Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: 20032003 on July 11, 2015, 02:22:59 PM
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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?
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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
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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 :-\
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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
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<smacked wrists then > :-\ - I was typing as you posted :na:
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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
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<smacked wrists then > :-\ - I was typing as you posted :na:
:clapping:
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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.
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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.
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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
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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?
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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?
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I don't remember it being known about when I was typing up patient notes :-\
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https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/sites/default/files/files/Information/fertility.pdf
Taz x
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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
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Hi
I spent most of my life with endometriosis. Only way to really diagnose is with laparoscopy. I've had 6 laser surgeries over last 12 years. My latest was due to adhesions from endo giving me all
The symptoms you experiencing. I'm 50 now and been post meno for 2 years. On HRT now. If I hadn't been diagnosed my life would have been hell. The laser surgery kept me stable for 2 years at a time.,good luck. Don't suffer in silence. X
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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.
CLKD: Have you ever considered whether there could be a mental component to this? I've been wondering about myself, since they have yet to find something wrong with me. In the fall, when things hurt, I would always worry about what would come out of me... Even now, I think about EVERY morning when I wake up what my BMs will be like. Quite often they are loose and small. BUT, I'm really starting to wonder whether I'm unconsciously "holding back" when I go?? Maybe I don't get everything out like I used to because I'm not letting myself go properly? Does this sound really stupid? Could you "clench" your rectal muscles sort of unconsciously?
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I think we can sometimes but when I need to 'go', that's it …….. and my motions vary in small rabbit like pellets (kept bunnies for years ::) ) to being runny …… and anywhere in between.
I try to 'go' first thing in the morning which isn't difficult when I'm worried or going somewhere …….. and sometimes last thing at night if necessary. But the feeling of something stuck is there when I have hard rabbit like pellets that get left behind.
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I try to 'go' first thing in the morning which isn't difficult when I'm worried or going somewhere …….. and sometimes last thing at night if necessary. But the feeling of something stuck is there when I have hard rabbit like pellets that get left behind.
I more or less always go in the mornings. Usually 2-3 times. Before and after I eat. The reason I'm starting to contemplate whether there is a mental component to my pooping is that it seems that I have to go more times (smaller BMs) to be done these days. Before it used to be 1-2 times, and now it's more like 2-3 or maybe even 4 times some mornings. But the rest of the day I'm usually good. I might have the pressure, but I usually try to resist it because I'm worried straining will give me pain and hemmohroids (sorry, I cannot spell that word ;) ) again. And if I DO go - usually with the aid of pushing on the perineum - it will only be a tiny piece that comes out. My rectum seems to have gotten supersensitive to ANY little poo...
I also wonder about lactose intolerance/sensitivity. I tend to (sorry) sometimes have a small amount of mucus when I pass gas. I would say it happens maybe once a week or even less often, and the doctors didn't seem to think that it was worrysome. I have kind of related it to milk products... It happended this morning, and yesterday I tried a couple of servings of ice cream for the first time in a while. Last time it happened, I believe I had had some cake with milk and butter in it. I don't seem to be supersensitive in other words, but there seems to be a small reaction? That wouldn't be too unusual in peri, would it?
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If the body needs to clear itself, then it is best to allow Nature to do so. This morning I didn't go a lot but my whole system including behind the coccyx feels 'clean'. It does depend what, how much and when I've eaten in the previous 2/3 days ::) and I know that hormones caused the runs 10 mins. before a bleed began, even if the period wasn't due.
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Do you ever have a sore feeling too, or is it "just" pressure? Yesterday I felt dry all over and had some flushing of my face. I also had a dry, sore feeling in my rectum. Wonder if it's all connected...?
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Could well be. My eyes feel dry and itchy ……. no soreness but a feeling of pressure, like the bowel is needing to 'go'. Comfy today …….. :).
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I DO feel better :) . The last couple of weeks or so I've been conscious about what I eat. I still eat some "garbage" (like ice-cream, cookies, etc) but I've introduced LOTS more fiber to my diet. I make really nice salads off of the veggies and fruits that are in season and I make sure I eat at least two portions a day. Today we're eating a fresh cabbage, strawberries and feta cheese salad. Super yummy :)! I also have been buying bread containing more fiber, and that seems to help too. I've also been taking probiotics.
My BMs are more "organized" ( ;) ) and I feel more "done" when I go. But it's ovulation time and I've had som cramping, bloating, and so forth, and then I start worrying AGAIN that there is something wrong with me... I know...silly... I feel GOOD, I sleep well, I have good appetite - I wish that I could believe I'm fine too!!
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:foryou: …….. we are what we eat apparently! It doesn't take long for the brain to get negative though! Keep telling yourself, hormones, hormones, hormones ;) …….. :medal:
Now have a :cupcake:
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:foryou: …….. we are what we eat apparently! It doesn't take long for the brain to get negative though! Keep telling yourself, hormones, hormones, hormones ;) …….. :medal:
Now have a :cupcake:
Thank you :) !
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That's OK!
The thing now is not to do too much too soon or you will burn up your energy levels!
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Shouldn't have said that I feel better... I had a horribly gassy night. But, then again, when I looked back in my period app I see the exact same pattern 3 months in a row. On the same day of the month, right after ovulation, I've noted "gassy". Weird pattern....