endometriosis vs. IBS
#230813 - 12/11/05 06:06 PM
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jen1013
Reged: 05/06/05
Posts: 1322
Loc: the wabe
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I was just "officially" diagnosed with endometriosis -- I had a laparoscopy Thursday and had a ton of endo removed.
Question is ... how do I figure out if I really do have IBS as well? Or will it end up being pretty self-explanatory? I realize it is very possible to have both endo AND IBS, in which case, yes, I would totally have to be so thankful for having TWO sucky chronic conditions with no cure ... OK, yeah, I know, it could be worse, sorry, tiny bit of pity party there.
Anyway, so, the gynecologist said I didn't have endo on my bowels, but did say it was possible all the inflammation and whatnot was causing the GI problems. My appendix was removed because it was nearly completely covered in scar tissue from all of the endo, and isn't the appendix near the colon? (OK, sorry, I never passed Basic Biology 101.) So maybe that is a possible link? I do know that the extremely hideous agonizing painful cramping I was having because of the endo was causing really bad bouts of D.
Just not sure if I continue to have GI symptoms if it really is IBS or if it's resulting from endo.  I've never really been a textbook case of IBS, and so far my symptoms have been totally degenerative -- after over a year of being on Heather's diet, I was down to eating bread and water and taking double my allotted dosage of anti-spasmodics to try to get through the day (don't tell my doctor).
Obviously it's too early to tell anything, especially since I am still in mend mode from surgery, but just wondering what everyone thought. I figured maybe other people had passed Basic Biology 101 and would have some more intelligent thoughts. 
I do have ten days off over the holidays and thought I'd try reintroducing some foods then, but after all this time on the boards the thought of dairy or red meat is more scary than the thought of having to appear publicly in a bathing suit. Plus, what if I do have IBS, but it was super-aggravated by the endo, so I start to eat other foods, and I'm OK at first, but then after a couple weeks I have a super horrible attack?
Anyway, I just want to KNOW.  I don't even care about the diet part. Yeah, I could stay on it to be safe, but it still wouldn't answer any questions.
Thoughts???
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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Thought no.1...go check out www.butyoudontlooksick.com. It's for people with chronic invisible illnesses (yes, you count!  ) and there are quite a few girls with endo (an endo forum is on the to-do list for Christine I think). If you post in the New Members bit first you'll get some idea of who has endo!
Thought no.2...having a period really &^%$s my tum up, so I can only imagine what endo does. The diet is based on making food easier to digest so it might be a good basis to stick to whatever. How about reintroducing foods according to the diet principles and see how you do. And then reintroducing the occasional bit of dairy or meat later.
Thought no.3....yep, the appendix is near the colon...as are all the girly bits.
Hope that helps! 
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I've seen you mention that site before. I should really go check it out. Actually, I guess I should go find an endo board somewhere! Even if I don't have IBS, though, how could I leave here? You guys are so awesome! Maybe Heather needs to have an endo board. Um, except then there will only be Nelly, Kelly, and me. Hey, that sounds like a Sesame Street Segment. "Whis one of these is not like the other? Nelly! ...Kelly! ...or Jen."
OK, I think I had better go sleep for awhile longer.
Anyway, I guess what I'm really wondering is if I do have problems with D still if it's IBS or if it's due to endo. Probably no way to tell, huh? Ugh. Maybe I'll just say I have it anyway so I have an excuse to hang around.
Thanks Linz.
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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I have both!
#230874 - 12/12/05 07:12 AM
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Nelly
Reged: 08/06/04
Posts: 4381
Loc: Within stray mortar fire of DC
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I have endo, IBS-D, fibromyalgia, RLS, migraines, chronic kidney pain, a tilted uterus, scoliosis, degenerative discs, mast cell disease, mastocytosis, gastritis, and premature arthritis. (WHEW!  ) I may also have Lyme disease, considering I've been exposed to the same factors my BF and dog have, and they both have it. )
But all of these ailments have different side effects, and the endo and IBS are easy to tell apart. A big way to know is that I have stomach pain even when I don't have my period, while the endo is localized to the week my period happens.
But I fixed the endo by stopping my periods with depo provera-- my last endo attack was my last period, August '99. Yeaaaaa!!
Do you have D or C? IBS is a digestive disorder so you should know how to make your stomach go out either by eating the wrong food or by putting too much pressure on your stomach. You won't be able to do the same with endo.
Good luck!
~nelly~
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I miss my Depo! I HATE periods, they make me feel like utter garbage.
Depo is so fab...ah I do miss it.
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Oh YES
#230943 - 12/12/05 10:04 AM
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Nelly
Reged: 08/06/04
Posts: 4381
Loc: Within stray mortar fire of DC
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I LOVE DEPO. I've gotten back 60 to 70 "good" days a year just by stopping my periods, yeaaa! Are you trying for a baby, Linz? Or did you just skip a shot?
~nelly~
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Yikes! That's quite a list.
Unfortunately, my endo isn't as clear-cut as just having pain during my period. My pain is all of the time. Sometimes it gets so bad I wish I were dead. Sometimes it's almost bearable. But, there's never been a discernible correlation to my period. This is one reason why I sort of thought I didn't really have endo. I've since done a lot of reading -- official sites, cheesy doctor's brochures, various message boards -- and this does definitely happen with endo. I wish I'd thought to do some more research on it beforehand rather than just reading the symptom list on WebMD and thinking, nah, this doesn't really sound like me.
And, see, if my bowels are disrupted because of endo problems -- nearly everything is going to bother me. And the hard-to-digest stuff will REALLY aggravate it. I mean, in one sense, D is D. So how do you tell what's really causing your unhappy stomach? Did the peanut butter toast just kill you because you have IBS and you tried eating too much PB, or is it because the endo has inflamed everything so much that everything is going to hurt? I only know that some of my D is being caused by endo because of the vicious cramping and bleeding I was getting. But since my IBS symptoms have been degenerative (which IBS really shouldn't be, especially when you're eating nothing but bread and Imodium), that's why I'm wondering if it's endo-caused.
Wishful thinking, maybe. As I heal from the surgery hopefully I will know more. I'm still in a lot of pain, but digestive-wise my stomach has really behaved. I've been sort of C (from the painkillers I imagine) and my bowel movements have been pretty painful, but no cramps/D. I guess I will cross my fingers and hope it stays that way. Except for the pain part. This is also normal post-surgery so it should get better.
I think you said before you've never had a laparoscopy, and this is the only way they can find endo (though I think if there is a ton of scarring they might be able to see patches on x-rays). With a colonoscopy they can't see endo on the bowels. I know that your IBS is really bad -- don't you ever wonder if you've got endo on your bowels or elsewhere that is aggravating your IBS?
That is so incredible you've gone so long without an endo attack. I hope it stays that way!!
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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Re: Oh YES
#230993 - 12/12/05 11:50 AM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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Not yet, but we might be soon and my docs were worried about the effects of long-term Depo use, so I switched to Implanon. Unfortunately the lower levels of hormones have allowed a slight cycle to start again with light (but oh so horrible) periods.  Waaah. When I get the Implanon out, I'd better get pg real quick! Im struggling enough with light periods.
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Hi, Depo Girls! I'm sorry for butting in but I must know...
I wanted to go off of the pill because it irritates my reflux and I called my gyno and told her I wanted to try Depo. Yet another doctor to tell me "NO". I must sound like a total demanding BI!CH on the phone because every single doctor tells me NO, for one reason or another.
She said she wanted me to stay on the oral contraceptive, because depo causes bone density loss and I would gain weight and lose my hair. What's up with that?? Do you girls have problems with this??? I don't care if I gain weight but I don't really want to lose my hair.
Please let me know if there are any side effects I should worry about. I really want to come off of this pill.
Thanks!!
Michelle
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IBS-D. Hiatal Hernia, GERD
Unstable
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Lose hair? I wish! Only kidding, but I do have too much hair.
I did gain weight, but then I had alot on so I can't blame it entirely on the Depo. As for the bone density, it's just a theoretical risk (as is reduced fertility) with long-term usage. I was on it for 6 years. 5 years is typically "allowed". I switched off it as I def. want kids in the next 5 years and also b/c I have osteoporosis in my family.
I think Nelly doesn't want kids and gets her bone density checked to make sure it's okay. Might be wrong....
But really Depo is GREAT!
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