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[20032003]

Does anyone have any experience of that? Endometriosis is another diagnosis that I've been pondering as a possible cause of my "weird" problems.

Short background:
My periods in my 20s and early 30s were VERY painful. Lots of bad cramping, and I would have to walk around for hours sometimes as that was the only thing I could stand doing. Not sure my bleeding was extremely heavy - it was probably fairly moderate. Not light, but not superheavy. In addition, my stomach would also be BAD at the time of my periods. Pain, diarreah - almost to the verge of fainting sometimes. I remember one episode when I went out for a walk, thinking that exercise would help my cramps. BAD choice... I started getting stomach pain and urge to go to the bathroom so bad that I almost fainted on the way home. Not quite sure to this day how I made it home...

Then, in my mid 30s and up until recently (I'm 46 now), the cramping eased up and my periods got easier to deal with. Also the stomach issues were less bad, even though I've always noted the loose stools at the beginning of a period. Except for this past fall and winter, which seem to have been an exception for everything...

But now, I've started thinking a lot about endometriosis. I have read about how it can affect the bowels, and also grow between the vagina and the rectum in odd places. Could that be MY problem? My latest batch of problems started last Summer, when I really think about it. That's when I sometimes would get the sense in the evenings that I needed to go to the toilet because "something" was bothering my rectum. Like something was stuck there. I could barely ever go though. Early fall, I would sometimes get a sharp but brief cramping on the right side (I believe at least) of my rectum after large BMs. Then, in October (around my period), I started having to strain a lot to go to the toilet. I got BAD rectal pain and pressure/swelling. Two doctors could not find anything wrong inside my rectum, except for an old hemmorhoid and sensitive anal tissue.

Fast forward to now. I've also been to the gyno twice (she's starting to think that I'm a pain - I can tell...). She's felt my stomach and "insides" as well as done two transvaginal ultrasounds. The really bad rectal pain is gone, but I often have pressure still. I noted today, after a couple of days of bleeding (on my period now) that my rectal pressure seems less. I also have a retroverted uterus, if that matters. I think it might - the gyno thinks not (although she did admit after chatting for a while that SOME women do experience certain problems)...

BUT could I possibly have endometriosis somewhere? As far as I understand, this condition cannot be seen on ultrasounds, right? Anyone have any experience of endometriosis?

[Taz2]

My son's fiancee has this - she is no longer able to work and is on various pain medications. This forum might be helpful as members on there will have lots of advice and be able to share experiences https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/online-community

Taz x

[CLKD]

I have a feeling of pressure in my back passage like I need to go ……….. almost all the while.  Then, like you, I try to and nothing happens.  Now: I know we sit to evacuate the bowels but a friend has, for 3 months, had a long leg plaster and can't sit.  She has told me that her bowel movements have been easier as she has to stand and she thinks it's due to gravity as well as the bowel not being 'scrunched up' (her words  ) as it is when we sit.  She noticed too that whilst on her back following emergency surgery (following a cycling accident) any bowel movements were easier over a bed-pan  so maybe, humans aren't doing ourselves any favours by 'sitting'?

I have read that sitting with feet on a small foot stool alters the angle of the bowel which enables Nature to evacuate the bowel more 'naturally'.  I also know that if I have a very good bowel movement which happens every 5-6 days, usually the morning 'rush'  , I don't have that feeling that something is 'stuck' immediately behind my coccyx.  I get a VGBM if I don't take my evening medication or when I eat more fruit the previous couple of days. 

As for endometriosis - is there a support group out there with any answers.   I have only known ladies with the problem starting from their 20s which often took years to diagnose 

[Taz2]

I posted a link to the endometriosis forum CLKD.

Sorry about your pressure feeling. I think this is really common as we get older and our vaginal walls and the walls of the rectum become weak causing any waiting faeces to be felt instead of being held in nice and tight. Since having my hysterectomy and repair I've learnt loads about pelvic floor and bowels!!! http://www.aboutgimotility.org/site/about-gi-motility/disorders-of-the-pelvic-floor/   Keep doing those pelvic floor exercises everyone!!

Taz x

[CLKD]

<smacked wrists then >  - I was typing as you posted 

[honeybun]

I agree it's a common sensation. Bowel muscles get lax along with every other muscle I suppose.
It's down to diet to keep regular and also to drink plenty of water.

After my C sections I was told to put my feet up on a stool when on the loo. It made things a lot easier and stopped any straining which was not a good idea because of umpteen stitches.

A child's step stool is the ideal height.


Honeyb
X

[Taz2]

<smacked wrists then >  - I was typing as you posted 

 

[lancashirelass]

I had.my hyst due to.endo.  an ultrasound is useless.  An mri may show.something but the.only sure way to know.is to have a laporoscopy.  I had it on ovaries, in.womb, back of.womb, bladder.  I had multiple surgeries before my.hyst.  also general gynaes are.bog useless with endo you need to see.an endo specialist and.one who can do excision. 

[20032003]

I posted a link to the endometriosis forum CLKD.

Sorry about your pressure feeling. I think this is really common as we get older and our vaginal walls and the walls of the rectum become weak causing any waiting faeces to be felt instead of being held in nice and tight. Since having my hysterectomy and repair I've learnt loads about pelvic floor and bowels!!! http://www.aboutgimotility.org/site/about-gi-motility/disorders-of-the-pelvic-floor/   Keep doing those pelvic floor exercises everyone!!

Taz x

I agree with this, and tried asking the gyno about a possible prolapse. She almost laughed at me... But, I almost JUMPED when she put one of her instruments inside my vagina. I get a WEIRD sensation in my rectum from that... Not a pain, just a weird pressure feeling. If that means anything... I don't know.

[Taz2]

It doesn't mean that you have an actual prolapse but that your walls are becoming thinner. It's part of getting older unfortunately - made worse by a lowering of the oestrogen levels.

Taz x

[20032003]

I found out I had endo when I had a laporascopic procedure to remove a fibroid, gynae told me she'd found endo and adhesions and tried to remove as much as she could. That was age 49, how long I'd had it I shall never know!! 

S x

Did you have any symptoms that you afterwards figured were due to the endo?

[CLKD]

Unexplained fertility was probably due to endometriosis  - is this a more recent bodily phenomenon or is it that Drs have become aware of the condition?

[CLKD]

I don't remember it being known about when I was typing up patient notes 

[Taz2]

https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/sites/default/files/files/Information/fertility.pdf

Taz x

[lancashirelass]

Endo is one of the leading causes of infertility.  You are also more likely to develop natural killer cells due to.endo which means your body attacks any pregnancy. I had this