HOW IS ENDOMETRIOSIS DIAGNOSED: KYLIE’S STORY

May 8th, 2009

I started menstruating at the age of 13. For the first 12 months everything was fine, but I then started to develop acute pain in my right side. I went to my GP who referred me to a surgeon and I was then rushed to hospital to have my appendix removed. Strangely, my appendix was quite normal. I felt well for three months, but then the pain started up again. After having an ultrasound, I was admitted to hospital with a suspected ovarian cyst. A laparoscopy was performed, but everything appeared normal. I was sent home, having been told that it was quite normal to suffer some discomfort when having a period.

For the next year I tried to put up with the pain because I was sure the doctors would tell me it was ‘all in my head’. After another bout of severe pain my GP referred me to another specialist who ordered a barium enema. He said that I had an irritable bowel and to eat more fibre. Unfortunately, this made no difference to the pain. My GP then thought that perhaps I was suffering from pelvic inflammatory disease — a course of antibiotics made no difference. My mother wasn’t happy with the doctor’s explanations and so took me to another GP who immediately suspected I may have endometriosis even though I was only 17 years old. He sent me to a gynaecologist who immediately performed a laparoscopy and diagnosed endometriosis.

During the laparoscopy the gynaecologist ‘burnt off’ all the endometrial deposits that he could find. He explained to me that because there could still be microscopic endometrial deposits in the pelvis, I was to take Provera 30 milligrams a day for nine months. I am now pain free and have just finished the course of tablets. I am looking forward to starting university next year and enjoying life.