You may want to look into filing for intermittent FMLA. My work is making me do it...basically you get 480 hours per 12 months that you can take off for doctors appointments and treatments and they legally can't let you go. Your doctor will need to fill out the paperwork to document that you have a condition that requires treatments and appointments or even just days off to rest.

And by the way...I would push for the surgery. Not only will you know for sure, but a skilled surgeon can remove the endometriosis and give you some relief. Welcome, and good luck.

I agree with Kdeezy, you should file FMLA if you can. Just be aware that you need to be working at the employer for at least a year, if it is seasonal work then it doesn't have to be a consecutive year, they may also need to have a certain number of employees to be required to cover FMLA (im not 100% about that though).
I would also push for the surgery, the only way to be diagnosed is to have surgery and it is always better to know what is going on with your body that way it can be dealt with properly. (I wish I had pushed my dr's years ago to figure out what was going on).
I hope you find answers and some relief soon!

Thank you so much for your replies! It is so nice to come here and not feel alone. I will ask more about the surgery when I speak to my GYN next week. I'm mostly just annoyed that people do not take the pain seriously. My HR manager actually said to my 'oh I'm sure its not that bad where you can't work.' I work in a factory and frequently lift 30 pounds.

I'm just trying to take it one day at a time, but having people that minimalize what I'm feeling sucks. But I think I really do want to push for the surgery. At least if its not there I'll know either way. Thank you again :)

Is the FMLA just in certain areas or certain jobs? How does a person find out about that, as I have had to leave work a number of times for dr's appts and procedures for my Endo. It's a nuisance losing time and pay on those occasions. And to Kayla91, good luck with your appointment. I know it took me a few years going back and forth to finally get diagnosed. So hopefully you can get caught and treated early. Welcome to our group!!

@endo80, I am not sure if there are exclusions to certain types of employers, I have read that employers do need to have a certain number of employees to be required to offer FMLA. What I can say is that FMLA is not paid time off. It is more of protection for your job that provides up 12 weeks per calendar year off in the case of sickness and adoption, have a baby etc. Some employers will offer paid time off for FMLA, but this is more like a short term disability type thing, which has been my experience that many employers do not offer this benefit.
Here is a link to the department of labor that explains a little bit more
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/benefits-leave/fmla.htm
Also, if your job does cover FMLA this should be discussed in your employee hand book or benefits package. If you for whatever reason do not have access to these items you should be able to contact your HR person and they should be able to provide that information to you.
Good luck.

The issue I am having Is that in order to get short term disability, they wand proof of diagnosis. Which I can't get without having a lap surgery. Which I can't get without missing more work. I'm pretty much stuck. And I do not qualify for FMLA as I have not been there a year.

But all of my tests came back normal, so now I need to discuss with my GYN where we should go from here. I am really going to push for the surgery, it would just be easier to know one way or the other what's wrong. Hopefully I will be able to speak to my doctor on Monday morning.

Oh..Kayla91, Sending you big hugs...Sorry you have to be here but welcome!

I totally get where your coming from as I have been dx'd with Endo, Cystic ovaries and also a breast cancer dx. Its so discouraging and disheartening when you can't get the support you need. I wish that for like an entire weekend the people who say these things to us would have to live thro exactly what we have to live thro so they could see how it feels.

I have no advice about work as both of my employment places were so extremely wonderful and I'm very grateful for that.

But as far as pain management if you can get some time to pill around on the forum there is some wonderful advice about diet, meds, surgery, alternative health care such as acupuncture, massage therapy etc.

There is a wealth of knowledge from the ladies that reside here. :)

For me when my pain got really bad it helped for me to keep on a schedule. Ie going to bed at the same time, eating at the same time, taking all my meds at the same time every day, monotonous I know but for some reason it helped me deal with the pain better.

I also wonder if maybe after surgery if you could try the pelvic floor therapy that some of us on the forum have done? I have tried it and it has helped immensely with my pain.

I hope that you come to a crossroads soon where you are able to figure this all out and put it behind you! Sending you healing sparkles....

Thank you for the reply. I spoke to my doc earlier today, and I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon to discuss options for pain management. I'm on naproxen ATM, which is not doing much. The ortho evera patch is helping very slightly. Its just frustrating lol.

Well, I saw my doctor today. He checked for PID, but said that its probably not there. He wants me to wait another 2 months until surgery is even an option. His plan until then is keeping me on NSAIDS to deal with the pain.

I'm just so frustrated! I just want to be better already. I have not been working because I have pain standing for more than 20 mins. I feel so defeated. I have no idea what to do... Heating pad doesn't work, naproxen isn't working, it sucks!

Sorry for the vent. Any possible advice is welcome. I'm curious as to how others manage this pain.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. The last time things got really bad, I was eating naproxen like candy and curled around my heating pad all the time without relief.

I also had a doctor who was reluctant to prescribe anything for the pain. I finally broke down and went to urgent care, where they helped and referred me to a different doctor plus physical therapy.

Everyone is different, but if you're having painthat interferes with your life and work that isn't helped by otc medication and your doctor is continuing to recommend otc medication, it seems like time to change part of the equation. Is there any way you could go to a different doctor, or go to urgent care?

I have (yet another) appointment next week where we will reassess the situation. He said that he wants me to keep track of the pain to pinpoint where exactly it is and what my limitations should be. I do trust my doc to not do anything to make it worse, and I understand his reasoning. I'm just hoping to find relief sooner rather than later.