Endometriosis?!

Question

Hi guys. 
I'm in need of help. A few years ago we found out I had retrograde menstration. We were worried that I had endometriosis so I went to the hospital but the doctor wouldn't test me as I was 'probably too young' to have this issue (I'm 18 now but was 15 at the time). 
I've been sexually active with my partner for a year and it is still the worst pain I've ever had. I often have to get him to stop. I use tampons and sex toys so I should be 'stretching out'. I've read this is a symptom. 
Can I have tips and advice please? I want to know if this is what I have but I'm worried that they will refuse to treat me again. I'm desperate for children in my life and I'm worried that tnis will make it harder to get pregnant. Thanks xox

Answer

I started seeing my Primary care Doctor in January and thankfully she’s the bomb. She spent a long time with me during the first appointment actually discussing my family medical history and my medical history. She immediately had me come in the following day to do some basic tests to check everything out and make sure I was healthy (I have diabetes on both sides of my family so she was screening me for pre-diabetes and checking vitamin levels and such). All we got back was dangerously low Vitamin D levels. So she prescribed some serious heavy duty supplements for me to take for a few months. 
As I continued to see her and I brought up more concerns with her this is when we knew something wasn’t quite right. I had intense pain the week prior to and the week of my periods, I have to wear maternity pads and change them at least once an hour (sometimes I still leak), I had tried a menstrual cup and I can’t wear it because I had to empty it every 1-2 hours because it was FULL. Like, I leaked out of the cup it was so full. Every time I go to the bathroom I have clots come out that are way bigger than a quarter, etc. You’d think I was having a miscarriage the way my periods act but I’ve been dealing with this since I was 14. 
On top of that, recently my periods had become extremely irregular after always being able to set my watch to it from age 11-25 now. Plus my crazy emotional mood swings I get. They’ve always been more severe than what is “normal.” So my doctor decided to start running tests. She sent me to get blood work done to test me for PCOS first. But that came back clear. Then we did my PAP exam... 100% clear... more blood work... nothing. My doctor was stumped at first but then she told me that I had to get an MRI and an ultrasound and we would go from there. MRI- clear. Ultrasound- clear. This is when my doctor finally said “Endometriosis.”
At this point, she has unofficially diagnosed me with Stage 1 Endometriosis. It’s an unofficial diagnosis because the only way to diagnose and treat it is through surgery. And they typically don’t do ablations for stage 1. So as of right now I’m taking BC to manage it and I’m skipping my periods to help prevent my body from making more tissue. 
All that being said, it will take time to find the right doctor and you will. But they do have to perform surgery to diagnose you. I just wanted to share my story with you in hopes of encouraging you and letting you know that you’re not alone. Stay strong and if a doctor doesn’t listen or take you seriously, time for a new doctor!

Endometriosis?!

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