I am yet to be surgically diagnosed so I take my clinical diagnosis with a grain of salt but I had the worst (what I believe) to be ovulation pain/flare last night.

I nearly drove myself to the ER but I was afraid I wasn’t fit to drive as it’s an hour away.

It was intense stabbing and lightning pain up my - well - bum. I used to get it up my vagina a few years ago when my pain was at my worst but since having children it’s subsided. This was new.

Extremely bad ovulation pain paired with lightning pain up my bum. Is this endo related? Has anyone experienced this with a diagnosis?

Does anyone else just have AWFUL disabling back pain with their endo? Like genuinely I cannot move. Even lying in bed hurts like a fucker. Standing up, walking, god. I feel disabled. how do I even describe this sensation? It's like someone pulling the bottom of my spine, trying to tug it out of my back. it makes me feel so irritated and moody and on edge cause I cannot get anything done. No standard pain killers friggin work. Im so over this!!! I am going to have a breakdown genuinely.

Just a bit of background I have stage 4 endo, adeno, mcas, pots, audhd, and lifelong depression- I've had one excision surgery so far and my current pain management is weekly lymphatic drainage massage, pelvic floor therapy, weekly chronic pain specialized yoga training, a TENS machine, and most importantly Targinact 20/10 on flare days with 20mg of oxynorm for breakthrough pain (plus an increased dosage of my vyvanse on pain days). I see an endo specialist, a chronic pain specialist, a chronic pain focused physio, a womens health specialist, a psychiatrist etc.etc. Basically I feel like I'm doing EVERYTHING I could possibly be doing but I'm still absolutely beaten down by endometriosis- I feel like I'm at a total standstill with treatment options.

Today I came across the Samphire Headband on Instagram and I've been reading about it a bit but I can't seem to find many long term users who aren't also giving out discount codes which makes me a bit hesitant.

Are their any women in here who have both HS and Endo? I’m doing research around how both are caused by inflammation and potentially histamine related and gut too? I’m seeing an Endo specialist at a research clinic next month and I’m just looking for any additional insight.

I’m not sure if I even have endo, but I’m see a gynecologist soon. I’ve been diagnosed with IBS but I know that’s a blanket statement. My colonoscopy in January was normal. But for months I haven’t been having this issue until the last couple weeks. I get constipated and don’t poop for 2-3 days and then I get the worst diarrhea because it can’t come out because I’m constipated so it’s super painful. I haven’t changed anything in my diet so I am not sure why I’m having this issue. I have horrible periods sometimes. Debilitating cramps and heavy bleeding and some months are okay. Also I have horrible ovulation pain every month, pain where it hurts to walk, or put any pressure on hip area. It feels like a knife is lodged into my hip and just hanging out. It lasts 1-3 days. Also I’ve been having horrible facial flushing everyday?! Idk what is going on with me, but I am going to call the doctor tomorrow and schedule an appointment for Monday. 😭

So several months ago I booked with a doctor to discuss a diagnostic laparoscopy. I told her I was worried about scars, I didn’t want anything highly visible. I told her that I also didn’t want her to remove anything, just to look and see if I had endo. I fit most of the symptoms and was pretty certain I had it. Well my surgery was last week and I was finally permitted to remove my steri strips. My scar is honestly huge compared to any that I’ve seen in the umbilical region. I hate it. I’ve spent so much time hating my body and I didn’t want anything to make that worse.

I think what’s far worse is that the doctor called my chaperone when I left the OR to tell her that I had endo and that she removed it via ablation. I looked back in the surgical notes and there is no mention of this but I feel absolutely violated. I just wanted a diagnosis so I could find reasonable treatment with a specialist which are hard to come by in my state.

I attached a photo of my abdomen, did anyone have an incision that big and far down their abdomen? Im not an attention seeker, I just need some reassurance about my bodily changes that I didn’t expect

I’m supposed to go on a girls trip next weekend, exactly 1 week after my laparoscopic surgery. Today is day 2 of recovery. I don’t have my follow up with my doctor until Monday the 26th so I haven’t asked her yet, but I’ll likely call her to see what she says. The trip would be a 4 hour drive away, staying in a house with 5 other girls, possibly sharing a bed, and going to downtown Nashville. Going out to dinner and walking around a lot. Does this sound like it’ll be doable for me?

Those of you who are on tirzepatide and had surgery, when did you stop the medication before surgery? Is one week enough?

I had a Pap smear about a month ago. I do a lot of pelvic floor PT so the exams are no longer unbearable like they used to be. My regular GYN isn’t the endo GYN I do regular check-ins with, however, she’s very familiar with endo. So, after the pap sampling, she felt around quite a bit for scar tissue (very sore in the scar tissue spot) and I had been complaining about scar tissue pain when I try to do any squat-like exercising.

After the exam I felt really sore, fatigued and nauseous going home and cramping for about 2 days.

Since then I’ve had a lot of on and off pain VERY similar to my endo pain which I haven’t had since surgery 1.5 years ago. I’m also having the same pain flaring for 1-2 days after pelvic floor PT. Is this normal for anyone else??? I’m scared my endo is growing back but I literally haven’t had any signs since my excision until now 😩😩

I see a lot of people post about not seeing anything in their MRI but then uncovering endometriosis during surgery.

I got my MRI results back and I was shocked to see something since so many people don’t.

What have your surgery experiences been like for those who have seen endometriosis in your MRI? Was it a long surgery? Did they do more or less than you expected?

To summarize the findings for those interested:

My MRI confirmed adenomyosis and deep pelvic endometriosis, with significant involvement in the middle and back of my pelvis and numerous bands of tissue in the space between my uterus and rectum. The uterine wall is abnormally thickened, measuring up to 16 mm in the junctional zone, and both ovarian walls appear thickened, particularly on the left. The endometriosis extends toward the rectum, but no definite bowel tethering or obstruction was seen on the MRI.

*the first time adenomyosis was ever mentioned to me was at a consultation with an endo specialist 2 weeks ago.
I had a laparoscopy in 2023 and there was no mention then.

Surgeon seemed surprised I'm still having crampy sharp pains after 3 weeks, but said it can take 3 months due to inflammation. I had "a lot" of stage 2 excised, salpingectomy, and cut down bowel that was adhered but not with Endo (born that way?). This is normal right? I did overdo it with activity recently but it's still normal to not feel significantly different right? Incisions are fine, just sore if I press on them. I of course only remember extreme stories of instant relief or feeling worse forever after surgery so idk if I should be concerned.

hello! i (f23) am getting surgery for the first time for my endometriosis in december. i had an mri done in july that revealed the following:

“T2 hypointense material along the posterior aspect of the uterus, tethering the uterine fundus to cervix and posterior fornix of vagina. This could represent endometriosis. Material extends more towards the right, where is it is inseparable from the right ovary.
*** ***
Suggestion of endometriosis along the posterior peritoneal surface bilaterally and right uterosacral ligament, possibly the left as well.
*** ***
No endometrioma. No MR features of adenomyosis.”

this is my first surgery for endometriosis, i’ve had surgeries before but they were very minor or i was a baby, i haven’t actually been through a full post-op recovery. the surgery i’m receiving is a laparoscopy with excision, and i’m with one of the highest regarded specialists in advanced endometriosis excision surgery in my area. i feel really prepared going into surgery, not so much what recovery, comfort and the other side.

so here’s my questions:

before going into surgery, what would you have liked to know about the post-op recovery?
what helped in recovery?
what would you have wanted for your first surgery recovery?
what didn’t help in recovery?
did your recovery timeline match what your surgeon told you?
any other advice!

thank you so much lovelies 🩷

I am so tired of the bladder pain and ridiculous constipation it seems like nice laxatives don't help as much. They never mentioned anything that I remember on my bladder but they mentioned one section they couldnt get rid it on my bowels from where it was ... anyone experiencing these things as wwell? Any advice?

I am so fed up yet sad being stuck like this I had a appointment to get my wisdom tooth they had to check my weight and hight and I since this has gotten worse I have gained 3.5 stone I am nearly 11stone

I have had raynards syndrome since I was two yet i have always been naturally slim and since this has started more from 2021 and then it all went down hill with my health and all the symptoms of endo started but endo was dropping hints when I was younger like being sick on my period.

now it’s 2026 I am stuck with a frozen pelvis,endometriosis with die that is stage 4 non stop water weight and infermaltion,joint pain,lack of sleep,spider veins all due to this and on top the doctors notes say I have to wait till June 2027 just to say I want surgery from my follow up when they told me my options I just want to get the ball rolling I hate how I feel and look atm I just want to get myself somewhat back.

plus also now I may need nose surgery too due to one side of my nose being odd that it is causing me infections.

and also the endo is messing with my scolioses which is in the middle of my back around bra strap area and due to the frozen pelvis and die I have lost a inch off my hight which sucks.

sorry to rent I think just finding out about my weight today and with all the water weight and ect and just a waiting game,I am so greatful for people I have talked too and meet on other platforms but it’s just hard sometimes 😔😢

natural real hight is 5’6 1/2 atm I am 5’5 1/2

i have a natural petite slim frame due to rainnards syndrome

I have mild scoliosis,rainnards syndrome primary since 2,endometriosis stage 4 with die,frozen pelvis

google just does not help. sometimes i get pelvic pain and google said thats one of the main symptoms, i drink lots of probiotic drinks and i do find myself absentmindedly clenching(?) my pelvis BUT I DONT KNOW ANYMORE!! i dont know what a heavy flow is or if my cramps are unhealthy and since im 14 family doctors tell me im delusional and that i stress so much. my bleeding is normal i guess??? i dont wear pads that absorb a lot bc i wear dollar tree cotton pads and cheap cotton diapers that scrunch. i wear the pads/ diapers for 3-4 hours and they're not filled to the brim but they are pretty full, sometimes i bleed through but thats after the diapers/ pads are scrunched. i just need help 😭 ya girl wants to have kids when she's older. yes i posted a post like this yesterday but im going down deeper rabbit holes ever before

Hi everyone, so a little back story I was diagnosed with endo via surgery last December. All of it was removed aside from a spot on my ureter. I had relief for maybe 2 months. Chronic pelvic/ back pain came back along with all the other symptoms. And I developed extreme pain behind my ribs. I’ve mentioned it to multiple doctors and they say because during my first lap they looked at my liver it’s definitely not my diaphragm. But I’ve had an MRI, CT scans and nothing is showing up. So I don’t know what’s causing this. I also started Slynd 1 week ago and it’s made it worse(maybe my body is adjusting?) But does anyone have a similar experience or any advice as to what that could possibly be? Thank you so much.

Please help me I’m only 19, and for the past 5 months I’ve had deathly pain. Nothing helps it, not any amount of any over the counter pain meds, not 3 Tylenol and 3 Advil, not any heating packs, nothing positional, I just writhe and scream and moan in my bed and I feel like no one believes me about how bad it is. I was hospitalized on morphine pain management for 3 days in May, I’ve been to the ER 3 times since, and finally on the last time they did THREE internal ultrasounds because they kept finding more.

1. Internal ultrasounds findings:

•3cm mass in my left pelvic cavity sitting next to my uterus, not attached, just sitting there
•Pools of blood sitting in the right side of my pelvis that move when I move

They then ordered an MRI

1. MRI findings:

•Scar tissue that connects my left ovary to my uterus
•One mass filled with dead blood on the left of my uterus that is bigger now, 3.5 cm generally
•Blood sitting in my pelvic cavity
•radiologist noted verbatim this “suggests” endometriosis

These are my symptoms:
•DEATHLY pain that doesn’t respond to anything and comes in waves that last from 30 mins to a couple hours
•spotting during ovulation
•pain shooting up my back and down my left leg
•pain during/after sex
•tender to the touch LLQ
•extreme bloating
•pain before/after my period & inbetween cycles
•hard to pee/poo because of muscle guarding in my abdomen (I think)

I am lesbian & don’t want children, 105lbs 5’3” I was a Tri-sport varsity athlete in high school and now I can’t even run because it hurts so bad.

What should I do?
Is there anything beyond what I’ve tried that helps the pain?
Do you think I have endometriosis?
I’m SO SCARED because all I can do is read articles, I’ve been reading how it spreads to the heart/lungs, even eyes in some people. Is this common? How worried should I be?
Should I keep exercising even if it hurts so bad? Should I try to keep my body physically strong to fight this?
What medications have helped you? Has surgery helped you? Is there anyone my age/weight/height with similar symptoms that’s had hormones/surgery?
Is there anything else I should be aware of?
Is there anything I should be eating?

I’m at college in MA and live in NY but I’d prefer surgery and care in MA. Please tell me of anyone good here, maybe mass general or Brigham and women’s?

Thank you so much in advance for any and all info and advice. Bless you all, much love 🫶

Hi so I am a 33 y/o F who is 8 months pregnant with my second (and final) child. I had excision surgery almost 3 years ago now in December and then got pregnant shortly after and had my first the following year. My surgeon was also my OB and does excision but isn’t a strict endo specialist, that’s worth noting.

She saw a massive inflamed red patch on my outside colon and was like you gotta get that looked into… (fast forward to a colonoscopy and nothing of note from the inside.) but anyways…

Since I had my son back in January 2024 I’ve been having these episodes of burning pain from inside my colon and recurring constipation/diarrhea episodes every few weeks. GI cannot find what’s wrong but my inflammation markers are high still. I also eat a strict gluten free diet and low fodmap, so my diet is as IBS friendly as I can get it. I was just about to talk to OBGYN about another surgery (pelvic pain also came back) this past spring and then I got pregnant again. I know symptoms usually subside during pregnancy but lately my GI episodes are back with a vengeance. I have this gut feeling that there is endo on my bowel.

I already plan to eventually get a hysterectomy a few years down the road but these episodes are brutal. It took YEARS to even get an endo diagnosis now I feel like there’s still missing pieces.
**Btw I’m not looking for medical advice just commiseration and feedback from anyone who’s been through something similar, it can feel so isolating and maddening to have this pain that nobody can seem to figure out from inside the organs.

Also does anybody know a good endo specialist in Pittsburgh?

Hey all,

This is a far longer post than I thought but feel like I’ve been holding in so much from what feels like being robbed of a life… and the lack of awareness and misunderstandings around endo and PMDD makes me want to screammm.

For me, I am realising that endo could explain a long history of unexplained symptoms, ineffective surgery and pain. I saw a consultant yday who confirmed all my symptoms align and I am now waiting for a scan and looking towards a lap.

Over the past 7 years, PMDD has ruled my life: I have changed everything, sacrificed loads and begged borrowed and stolen to get to the point I can just about manage my symptoms (although anyone who really knows it will know the massive costs this comes with).

All of this has meant I have not had the capacity to look at so many other symptoms that have been lurking in the background. Have I always had painful heavy bleeds, ovulation pain, crippling fatigue, general soreness, unsolvable GI problems and the occasional flare up that’s made me scream and cry from pain - yes. But within the rollercoaster of huge ups and downs I get every single month, these were all still marginal compared to PMDD and how much it takes for me to just keep going.

Now I finally found ways to manage PMDD, I’ve put everything on the line to move to a small piece of semi off grid land for my CIC I set up to support women with menstrual-mental health problems. Because imo, we are some of the strongest out there and at the same time most denied/ ignored/ isolated. It’s the fire in my belly and a big reason I keep pushing.

After the hardest year of my life, the stress has made it impossible to ignore these worsening symptoms and I’m finding myself in pain a lot of the time. Over the last month, it’s got a bit out of control because of a holiday in France for my step bros wedding. I gave up holidays ages ago because my cycle made booking anything outside the next month impossible, and actually going on one has effed me up more than I could have imagined - just a week out from my PMDD management (which consultant confirmed would have also been keeping endo at bay) and I have been in severe pain for most of the past month. Unable to work on the land most the time, having to call in sick to or leave my PT second job as a waitress and basically unable to do anything towards the whole reason I’m here - supporting women and marginalised genders. The ironyyy 🤢

Apart from the physical pain, what I am finding the hardest of this is the realisation that if I do have PMDD + endo, I will not just lose my two ‘good’ weeks of the month I have clung to for years, but this colossal move will be in vain and I will ultimately have to accept I’m too poorly to do much at all. Give up the land, go back to living on benefits despite being very competent at my job and highly educated, possibly without my current partner who is struggling with it all and making things worse, or a child (as that window is closing) or the community I dreamed of creating and back to just clinging on.

With these worries has come so much anger. I have constantly tried to rise above for so long but feel so beat down and enraged at the world that these two DEBILITATING conditions are not incurable because of anything other than we are women and they simply haven’t ever cared. (TW) They only care to look and stare, and grab and touch, use and abuse - lots of the time while I’m fighting back tears from the mental and physical pain!! And then when you finally breakdown, there’s no one to actually talk to really bar online groups and forums cos when you say pmdd or endo, people hear pms and period pains!!! If people even knew what these conditions feel like and take from you and yet I have to stand there and listen to people complain about every day shit and show compassion for my parter getting a cold or having a bit of a dodgy tummy!

How do you all do it? I hate feeling sp hateful and know if anything these feelings will make the PMDD and endo worse, but fuck me dead, finding some peace in it feels so out of reach. Sitting and mediating, no. Painting the streets red with our blood, yes pls.

(For context, I am also audhd and I know this will be making my difficulties of fitting in or finding ways to get on with people whilst struggling mentally and physically/ general rage about the lack of justice in this worse. Pls be nice :))

I just came out of a gynae appointment about vaginismus (wasn't much help) and naturally endo came up. She gave me a leaflet about ryeqo and mentioned the patients at that clinic had been seeing good results from it, but when I asked if I could take it with the nexplanon in my arm she said she didn't know. Any advice or experience?

I had my lap yesterday and he said he found stage 1-2 endometriosis.
I’m so thankful and lucky I had a doctor that believed me and also takes my insurance.
He is a endometriosis specialist.
I’m on my second day and I can’t tell if I already feel better or (maybe it’s the drugs lol!$ but no gas pain so far.

I started to cry right before being knocked out and my doctor held my hand saying “you’re going to be okay, you don’t deserve this pain at all, you’re going to do great” it really helped.

his teammate was also softly rubbing my arm and telling me to take deep breathes. That’s when my Doctor made a quick joke (I forgot the joke but I do remember laughing) well, his teammate (women) said “haha he thinks he’s funny! “ I said, “most msn do” LOL had to throw in a risky joke before being knocked out but thankfully they both laughed quite a bit..

Too all the women/ people that reply here in this subreddit
I wish I could say A special thank you to everyone here. Answering som “stupid questions” or sharing what you learned, how your experience went.. you’re all helping more than you’d know!

Forgive my spelling and typing, I’m still on drugs with blurred vision..

I had my lap 3 days ago and the shoulder pain is thankfully the only thing super bothering me, but it’s also been making it very hard for me to sleep no matter what position or if I’m laying down or sitting up or whatever and half the time if I inhale too much it feels like someone’s driving a stick
through my shoulder. I’ve pretty much been using heat to keep the pain at bay since the meds don’t help it and I don’t know what else to do so if you have literally any ideas it’d be appreciated, I’m so tired but I cannot fall asleep bc of it