surely damn close! And it was like that for days after.