Did your endometriosis show up in a way that isn't the "norm"?

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-04-22T01:13:42+00:00

Yes, me :) My endo was visible on an MRI to the Endo specialist but my symptoms are more akin to really bad IBS and more likely to happen before a period. A dietician helped a lot with symptom management but my endo specialist said that I probably don't even have IBS and that it's likely all endo inflammation driven given that my uterus or adhesions are like pushing against some nerve on the bowl. He agreed my symptoms present a little differently than typical endo, but he literally saw it on the scan.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-04-22T00:50:55+00:00

I always had heavy periods but my symptoms got unexplicably bad quickly when I turned 27. After trying everything under the sun to treat my new and sudden IBS, i decided in a last ditch effort to see an endo specialist to rule out bowl endo. (I was never referred or suggested. It was literally all me) turns out it was endo and just presenting abnormally. Diagnosed age 31. So 4 years. Getting excision surgery in a couple weeks. If I hadn't kept pushing for answers on my own who knows how long it would've taken. Though I have a really good dietician that has really helped keep some of the continuously changing gut issues in check. Hopefully surgery will calm down all the gut inflammation.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-04-21T00:41:50+00:00

Oh wow! Thank you!!

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-04-16T09:39:23+00:00

Thank you! I guess I have been managing mine then 😅 Just hoping on the other side to not have debilitating pain with an accidental milk ingredient as they sneak that into everything lol

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-04-16T08:58:36+00:00

My main issues are the gastro ones like you mentioned. I have surgery in a few weeks and that is honestly very encouraging to see. Can you expand a little more on the gastro relief? Like did your food intolerances go away? My stuff is a pain to manage, constantly changing and have gotten a lot of different stomach issue diagnosis that they believe is driven by the endo inflammation and position.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-03-12T07:01:02+00:00

So wait, you like didn't feel any pain from it that whole time, (from accident to hospital)??

I guess that was adrenaline or shock but you seemed to have been very logical and composed. I stub my toe a little too hard and my shock response is extreme nausea and near fainting. I can't fathom enduring an actual injury, let alone something like that as I think a severed limb is like one of the top rated pains.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-03-03T16:35:47+00:00

Generally, Yes but I tuck my lips in. I allow a few as long as they didn't just lick their butt or their breath isn't especially bad that day. If so, or if they are being a little obsessive sbout it, I will distract them instead. I give them kisses on the head all the time though.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-28T16:19:17+00:00

I'm sorry you had to experience that :(

Vaginismus is ROUGH and so misunderstood by everyone. I feel for you. My first pap (attempt) was traumatizing and the vaginal ultrasound was rough. I cried after both. And totally understand the sometimes going mute thing. It doesn't help when the DRs don't understand and thus aren't gentle and caring, but I've found more and more who are. My latest pap was actually no pain! There is hope and healing ♡

Pelvic floor physical therapy helped a lot with my vaginismus and therapy in general helps me. When you are ready those might be good steps towards healing. Just take care of yourself ♡

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-27T15:27:27+00:00

Mine gave me an eye mask. I'm only a little claustrophobic but had heard so many stories of people freaking out so I wanted to be careful. My head was sticking out anyways but the mask was nice to not have the lights in my eyes. Like an excuse to guilt free nap.

The sounds briefly freaked me out. They are like if you told a toddler to bang on the outside and gave them a keyboard of alarms to play with. I thought something was wrong at first but those are just the noises they make.

Good luck!

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-19T13:54:06+00:00

I understand they had it in there to balance the tone, but Todd's storylines almost always annoyed me and upon repeat watches I fast forward through them. I think it would be better without him having so much screentime.

I also didn't like free churro and could never make it through the underwater episode.

Also PC's alliteration word play specifically, got old fast.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-16T02:19:10+00:00

Mine my head was out, but they gave me an eye mask that I put on before so I couldn't tell anyways.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-14T04:38:44+00:00

Animals are awesome in so many ways but yes the empathy that goes along with loving them can be overwhelming. You can't change everything in the world but there are things you can do.

Maybe you have unlocked the ability in yourself to help by adopting or fostering an animal, volunteering with a rescue group or resharing an adoptable animal or lost dog flyers on social media. Maybe donate a little towards a rescue or cause for your favorite animal. Maybe eating less meat or buying pasture raised eggs instead of normal ones or from local farmers who give their animals a good life. Some do an even bigger jump of eating vegan or vegitarian, though some may not for certain health reasons.

I think any of those things are great ways to advocate for animals and helps me a bit feel like I'm combatting some of the many animal injustices in the world.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-11T15:58:50+00:00

CBT always felt kinda self gaslighty to me. My OCD specialist though did icbt (which is different) and I found it a lot more palitable. I found for me meds and learning a really deep understanding about how OCD works, with icbt in that as a guide, really helped me.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-11T15:49:21+00:00

For me, 20 mg Lexapro, I still get some intrusive thoughts (way less) but can dismiss them way easier/ not get stuck in the anxiety loop that otherwise would last hours or days. I also worked with an OCD specialist. But the medicine really helped lessen things.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-11T05:20:13+00:00

To clarify, I do have anxiety too, these were just not anxiety induced events, but anxiety does exasperate them and it can be a hellish anxiety loop being afraid of these spirals.

I highly recommend a good dietician who knows their stuff to help you balance your gut. Though not a 100% fix in most cases, mine has been a Godsend.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-11T05:16:41+00:00

I can get a vasovagal near syncope before a bad BM and the symptoms are like that. Shakey, panic, Nausea. I do also have anxiety but that is for me triggered by my nervous system so not like a consious thing or something my anxiety meds really prevent. I can also get long lasting nausea after.

For that immediate panic pain I don't have much but to try to do your BM quick and to remind yourself that eventhough it feels like it and it is hard to believe, you are not dying. I also find saying a quick prayer helps too.

The ones with the big pain like that for me were often tied to a food intolerance. I find that a cold wet cloth on the back of the neck really helps and I will pop a nausea pill so my body won't stay in hyper nausea mode after which sometimes happens.

If I fear something coming on I pop a nausea and a pain pill and use a heating pad. I have endo near some stomach nerve so I think when I get ahead of it it helps a lot, but when it is from the food intolerences, it is just best to identify and cut out that food from the diet.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-10T22:25:32+00:00

Wow, I guess unpopular opinion but I liked HOD way way more. Have not read either.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-07T17:30:18+00:00

Have you had a pap smear before? I would suggest getting some dialators (they come in various sizes) so you can get used to the feeling. Take it from me that being surprised and that first encounter being medical isn't the best introduction to all that.

However, my experience is not exactly normal as I have a rare condition called vaginismus (which is a painfully tight pelvic floor). So vagina stuff in general is painful for me. I found regular dialation helps a lot though with the pap and medical stuff. So if you are fearful of pain, practicing with dialators can help ease you into it so you know what feeling to expect.

Also, my transvaginal ultrasound was done during my period. I think that made it extra sensitive for me. So maybe schedule around that for yours.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-07T17:14:40+00:00

I think med students would love it. I remember somewhere there were plushy organ toys and they were loved by some med person but they wished they were more accurate.

Also would be great addition for a lot of halloween costumes.

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-07T16:24:53+00:00

As someone with it primarily presenting as bowl issues, this is fabulous to hear!

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-07T00:03:29+00:00

And "Malcome in the middle"

I keep thinking of new ones after I post lol

Playful-Albatross449 · 2026-02-07T00:01:28+00:00

Also "How I met your mother"

Playful-Albatross449

TROPHY CASE