As you know from a lot of my blogs on here I have been living with chronic pain for almost 4 years now, when the pain first started in July 2009 the doctors really didn't know what was causing the pain, it wasn't until I had a laparoscopy that they found endometriosis. After that I was put on the birth control pill to control and stop the re- growth of the endometriosis, I take the pill continuously (no break for a week like the packs say) to make sure the endometriosis does not come back. I am still in pain but my doctor is not sure if it is the endometriosis still causing the pain or something else, went back to the ob/gyn over a year ago and she said that it is probably not that and something else but I think it could still possibly be the endo b/c the person who did my surgery was quite rude and didn't really answer any questions I had about it not even when I had complications after the surgery. I have seen a GI specialist and back in July I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy to see if anything could be found to explain my pain and other symptoms, of course nothing was found and the specialist said that there was nothing he could do and that I should go back to the gyn but the gyn says it's not their problem. So basically I am stuck wondering what is wrong with me and continuing to have test after test done.

 I don't know a who lot about endometriosis just what i have been told by doctors and have read online, I know that they do not know what causes endometriosis and that there is really no cure for it just ways of managing the symptoms etc. I was told that a hysterectomy can get rid of the endo and that when you hit menopause it often goes away (because you are no longer having a menstural cycle) but I am 22 so those are really not options for me. As for dealing with the pain I tried acupuncture because I heard that it can help with many things unfortunately it did not work for me so I stopped trying and it was too expensive. I have found that being on the birth control pill has reduced the pain so that it is not like it used to be (if I go off and have a normal period I am left curled up in a ball barely able to stand up straight) If you look online you can also find info on other ways people deal with their pain and symptoms.

Hi abott,

Thanks for posting.  I have had a laparoscopy also awhile back, and what endometriosis was there the OBGYN got rid of. She didn't mention surgery again now, just will put me on BC if nothing has changed in a couple months.  I'm 40, and not anywhere near menopause, so the chances of it resolving itself now are slim without the pill.  I see her back in 3 months to see if anything has changed.  She also thinks it mught be gastro-related.  I see the gastro in 2 weeks. 

At the moment the pain is tolerable, but when it acts up it hurts a lot.  Acupuncture does nothing for me either regardless of what I get it for.   For me it is a temporary fix, a bandaid.  I'll google things more.  Thanks again.

Melissa.

Hi Abott reading your story has inspired me to join this forum because your story is similar in many ways to mine. I have been chronically ill for three going on four years with no answers as to the cause of my syptoms. I did see some similarities with our symptoms. I was finally able to get a diagonsis of gastroparesis which is a somewhat rare condition in which the stomach muslces do not funtion properly which leads to food not emtying from your stomach properly. I had severe abdominal pain from the condition for two years before I began to have other symtoms such as severe nausea and vomiting until I was unable to hold down any food or fluids. Finally after getting so ill that my body starting to shut down due to malnutriton and dehydration I ended up in the hospital for three weeks. One doctor there suggested the diagnosis of gastroparesis. Since being on the "gastroparesis diet" and the associated medications for the condition my  symptoms have greatly improved. It is a difficult condition as it is constant and requires careful managment. It is still difficult to diagnose. The tests for gastroparesis are not very well developed here in Canada but I heard that they have better diagnostics in the US.  Also since the condition fluctuates if you don't get the test when you are symptomic it could come back normal. This condition is a functional problem and will not show up on gastroscopes or colonoscopies. I thought it might be something for you to research and you can see if any of your symptoms match with gastroparesis. Most of the cases they don't know what causes it. It is not my only health issue but having some ability to manage it has helped alot. So I thought I would just pass the info on .  Well if you would like more info feel free to ask.

Illana thanks for the suggestion, I will look into the condition.