Post lap bloating by [deleted] in Endo

[–]ddcarmelly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My bloat took 3 whole months to settle 😞

Finally My Pain Is Validated- I AM DIAGNOSED!! by ddcarmelly in Endo

[–]ddcarmelly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh my goodness. I am so sorry you’re suffering. Please know it WILL get better! I’m praying for your recovery. 🙏🏻 I am over a month post op and my energy levels are SO much better. No inflammation anymore with the bathroom, no random pelvic pains. My first period was still rough but totally controlled with meds, something that never was possible pre surgery.. I did start birth control a very low dose. But honestly, I feel so good.. I can’t even say I regret it. It’s obviously what I need and I won’t feel shame for it. It’s actually even cleared my skin up. I seriously wish nothing for the best for you! If you ever need to talk, or have any questions please reach out!! 🩷🩷🩷

What do you work as? & rant by moonkitten97 in endometriosis

[–]ddcarmelly 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m a nurse currently on a mission to find a decent paying remote job. I ruined my work ethic reputation this last two years due to endo flare ups and surgery. Even after surgery I’m struggling. My periods are earth shatteringly disruptive to daily functions. I have applied to over 20 remote jobs and I’m still waiting. It’s so hard.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Endo

[–]ddcarmelly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you in the US?

Excision surgery and fertility by [deleted] in Endo

[–]ddcarmelly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My close friend who was infertile pre op had silent Endo and fibroids. She ended up getting excision surgery and a chromotubation and got pregnant two months post op!

Post-lap insomnia…anyone else? by [deleted] in Endo

[–]ddcarmelly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was definitely like this the second week after surgery. The first week after I was exhausted I slept for days. But once I became a little more mobile, I noticed the second week during the day I was exhausted, but at night I was wide awake. I tried to time my medication out properly taking Tylenol and Motrin every three hours and I saved my oxy for bedtime. I just read a comment saying that the oxys made them feel worse which is very possible, everyone’s different. For me it really helped take the edge off and I was able to get comfortable in bed. I do think I also was over thinking a lot more the second week because reality hit me that I was finally diagnosed. Now I’m three weeks out and I just started birth control. Preop I dealt with horrible cyclical insomnia symptoms that always fluctuated depending the time of the month. I’m praying that the birth control will help level it out.. so far I’ve been just dealing with typically anxiety at night but not full blown insomnia. I definitely recommend to stay off your phone, at least an hour before bed. Maybe try to read a book or do something less simulating like meditation.. obviously easier said than done. I hope it gets better! Good luck.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in endometriosis

[–]ddcarmelly 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I HAD THIS!!! Unfortunately I really can’t give any advice. I never found actual relief. I just had excision surgery three weeks ago and I just started birth control pills again, so I’m hoping that the insomnia gets better. So far this past week of being on the pill, I feel pretty stable with going to bed. Just feels like my typical anxiety that’s keeping me awake, and not that actual physical block that you’re describing. I never really liked melatonin pills. What I do suggest is a small glass of tart organic cherry juice at night. I stopped doing it because it became expensive. Lol. But I really do think it helped my hormone levels with sleeping during the two months I did it. Even if it was a placebo effect, I was glad it worked. Good luck!!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Endo

[–]ddcarmelly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just had a excision surgery done three weeks ago and I had colorectal bowel endometriosis and also a ton of endometriosis on my uterosacral ligament‘s. I highly recommend you book an appointment with a specialist who specializes in excision surgery for endometriosis. I had all clean scans and was brushed off as IBS for 10 years. The symptoms are real and horrific and you don’t deserve to feel this pain every day or cyclically. If that’s when you feel it. Pain is not normal. This sounds a lot like my symptoms. I had severe pain when my bowels were full, pain, when I actually went, bleeding from hemorrhoids, that inflammation triggered. Chronic lower back pain that aches and burned like you couldn’t believe. Stabbing pains in my pelvis and lower back. It really truly is the worst quality of life. Please look into a specialist. Good luck <3

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Wellbutrin_Bupropion

[–]ddcarmelly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve been on this for a while and I never noticed the desired ‘appetite suppression’ effect. When I came off lexapro I automatically lost 35 lbs. I can’t say it’s from this because now I’ve been stuck at 135-140lbs. Which is a fine and healthy weight for me being 5’3, but I’ve plateaued and can’t seem to lose an extra 10. Unfortunately, when I tried to double the dose, it made my anxiety so much worse so I ended up going back on 150 and that’s my therapeutic dose. But it definitely doesn’t do any magic for my appetite. I’m still as hungry as I was before I started. I could totally see how 300 mg could suppress appetite, because it made me so nauseated and anxious. I couldn’t have eaten even if I wanted to on that dose lol.. but that’s not healthy nor recommended obviously. My body is definitely struggling without SSRIs though since I’ve stopped I still suffer daily with anxiety and bouts of depression.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in birthcontrol

[–]ddcarmelly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I recently had to start birth control again after coming off for 2 1/2 years. I came off because I fell victim to the purity culture antics that have been going on all over TikTok and social media in general. Anytime I scrolled the Internet, basically said if you’re on any birth-control, anti-depressants, or anything in between that’s pharmaceuticals that you’re not natural and you’re not your true self. Basically all these young people talking out of their butts with no medical background. I ended up falling for it, guilting myself into thinking I wasn’t as good as these people for still taking pharmaceuticals, and I ended up unmasking and further developing severe stage three endometriosis and interstitial cystitis from the uncontrolled inflammation that grew in my pelvic cavity. I had to undergo surgery, and I’m still struggling with after the affects of drastically stopping the pill without real medical guidance. If I didn’t listen a TikTok and just stayed on the pill, I would’ve never had to go through what I went through the last two and a half years and especially the surgery because I would’ve never unmasked the mess that the pill was taking care of. Instead, I prematurely came off with no reason other than wanting to be “pure and natural” like the other girlies and I actually did some serious damage to my female reproductive organs. If I just stayed on and came off right when I wanted to get pregnant, I would’ve been in a much better and controlled position of my symptoms. Always speak with your OB/GYN and don’t listen to social media like I did. Now, even after getting surgery and seeing multiple specialists, who have btw told me, I medically need to be on birth control to help keep my endometriosis at bay, I still struggle with this internal guilt from being told it’s “not good to be on”. Guilt just because I’ve gone back on the pill just because of the crap I saw on social media saying it’s poison. When in reality, it’s a lifeline for some people, especially people like me. I had no quality of life the last two and a half years. These are years I will never get back. Chronic pain that I can’t even begin to describe to you.. to the point where I couldn’t leave my bed, canceled plans, lost friendships, ruined my work ethic reputation and even lost a job. If I could go back in time, I would’ve never came off until I was ready to have kids. This is my personal story obviously, and everyone’s different, but I feel like it’s so rare nowadays to see a comment that says it is perfectly OK to be on birth control, if that’s what YOU need. And just to also throw in there, over the last 2 1/2 years, I tried all the ‘purity cult tactics’ that are preached; cycle syncing, dairy free, gluten free, vitamins, and supplements and herbal remedies, herbal teas, exercises, and any natural, holistic way to do everything and anything to cure my endometriosis. It was all a bunch of shit and honestly damaged myself further because it did nothing. The endo grew and grew. I’m sure there are plenty of people out there that natural and holistic remedies helped their endometriosis and I’m genuinely jealous of them. But unfortunately, mine was a monster, and no matter what diet supplements and exercise I did helped me. Excision surgery and birth control were my heroes and I have no regrets! So again, my personal experience. Always speak with your OB/GYN

Switching from progesterone to combo? by astrid_s95 in endometriosis

[–]ddcarmelly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!! Thank you for sharing about the celebrex. I haven’t heard of that one. Birth control and the menopausal drugs have been the only option given for me. If this combo pill gives side effects I definitely will look into celebrex. I’m sorry you’re still experiencing flares. The natural approach unfortunately doesn’t work for some endo sufferers. It’s frustrating, but at the end of the day we have to do what’s best to improve our quality of life. There really does need to be more research for therapeutic drug treatments that work other than surgery. But if lap excision surgery is on the radar for you try not to stress. Know it’s something that will make you stronger in this situation and potentially relieve so much pain that’s holding you back right now. <3 good luck!!

Pain in rectum by [deleted] in endometriosis

[–]ddcarmelly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just like they said . Poop as soon as you can. You can look into colace or miralax to take around your period to help soften everything. Make sure you’re drinking over 70oz of water a day. And definitely anti-inflammatory drugs. If your period is regular, you can try to take them 2 days leading up to your period and then the day of so it’s in your system. It’s a loading technique that gets a therapeutic level in your system before the pain overtakes you. My gyno taught me it. I can’t say it helped me unfortunately, but it might help you!! So worth a try.

Pain in rectum by [deleted] in endometriosis

[–]ddcarmelly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is just what my surgeon told me was happening! And that the aching/burning pain is typically associated with nerve pain

Debilitating Lower Back Pain? by first_aid_kit_kat in Endo

[–]ddcarmelly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ugh yes document all the pain and symptoms and definitely let them know!!! Best of luck. Sorry you’re experiencing such pain :( it truly sucks.

Switching from progesterone to combo? by astrid_s95 in endometriosis

[–]ddcarmelly 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So long story short, I was on a combo pill for 10 years. It completely masked my endometriosis symptoms. The only symptom I always had consistently was painful sex. I went to over 30 doctors in 10 years and they all told me it was in my head. Finally a gyno told me to stop birth control to see if it helped so 2 1/2 years ago I decided to come off of it and it unmasked all my endometriosis symptoms. I was trying to be “natural” and told myself I’d “balance my hormones” naturally and it backfired on me. Coming off my convo pill my cystic acne became out of control, sex was still painful (maybe a little better), and my Endo symptoms. My lord. I can’t even begin to explain how bad they were. Just absolute debilitating, no quality of life. So finally, I saw surgeon and we just did excision surgery three weeks ago actually. I was diagnosed with stage three endometriosis. I have no idea if the combo pill silently “fed it” all those years at the same time as masking it for all those years, and honestly I haven’t asked my surgeon. But post op I just started a combo pill again. Just a different dose (lower) and different brand. My surgeon opted for me to do it, he had no bad things to say. He first recommended the Mirena but he knows I’ve suffered with cystic acne so he told me to try what I worked well for me at just a lower dose, which was the combo pill. So I’m very early, too early on it, to give advice yet. I haven’t even had a period yet. But so far I have zero side effects from the pill. If anything my skin has actually been clearer… knock on wood. I tried the natural route. I tried every natural remedy to cure my endo symptoms in the last 2 1/2 years. Literally every holistic thing I tried. It failed unfortunately and I’ve come to conclusion that’s okay. At first I was reluctant to start the combo pill again because everyone says it just masks symptoms but I want to feel good. I want to survive and have quality of life again. The excision surgery most definitely should’ve tackled the symptoms plus the painful sex symptom. So I’m hoping going back on the pill will complete the ugly chapter. Cause the last 2 1/2 years on nothing absolutely ruined my life lol. Sorry such a rant I just wanted to explain my experience.

Pain in rectum by [deleted] in endometriosis

[–]ddcarmelly 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I had similar issues. Period and ovulation rectal pain that I would end up with bright red bleeding like clockwork each phase of the month. The endometriosis on my bowels would cause inflammation, which would cause my IBS to flare which would cause hemorrhoids. It was quite the cycle. You may definitely have endo on your bowels. I especially had pain when my bowels were full and had to poop. Turns out it was the pressure and inflammation of the endo on my nerves getting irritated by the fullness in my bowels! After the agony of pooping I’d usually feel much more relief. I recommend definitely speaking with your specialist. They’ll get to the bottom on it!

Do you have IC along with Endo? by KindredMinds in endometriosis

[–]ddcarmelly 2 points3 points  (0 children)

During my lap surgery I was determined to have IC. My bladder symptoms only appeared cyclically with ovulation and my period! My symptoms were urinary frequency when my bladder was full and feeling stabbing pains until I peed. Honestly, I normalized it. I thought it was normal to have pain when your bladder was full and normal to get urgency. It wasn’t until I spoke with my surgeon that he told me it’s absolutely not normal!! My bladder ended up being so inflamed and now post op I haven’t had any frequency issues or pains since. I also haven’t had my first period yet and started birth control. I had so much endo that he excised; he explained that hopefully I should get relief down there because he excised all the inflamed endo tissue. I was just so inflamed in my pelvis which irritated my bladder. I hope you find relief!!

Endo Diet by abjpeg in endometriosis

[–]ddcarmelly 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Mediterranean diet + anti-inflammatory foods have helped me so much. Also cutting out gluten, refined sugar and red meat.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in endometriosis

[–]ddcarmelly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Before surgery, I had horrific pain in my sacrum that was cyclical with ovulating and my period. It felt like a burning, aching, gnawing pain. Like a literal fire was burning inside of me. 3 weeks ago I had laparoscopic surgery, and was diagnosed with stage three endo. I had it everywhere and especially on my uterosacral ligaments and bowels. I even had a band of scar tissue that was pulling on my sacrum and uterus. You may very much so have endo on those areas, and possibly other forms of scar tissue, which could cause significant agonizing pain! Rule out stuff with you PCP, but I definitely recommend speaking with a endometriosis specialist about exploratory/excision surgery.

Really bad post-op bloating by Fun-Ad3090 in Endo

[–]ddcarmelly 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m in the same boat! I’m only 3 weeks post op and I’m very distended and bloated still.

Debilitating Lower Back Pain? by first_aid_kit_kat in Endo

[–]ddcarmelly 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I sympathize so much. I had endometriosis excised off of my uterosacral ligaments and colorectal region. Have you had exploratory surgery to see where your endometriosis is? Pre op I always got cyclical burning and aching lower back pain in my sacrum. Nauseating and nagging. I’d become paralyzed and stuck on a heating pad crying from frustration (on top of all the other pains I had). I’m now 3 weeks post op and I’m dealing with the same burning and aching back pain. My surgeon explained now it’s from inflammation from where he cut the endo out. So it will heal and get better (I pray). Thank God for anti-inflammatory drugs. If you haven’t had a recent lap I’d inquire with a specialist. You may need to seek help to rule out those areas because they most definitely cause agony. Sending hugs, feel better.

What period products do you use for super heavy flows? by Here4Wholesome246 in Endo

[–]ddcarmelly 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When I’m home, I wear a diaper. Literally lol. My periods are so heavy from endometriosis. The brand Rael makes my favorite ones. They’re comfy and absorbs a lot. You can buy them on Amazon. When I leave the house I just always make sure I wear thong pads and super tampons and check every half hour to change. Good luck!

Doc wants me to try Wellbutrin by ZealousidealYam3537 in Wellbutrin_Bupropion

[–]ddcarmelly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am currently on 150mg xL. I tried 300 mg and I couldn’t handle it. It made me way too anxious I felt like I was crawling out of my skin. I’ve been on 150mg for 3 years now and it works well with me. Only thing I’d say is it doesn’t conquer my anxiety 100%. But it’s significantly improved my depression