Hi Tori -

I'm so sorry :( An ultrasound rarely shows endometriosis. I've heard it will only show up on an ultrasound if you have a really large mass or an endometrioma. I had several ultrasounds before my lap and they only showed that I have PCOS; they couldn't see any endo. Maybe you should see another doctor or question your current doctor on his reasoning. Don't give up :)

I'm sorry about your bladder. The bladder symptoms are terrible. Did he mention testing you for Interstitial Cystitis?

Endometriosis and adhesions are NOT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM viewable on an ultrasound!!!!! He is 100% wrong. You need a second opinion ASAP.
Occasionally, in some rare circumstances, endo is viewable on a very well done MRI. I have severe adhesions that attached my bowel to my uterus, obliterated my entire cul de sac/rectal area and endometriosis on my ureters etc. I have had about 20 ultrasounds all showing nothing and when I saw a great surgeon he explained that it would be a miracle for them, a colonoscopy or even an MRI to show anything. He reassured me that he knew I had problems and during surgery he discovered we were both correct.

Can you see someone who is a specialist in endo? Ask the girls on here where one in your area is? If you have severe cramps during your period, you can also have a presacral neurectomy or LUNA procedure by a specialized surgeon. I had this last year and have not had ONE CRAMP since then. I used to have 30-50 hours severe cramps and now I have nothing.
You are not being given correct information and I hope you can get someone else to help you. I hate to be so forward, but it upsets me to even hear a doctor telling you to 'wait' because of information that is NOT CORRECT. I bet my life on the fact that no one on this board has their endometriosis monitored by ultrasound (it can see cysts etc., but not endo which is normally microscopic!!!).

Thank you Utah, I appreciate your forwardness. I haven't been able to stop crying and i feel stupid for doing it. I just feel incrediably drained as Im sure most girls on here do.

I think my gyne wants to have a clear field to work in and wants to see me completely stripped of all hormones so I have a period etc. He thinks that might be why I'm having all the pain. I'm willing to humour him for a couple weeks. He said to me that he doesnt expect to find much endo if he does go in because mine was so mild at the last lap.

I also think that he wants to get my bladder right before he attempts surgery because i had some nasty problems after the last one concerning that.

I think all today was, just the shock of having to wait a lil bit longer after I got it into my head that it was gonna sorted very soon. He is a great doctor and listens to me. And i know lots of people that go and see him. I shall do what he has told me and write down everything that happens and will present it to him in a couple weeks when I go back.

It is interesting that so many Dr's use ultrasound to see endometriosis when in fact you can't really.

Did everything look absolutely normal on your last ultrasounds? Or was there any suspicion?
I will definitely ask him about the LUNA procedure especially if I am coming off the BC pills completely and will thus have a regular cycle. I tend to get severe cramps for 5 agonising days..

Thank you Kate also for your input. I forgot to ask him about IC!!! I will do next time. I'll know more once I get the prescription for the drug he wants me on for that..

im suprised no doc has mentioned IC to you after your bladder probs? they should take a look with a cystoscopy ( i think its called ) at the sae time they do a lap.
i been visiting specialists for two years now, and i thought at the beginning... easy, get diagnosed, get sorted, and ill be back to normal in no time. and im stil not there. finally i a having a lap. i do not know what i am oing to do if they find nothing ! the despair i feel feels so endless.
what was he hoping to see with an ultrasound ?! my last doc said she hopes i stop looking whats wrong with me if i get an MRI and nothing shows... pfft ! no way could i stop looking. what if i didnt read up over the past two yrs, listened to her and nothing showing on MRI and me thinking... oh well then there really is nothing.
its good that you are coming off BC to have a period.. i think the body needs t be regulated, and to see what its naturally doing to assess everything..
i hope i gave you something you could grasp.. relate to ?
xx

You really might want to consider getting a second opinion. Sure your doc might be a nice guy, but finding an experienced and intelligent doc will probably be more beneficial.Also, i've discovered that some physicians recommend what is the best for their bank account instead of what their patients.

Take care sweetie.
Lovebyrd

I agree with the ladies about a second opinion! He can't see Endo on an ultrasound. They can see cysts.

You need a lap with a doctor who knows what he is doing! While the doctor is in there he can perform a cystoscopy to see what is going on with your bladder and rule out Interstitial Cystitis. I have both Endo and IC. On top of that a real doctor can do other things that may help you like a D&C and a HSG test to see if your tubes are clear. As far as LUNA goes, make sure the doctor is an expert in that! I had that done, but only by an Endometriosis specialist.

Good luck and continue to be strong! Demand only the best! You deserve to feel better! :) **hugs**

Thank you guys for your input. Unfortunately this guy is the second opinion hehe. He's so much better then my last gyne and he hasn't said he's not going to do a lap but he wants to get my bladder under control see if the meds will help it and to see how I am during a cycle and after.

After sleeping on it and calming down, I am ready to fight again. I still think I'll have a lap before I go back to University. I'm going to try the drugs for the bladder and have a period which I'm sure will give me an interesting week..

In case I wasn't clear because I think I have been babbling, I was diagnosed with endo last year but believe that there is possibly more on my bladder or bowel.

Oh my gosh, I SO know how you feel! I just posted about my doctor who is my third opinion... he wants to do a lap for endo, cysts and a clogged vein that runs into my uterus. But they can't REALLY know for sure what is going on until they do the lap, and even with insurance it's REALLY expensive, so I guess we will save money until we can afford it.

It really sucks. It's like you hurt and they give you medicine, but then 10 other side effects pop up from the medicine, too. So while the cramping might stop for a bit, you'll be totally constipated and moody with dry mouth, too! Wow, that really helps, right?!

I am really trying to commit to diet and exercise and trying to take less pain medication, but it's so hard when all you want is a little relief!

Feel free to email me anytime to vent!
xoxo

I agree...my OBGYN (as much as I didn't like her) said the only way to see endo was with a lap....I've had a bunch of US, CT scans, etc, for pelvic pain and the only thing that can see are cysts. They were able to tell me that they were complex...looked like bleeding, another burst, more bleeding. Blood inside blood. But couldn't diagnose me. They only used my symptoms.

I really hope they can figure something out for you. I have kidney stone problems and I've been stressing about whether what I'm feeling is a stone or a new cyst. It's frustrating to have many different problems, all in the same area. I've been trying to be strong and live through the pain, but sometimes I just cry. Thankfully, we have a place to come and cry together!

I had ultrasounds that were clear many times. Finally I insisted on a lap and low and behold I had a ton of it with adhesions. The US theory is B.S.!!! Unless of course you also have cysts.

Just wanted to let you know my experience with the bladder medication. I am not sure which one he is giving you, but my doctor prescribed medication for me at first as well. Well, it didn't work. I gained 10 pounds instantly. The side effects for all the bladder meds is weight gain BTW after I researched them all online. I went back to him not so happy with the results and insisted on the next step. He wanted to put me on a "different" bladder medication and told me weight gain was "no big deal." I declined. I opted for the cystoscopy and bladder distention instead. That is when I had an answer to what was going on. I am now on an IC medication and I have no side effects from. Thank goodness! :) Just wanted to let you know in case you have problems as well sweetie. All of our bodies are so different however.

Thank you Lindsay for that. I'm not sure what he's going to put me on but I'll know by Monday or Tuesday when i get them.
If it doesn't work within the first 2 weeks I'm going to insist on a lap. And if I gain all that weight I'm coming off them because I've already had to lose a ton of weight I gained on the BC pill cerazette!
Really appreciate the warning! :) I'll be on my first period in a couple of months too so I'll be wearing stretchy trousers! hehe!

dont forget to insist on a cystoscopy when you have your lap done..
x

to all you ladies... NEVER STOP LOOKING FOR A SECOND THIRD FOURTH FITH SIXTH OPINION! until a doctor tells you what youve been waiting to hear... leave. I got 9-10 opinions b4 i found and kept my obgyn. Everyone wanted me to have a hysterectomy and i was only 22,... but since i didnt listen and kept getting another opinion, i have my daughter... Izabella.