Endometriosis And Chronic Pelvic Pain.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month!!

I have been dealing with Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain since the age of 12. My pelvic pain turned into Chronic Pelvic Pain when I was 15, it wasn't just on my period, but every single day. All the doctors thought I was making up the pain...So I went a new GYNO when I was 16 and he put me on Percocets. Then a few years later WHEN I was 18, he wanted to do surgery, a Laparoscopy, and see what is causing such pain, that is every day. He said that is not normal. So I had my first Lap in November 2006 and they found Endometriosis. He kept me on the Percocets, and said I need to have a hysterectomy or try to have kids, that I may never be able to. Do you know how that feels at the age 18 and your about to get married?? Then when I moved to Alaska and got married, I went to the Doctors, had no GYNO in Alaska then, so they wouldn't give me my Percocets (thank God I had a ton that my Doctor in Oklahoma gave me a lot) So I switched Doctors and she finally gave me Percocets. Then we moved to Colorado and my PCM put me on Fentanyl patches, which wasn't doing the job, then tried me on OxyContin, it worked but then stopped, so put me back on Fentanyl patches, this time 100mg, well it stopped working and he coulda upped it but then I asked for something else, so he tried Morphine, it worked for a while and he keep upping it (same with all the pain meds) So I asked to be put on OxyContin, which works better for me even tho Morphine is stronger. So I need to get it upped again. I take Percocets for the break thru pain.. And yes it's safe for me to be on OxyContin while TTC. I am on strong ass pain meds and still in A LOT of pain, everyday. I'm ovulating right now and yesterday I was starting to and the pain was so bad I had to take 6 perks for it to stop..for like 3 hrs, then I took a nap to slept some of it off... It is sooo bad because of all the fertility drugs, mainly the injections.. Pelvic pain is NOT like cramps, pelvic pain is a trillion times worse...I WISH I had cramps instead of this pelvic pain... I know most of you know what Endometriosis is. But March is Endometriosis Awareness Month! So still gonna blog about it. :)

The word Endometriosis comes from the Greek endon meaning "within" and the Greek metra meaning "uterus", akin to Greek meter meaning "mother" The word osis comes from the Greek and/or Latin suffix meanings "affected with, condition, abnormal process."

Endometriosis is the growth of cells similar to those that form the inside of the uterus (endometrial cells), but in a location outside of the uterus. Endometrial cells are the same cells that are shed each month during menstruation. The cells of endometriosis attach themselves to tissue outside the uterus and are called endometriosis implants. These implants are most commonly found on the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, outer surfaces of the uterus or intestines, and on the surface lining of the pelvic cavity. They can also be found in the vagina, cervix and bladder, although less commonly than other locations in thepelvis. Rarely, Endometriosis implants can occur outside the pelvis, on the liver, in old surgery scars, and even in or around the lung or brain. Endometrial implants, while they can cause problems.

Now let's move on the pelvic pain, and trust me there is a HUGE difference between cramps and pelvic pain..

Chronic Pelvic pain is one of the most common medical problems among woman, that last more than 6 months and affects a woman's quality of life. Painful periods, pelvic pain may begin before and extend several days into your period and may include lower back and abdominal pain. Severity of pain isn't necessarily a reliable indicator of the extend of condition. Some woman with mild Endometriosis have intense pain, while other with some severe scarring may have little pain or even no pain at all. Pelvic pain at other times. You may experience pelvic pain during ovulation, a sharp sharp deep during intercourse, or pain during bowel movements or urination.

I want people who don't understand Endometriosis, to understand it and to understand how painful it really is... For some that have it, it's not as bad and they get cramps, not pelvic pain. Endometriosis can cause Infertility. Not everyone with Endometriosis will have a problem conceiving. I pray for every woman/girl who has it, because I know how painful it truly is... It affects my life SO BAD! I haven't done a lot of things because I am in bed Screaming/crying and drugged up because the pain is BEYOND bad...I pray we get a cure every soon and not just doctors telling us to get a hysterectomy. Even getting one, does not cure it and most people STILL have really bad pain.