How do you know if Endo grows back?

Just wondering--I had severe endo among other issues but the endo seemed to be only in the female parts (all gone now)...my gyn/surgeon wanted me to wait 6 months before going on HRT. My internist put me on cenestin .3 mg about a week ago because I was such a wreck!! My only concern is if the endo grows back--how would you know besides pain? How would the Dr know without doing a lap? Just wondering if any of you have dealt with this issue.

your question concerns me because I too had extensive endo -- but my Dr. put me on HRT right away!

I plan to ask him about this when I see him on Tues.

Please let me know what you find out. The HRT is necessary for me--I went 7 weeks with none and it was not good--insomnia, night sweats, hot flashes and feeling like I wanted to crawl out of my skin--if that makes sense. I will be seeing my gyn dr next week.

I would also like to see the posts here, as I had significant endo on my lower bowels and was placed on estrogen 5 days post op.

My Dr. assured me that any remaining endo would "burn off".

Prior to my hysterectomy, however, I did not have any chronic pelvic pain, but horrendous pain with my periods and alot of bowel problems during that time of the month.

I send a

Hi ladies,

I wonder the same thing! My doctor wanted me to wait 6 months too. But I felt the same way as ga61- couldn't sleep, hives, feeling like I needed to crawl out of my skin, agitated, weepy. I was a mess.

So, I went back on HRT and everything is right as rain! I now am aware of every twinge and wonder if it is endo. However, it is a trade off and I didn't think I could function as a wife, mother, or in my job (when I return) without it.

Am I taking a risk? Of course, it's a gamble...who knows what the next few years hold. However, I wasn't convinced that all the endo would die off in 6 months anyway. So, I thought it will probably come back eventually. Why suffer for 6 months. I would have more piece of mind if I went off it for 6months. I'd feel I'd be giving myself the best chance. I just couldn't do it. I was losing my mind.

I know I don't have the answers because I don't feel this is a black or white issue. I hope hearing someone else's experience helps.

I don't know what's in my future as far as endo is concerned, but I do know that nothing can be as bad as it was- all the heavy bleeding and flooding. At least that is behind me. Good luck to you all. Maybe we'll get some answers.

I didn't even know I HAD endo until after my surgery. The Dr. said it was "extensive", but also told me that a little endo is more painful than a lot of endo. I recall a lot more pain in my 20's, but the truth is -- I have been in pain daily for about 20 years.

Dr. also said there was "a lot of scar tissue". We both feel it was from when I had TSS in college.

Also, ovaries were adhered -- one to bladder, one to bowel.

About HRT -- it's weird but I feel more EVEN than I did before the surgery. Emotionally, that is. I used to have mood swings, severe winter depression, and hypo-mania in summer, but since the surgery I have felt calm 98% of the time, with only a few small hot flashes, no feeling crazy at all! I feel like I should have had this surgery years ago - I'd probably have been more healthy and better off mentally. I have Epstein-Barr, and that is the main reason I wanted the surgery (besides the cystocele and rectocele). I felt, from talking to others, that the stress from my severe monthly cycle was keeping the virus active.

Only time will tell, but I'm willing ....

Sweat Pea, I am really interested to know how you do on the estrogen. I'm not sure how it will "burn off" if the doctor started you on estrogen. I would think that would be kind of difficult given that endo is fed by estrogen.

Hi Stitcher8,

I have been post op almost 16 months and so far, so good.

I had a very high estrogen level prior to surgery, even on the estrogen, my level is less than half than it was prior to surgery.

Will let all know if there are any new developments.



Sweetpea

My doctor told me the endo is caused by a "backflow" of your monthly period out of your uterus when you're lying down (obviously not to everyone, just us "lucky ones")The backflow adheres to the outside of your uterus and other organs. If you've had your uterus removed, you can't have more endo forming. Now, if you had endo on other places that weren't removed, you'll still have that endo growth there. I still have endo left in me (for the life of me, I can't come up with the word for "where" it is right now). I asked why they couldn't get ride of that, and the DR said trying to scrape endo off other organs was not a good idea. What I forgot to ask was if the remaining endo can cause pain. It's on my list of question for my appoint. on the 9th.

CUChiChi- Not true re: no uterus = no endo. Endo feeds off estrogen and estrogen is produced by the ovaries as well as other places in the body. It is not necessarily "backflow", although this can be a cause. Even if a doctor says he has excised everything, there is still a 20% chance of recurrence. Why? Some endo is microscopic and some just recurs. It is a mysterious disease that mystifies even the "experts".