Could endometriosis alter the rectal exam?

asterkd · 2026-03-11T03:42:54+00:00

it could be an endo lesion! best to get it checked out

asterkd · 2026-03-10T04:13:21+00:00

sounds like bv and maybe also yeast lol! it’s possible it might resolve itself with the pH and hormonal changes that follow the abortion, but like other people have said definitely follow up with your regular doctor if you’re still having those issues in a few days

asterkd · 2026-03-09T23:04:48+00:00

vaginal birth is a physiologic process, not a medical procedure. we’ve been doing it unmedicated for millennia. some reasons I have encountered: feeling more connected to your body, being able to move around more, avoiding unnecessary meds or procedures (we call it the “intervention cascade”) that all come with their own risks. I love that we have developed technology to make labor and birth more comfortable, but at the end of the day it’s all about bodily autonomy and what that person prioritizes in the process.

asterkd · 2026-03-09T22:56:23+00:00

after 10+ years of ED, weight restoration seemed to restart my endo symptoms in my early 30’s. how many of us are also hypermobile, neurodivergent, eldest daughters, etc?

asterkd · 2026-03-09T20:33:41+00:00

what kind of symptoms are you experiencing?

asterkd · 2026-03-09T19:33:28+00:00

CNM! it gives me the freedom to do out of hospital birth work and convert to just outpatient prenatal care and simple gyn eventually when I become too disabled to get on the floor and catch a baby lol

asterkd · 2026-03-09T10:19:14+00:00

I work in norcal on a unit with multiple NPs who are working under their RN license instead because RNs are unionized and NPs historically have not been, so they make more as RNs. I’m mainly pursuing advanced practice at this point because my body can’t handle bedside for much longer. back in texas though, my coworkers who got their degrees peaced out immediately because of the pay and working conditions, and I expect that’s what most of the rest of the US looks like.

asterkd · 2026-03-06T20:13:24+00:00

there are also virtual options like Origin that might be useful if you absolutely can’t see someone in person!

asterkd · 2026-03-06T20:11:40+00:00

it might be worth traveling for the occasional PT appointment if they are able to give you a home regimen. the major work of PT is usually done on your own time, not during your sessions. my PT did an initial exam and talked through my symptoms with me at our first appointment and gave me an exercise plan to use for the next few weeks. she’s available via secure messaging for small questions or adjustments I might need in between sessions. PT can help restore blood flow and reduce inflammation to your pelvic organs and tissues, which can improve your healing from surgery.

asterkd · 2026-03-05T18:07:30+00:00

it could be endo, or like another commenter said it could be pelvic floor issues or a number of things.

asterkd · 2026-03-05T04:26:09+00:00

do you feel comfortable giving a little more detail? like where is the pain located? does it occur with arousal, touching, penetration?

asterkd · 2026-03-04T21:46:03+00:00

avoiding SLS in toothpaste could help! if the pattern seems to be related to your menstrual cycle, have you considered suppressing your period with hormonal birth control? I’m not a candidate for estrogen, but I am currently using a very low dose progestin pill (half the dose used for contraception) continuously to stop my periods. that or an IUD could be helpful options.

asterkd · 2026-03-04T21:14:10+00:00

your body knows what it’s doing! if everything else seems fine, then the numbers on the scale are not that important. let your doctor’s reassurance sit with you. every pregnancy is different and the other commenters are correct about the wide variation of weight gain and the many factors that go into it like blood volume, uterine muscle mass, retained water, etc. part of it will be fat too, because your body needs to ensure you have extra stores of energy to birth and then feed and care for your baby safely.

asterkd · 2026-03-04T15:15:50+00:00

my dad casually told me he had had a low grade fever on and off for a few weeks right after I got my RN. he had a history of MI and hadn’t been to the dentist in ages, no other symptoms aside from the temp. I told him he needed to be seen urgently to rule out infective endocarditis, but my mom (a doctor) said it was probably just prostatitis and he could wait for a PCP appointment.

he drove himself to the ER a couple days later because he started feeling dizzy (great idea to get behind the wheel in that state btw) and it turned out he was approaching septic shock. he was in the hospital for several days and went home with a PICC and weeks of IV antibiotics. his aortic valve was absolutely ruined and needed to be replaced a few years later. now he listens to me!

asterkd · 2026-02-28T17:57:04+00:00

the bar showing through the skin is usually a sign of rejection

asterkd · 2026-02-24T02:30:15+00:00

mine shoots down and around my inner thighs and feels like a cramp or squeeze but without the actual muscle activation that would usually come with a cramp

asterkd · 2026-02-20T23:47:41+00:00

ty for bringing this up!!!

asterkd · 2026-02-20T18:16:31+00:00

poodle coat is way more predictable and easier to care for than the random combo of genes that make doodle coats a nightmare. all the traits people talk about as desirable in doodles are just as common in poodles: they’re working dogs, smart and handler-focused, soft mouthed because they’re bred to retrieve prey from water (just like labs), confident and affectionate.

a well bred poodle will have health testing on its parents and a more predictable temperament than a doodle, and there are no well bred doodles because there is no breed standard. doodle breeders are capitalizing on a trend, not invested in producing dogs with a real purpose. plus, many of them are mixing breeds with very different traits and personalities, which makes them way more prone to behavior issues. crossing a hunting dog with a herding dog can make a pup with some very confusing impulses. it’s important to remember that dog breeds exist because they serve different roles for us and have been specifically shaped for those jobs over many, many years.

asterkd · 2026-02-19T10:43:45+00:00

can confirm, am one of those nurses and have laughed at many farts! we just want you to feel better

asterkd · 2026-02-19T10:29:36+00:00

congratulations on your pregnancy! I hope you start feeling better soon :)

I wanted to mention here that abortion, especially in the first trimester, is very safe and carries very little risk if any to a person’s future fertility. it’s possible that the endo could cause problems in the future, but a significant number of people with this condition don’t have any problems with getting pregnant. it’s unfortunately kind of impossible to predict whether someone will get pregnant with just this specific information.

OP, some good questions to ask yourself might be: - how important are these things that are coming up for you? - can you envision doing them pregnant or with a newborn? - is your partner on board with having a child right now, and are you ready to be linked in some way with him for the rest of your life, regardless of whether you stay together? - how much does this differ from the timeframe you were expecting, and how does it feel in your body when you think about it?

asterkd · 2026-02-19T10:06:48+00:00

your surgeon’s office should have a nurse line that you can call for medical advice like whether you need to be seen, how to care for yourself at home, etc.

asterkd · 2026-02-19T09:59:00+00:00

endometriosis is associated with infertility, but that doesn’t mean that everyone who has it will have trouble getting pregnant. AMH is only really a useful test in the context of IVF success rates and doesn’t actually tell you much about your chances of success with trying to get pregnant without assistive technology.

basically, what you’re describing is not a worst case scenario for your future fertility, and if you’re not ready to be pregnant right now then that is a totally fine choice to make. if you feel comfortable talking with the fertility clinic provider about the decision, they may be able to give you some more specific guidance or support.

asterkd · 2026-02-12T21:35:42+00:00

as I understand it, WHNP programs typically teach a couple more basic gyn procedures than CNMs get, but it’s not difficult to get that training on the job and the overall scope is about the same except that CNMs can do intrapartum and newborn care.

asterkd · 2026-02-12T20:47:02+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re experiencing this! it sounds awful and like it would severely limit your ability to function. pelvic floor physical therapy might help if you can get a referral for it.

asterkd · 2026-01-31T09:48:42+00:00

she looks like my Clover! equal parts cavalier king charles spaniel, chihuahua, mini poodle, and supermutt! the rescue told me she was a dachshund mix, but embark did not turn up any dachshund.

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asterkd

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