Medical question for the women here...

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by ramanth
You know Richard, there are just some threads you shouldn't crack your "funny" jokes in.

Just as I suspected.....I don't get it.

[dukedogsmom]

I didn't have that but I have had problems. There's a woman at work that has it. I know it causes a lot of pain. I don't really know too much about it, though.

[dukedogsmom]

Originally posted by RICHARD
Just as I suspected.....I don't get it.

And you'd better consider yourself lucky you don't!. Things like this are sure as nothing to joke about. If you only knew what all a lot of us have been through.

[carole]

Teenster No I don't have it , not that I know of, but I sure have a lot of pain and have done for years, I am now on Provera which has helped some, but lately it has not been so good, but I am nearing that menopausal age, so anything can happen from now until then, I also take vioxx for pain relief, both are only by prescription here in NZ, vioxx is also used as effective pain relief for arthritis, so for me I kill two birds with one stone, but unfortunately neither seem to get rid of the pain completely, but they do help some. I have the chronic illness Fibromyalgia, which could account for my increased pain at this time,more than likely, so pain is nothing new to me, I live with it daily, and you have my empathy, very much so.

They do have side effects, like all medication,but nothing too major, but I am finding the vioxx less tolerable as time goes on, maybe our bodies just become used to it, and now a stronger drug is required.

I have lots of empathy for you, as even though I have no official diagnosis, the pain I experienced before my medication was unbearable, now its still not great, and I cannot wait until menopause, except for the other problems associated with it, I say bring it on!!!sooner the better.

I am lucky I have a very supportive husband.

And To Richard I think this is a thread you should have stayed well away from, it suprises me you would even want to read all this stuff.

[teenster3]

I KNOW, look what I created!.....Richard, sorry man but' you haven't got a clue on this subject!!!!
I just wanted to know if there were others out there like me!
I drove to work today (about 35 minutes away) in the worst pain ever. I've had the pain before but after taking several doses of the Lupron I thought that it would get better, not worse! It was great when I was on it but, my mom worries about the side effects that I will have later on in my lifetime.
I know this sounds extreme but, sometimes I just feel like ripping out my stomach.....that WHOLE area where it hurts, it really sucks!!!!!!
I took 8 advil this morning & 2 prescription pills (a strong dose of ibuprofen) when I got home this evening & STILL NO RELIEF!
I don't know that the bcp's work for me. I've been given several & it does stop the bleeding but, for me it's the pain that I worry about!<

[trayi52]

I don't why, back years ago when the doctor discovered I had it, he gave me what a woman takes for menopause, Premarin and Provera, at least I think it was Provera, it seem to make my pain worse!

I fought hard not to have a hysterectomy, but after it got worse, and I was bleeding non-stop, I was happy to finally have it. I had to stay at home all the time, because of so much pain and my clothes were messed up. I felt like I was in hard labor all the time!

I really feel for you, or any of you that are suffering with it. My heart just goes out to you, it really does.

I hope you find something to relieve your pain. Tina, I just don't see how you or any of you can go into work with that kind of pain!

Willie

[ramanth]

Teenster *HUGS*

It is NO fun being in pain. Not at all.

Lately I find if I'm stressed out or "hold it" (going to the bathroom) for too long I'll have a very bad spasm. But the back to back bcp have worked as a temp solution. I'm hoping that by getting pregnant it'll eliminate the pain, but I know that might not be the case.

My mom has endo and never knew she had it until I was born via C-section. She just had painful periods and figured that was normal. The doctor was surprised that she was even able to get pregnant when they saw all that endo tissue. She had two more kids and then had a hysterectomy.

Carole, you may have Endometriosis. Many people have it and never know it. They may just have pain during periods. I have pain all the time.

These are the stages of Endometriosis that I was told about. I'm about a Stage III.

Stage I, or minimal endometriosis, involves small spots of endometriosis in the pelvis or the ovaries without scarring. There is little evidence that it causes infertility and there is no evidence that surgery is a cost effective treatment. The value of a laparoscopy to diagnose stage I endometriosis is debatable. Many patients conceive without treatment.

Stage II, or mild endometriosis, involves more extensive areas of endometriosis, often with "nodules" in the cul-de-sac on exam. The ovaries can be scarred to the sides of the pelvis making the ovaries immobile. A careful exam and vaginal ultrasound will usually make the diagnosis without surgery. Again, many patients conceive without surgical treatment but surgery can be helpful.

Stage III, or moderate endometriosis, has more scarring and/or endometriomas (collections of endometriosis in the ovaries). Vaginal ultrasound done in the first half of the cycle will detect endometriomas. The presence of an endometrioma is diagnostic for stage III or IV endometriosis. Surgical treatment is indicated.

Stage IV, or severe endometriosis, is like stage III but with either endometriomas in both ovaries, involvement of bowel and/or bladder or very extensive scarring. Surgery is needed for general health reasons. Often IVF will eventually be needed to achieve fertility to bypass the scarring.

[ramanth]

Oh and Sirrahbed, thanks for that link.

I often go here when I'm having a bad episode. They are very nice.

http://boards.webmd.com/topic.asp?topic_id=29

[trayi52]

ramanth, when I had it, they called what I had a different metioses, the kind that is inside the walls of the uterus. You don't happen to know what the name of that would be, would you?

They told me, but I can't remember for the life of me what it was now. My memory is so bad!

Willie

[ramanth]

As far as I know (or can remember it being explained to me) is that Endometriosis is the condition/illness where the endometrium that lines the uterus sheds not only inside the uterus but also outside of the uterus. Since the blood has no where to go, it causes the lesions and scar tissue that in turn causes the pain.

Never heard the term metioses, but that doesn't mean it can't happen!

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by carole


And To Richard I think this is a thread you should have stayed well away from, it suprises me you would even want to read all this stuff.

As long as you stay away from the Bobbitt/getting your thing stuck in your zipper stuff....

I didn't know that there is a "secret woman's malaise" club....no men allowed.

In my experience, the more I learn about "women's stuff", It helps me be a little more sympathetic to what you all go thru.

Spending all the years working in a hospital, with mostly women doesn't help my curiosity...

Asymptomatically yours....

[ramanth]

Richard, I have no problems with you asking what Endometriosis is, but since the first post from you was:

Where is the "endo" on a man, anyway????

and not "What is Endometriosis?", I hope you can understand why I got a bit annoyed.

Men CAN get Endometriosis, but normally it's in the arms/shoulders as far as I can recall and is very rare.

Google 'Endometriosis'.

[trayi52]

Oops, I misspelled it! I meant to spell it as metriosis! Boy do I feel dumb!

Willie

[ramanth]

Well here is the WebMD definition:

Endometriosis is a disease in which cells that look and act like the cells that line the uterus (endometrial cells) are found in other locations in the body, usually in the pelvis. These cells can attach to the ovaries or fallopian tubes; the outer surface of the uterus, the bowels, or other abdominal organs; or, rarely, to other organs and structures in the body. The places where the cells attach are called implants, or lesions.

Endometrial cells that are found outside the uterus respond to hormones released during the menstrual cycle in the same way as endometrial cells that are located in the uterus.1 At the beginning of the normal menstrual cycle, when the lining of the uterus is shed and menstrual bleeding begins, the sites of these abnormally located cells (implants) may swell and bleed.

The body responds to the swelling and bleeding by surrounding the cells with scar tissue. During the menstrual cycle, this scar tissue may become red, swollen, and painful. As the scar tissue increases, it can form adhesions that cover and bind the abdominal organs. Adhesions can interfere with an organ's normal function.

http://my.webmd.com/hw/endometriosis...000_1077_00_07

Maybe back when you were diagnosed they called the cells 'metriosis'?

[RICHARD]

if you go back and read why I responded you'll see that it was a little play on the "Men don't get it " line.....

Of course we don't get it...we are men, we don't do well understanding women...especially when we are castigated (I want to say casturated, but you wouldn't understand-touche') for wanting information.

Actually, I didn't ask WHAT endometeriosis is-
it's mysterious enough as it is.

I'll pass on the google offer....
When you see hysterectomies, D&Cs and other women operations everyday for 10+ years, you feel sympathy and wonder what it's like to have a procedure like that done.....

Well, those feelings just aren't manly....