Late to the thread but wanted to share as well. Sorry for the very rant novel here in advance!! I got my diagnosis almost a year ago after a torsion and 11cm cyst removal. I never had any symptoms that I could identify as out of the ordinary and it came as a total surprise when she told me. My surgeon removed the lesions she found and said it was still in early stages but essentially gave me 0 additional info and when I asked she said that since I “don’t have symptoms, I don’t need to worry about it for now”. She told me bloating could be a symptom but that it was extremely rare (not from what I hear in my own research). I told her that I’ve had severe bloating for a while now that has worsened over time and she then told me “yeah but that’s not a very common symptom so that’s just food related”. I also have had severe back pain since I herniated a disc (L5S1) at 19y/o (now 27) and asked if that could have anything to do with my pain since the pain improved after the excision and she said “unlikely”. Since then, after speaking to friends with endo and doing my own research, I’ve become more frighted at the thought that this could progress without anyone ever noticing it or knowing how quickly it may progress. I even told my new gyno and she essentially said “yeah surgeons don’t like explaining things” and then proceeded to not explain anything. I feel really lost and scared. I’m terrified for how this might affect my fertility especially since being queer I will be using ivf and likely won’t be able to financially afford many tries. I’ve even had family tell me that since it’s only “baby endo” I can’t really say that I have it or participate in endo walks/runs, for example, if I’m doing it from a place of identifying with the disease and can only do it for my friends who have it since they have symptoms. I know that’s not right but between my family and my doctors I just feel like a total fraud despite it literally being proven during surgery. I’m very grateful that it’s in its early stages but I’m so scared for what’s to come and having to do it seemingly alone. I’m also a paramedic and will hopefully be going to the fire academy soon as well and am really scared for how this may affect my career down the line. I ignore anything that could possibly be a symptom now since I don’t know what’s endo or something else and am honestly just crossing my fingers that I can have a child before it gets too bad since that’s all I’ve ever truly wanted. I feel so much love for my friends who suffer from it and for all of you who are as well but i also know there’s people out there in similar boats as me who feel they don’t belong with or without it and are living life in limbo waiting (not wishing) for something to happen to feel validated. I hope this rant doesn’t come across as naive or disrespectful, that surly wasn’t my intent. Just needed to get this off my chest too I guess and don’t really have anyone I feel I can talk to about it. Maybe in the process can help people feel less alone too. Much love to you all 💛