At that age, I didnt know anything about menstruation.
When my mom found out, she was shocked it happened so early.
Since that very first period, Ive dealt with a heavy flow and agonizing cramps.
When I reached my early teens, things got worse.
Id spend days doubled over in pain, fleeing to a warm bath when I could for relief.
Id break into a sweat and have to lie down in the shower afterward to calm myself down.
board-certified minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon atSeckin Endometriosis Center
But the truth is,living with endometriosiscan take over every aspect of your life and healthgut healthincluded.
This can include extremely painful pooping as well as constipation, diarrhea, and bloating, usually during menstruation.
But if youre a person with a uterus, endometriosis should be considered as a potential cause.
Id be more likely to suspect endometriosis as, in many cases, it doesnt appear in routine testing.
For me, bowel issues were a top concern.
This means endometriosis could cause abdominal pain that is not always necessarily associated with your menstrual cycles.
Another time this abdominal pain may spark up?
When youre trying to have a bowel movement.
board-certified minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon atSeckin Endometriosis Center
I still deal with constipation post-surgery, but I mostly believe its due to my interstitial cystitis meds.
Diarrhea
Endometriosis can also have theoppositeeffect on gut motility, resulting in diarrhea.
Once again, this is likely due to prostaglandins.
Id often throw up when I had other extreme bowel issues going on, like diarrhea.
Unfortunately, these symptoms are also nonspecific to endometriosis.
One way to tell the difference?
Pay attention to the timing of your symptoms.
If they correlate with your menstrual cycle, theyre likely linked to endo.
How to manage gut-related endometriosis symptoms
Not everyone with endometriosis will have gut issues.
I would urge people to start a food diary to understand their personal symptoms.
Its important to get a team on board whos there to address your concerns, says Dr. Shane.
They can refer you to a gastroenterologist, or recommend surgery to ease endometriosis symptoms.
If your doctor isnt listening to your concerns, dont be afraid to get a second opinion.
Thats what I did, and thankfully, my new team took me seriously and performed the excision surgery.
Find an endometriosis specialist, if you might.
And remember: For many people, myself included, it takes several years to get an official diagnosis.
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