Could there be a connection between endometriosis and IBS?

I only found out after my TAH BSO from the pathology report that I had endometriosis, along with the fibroids. Never suspected it because I never had any pain or cramps, just heavy, prolonged bleeding. BUT, I have suffered from IBS for many years, gradually getting worse as time went on. I read a couple of articles online that suggested a correlation between endo and IBS symptoms, if the endo tissue is connected to the bowels. Now I'm wondering if there is indeed a connection. Is there anyone out there who is a ways out from their hyst who had both endo and IBS and found that the IBS got better after the hyst? I am really curious about this, I plan on asking my doctor some very detailed questions when I see him in a week.

Yes, IBS with endometriosis is quite common. There are many ladies here who suffer from both, me being one of them. In fact, I was told for years I had IBS before the endometriosis was discovered through laparoscopy. I had painful bowel movements and intestinal cramping with alternating constipation and diarrhea before the onset of extremely painful periods and nausea. It has been six months since my hysterectomy and I still have painful bowel movements, but not as much in the way of alternating constipation and diarrhea. My doctor did not remove the remaining endo from my sigmoid colon or bladder. He said it would die off without my ovaries. But I still continue to have pain and have chosen to continue with hrt because I could not stand surgical menopause without some estrogen. I realize that the estrogen is probably feeding the endo. I also got a copy of my pathology and surgical report and was surprised to find out I had adhesions on my sigmoid colon. Hence the painful bowel movements. I also had some testing done recently to find out why I had chronic nausea and indigestion and found out I have a fungal yeast overgrowth in my intestines. My levels of candida in my stool were very high. So I have to be on a yeast free/sugar free diet indefinitely. I also have to take acidolphilus to help build back up good bacteria I lost from taking antibiotics for other reasons. Twelve days into the diet and I am having far less nausea and abdominal cramps, but still having abdominal pain. Food allergies are also appearently common among endo sufferers. I have been lactose intolerant for years. You must be wondering what I can eat! LOL. Not much! Our bodies are just so complicated and I don't think you can truly seperate a lot of problems like IBS, Endometriosis, Fibroids, hormonal imbalance, food allergies, and other problems like hypothyroidism, CFS or fibromyalgia from eachother. All seemed to be closely linked, although not every woman with endo has all or any of these other problems. And so many of them mimic eachother in terms of symptoms.
Here is a link that talks about endometriosis and IBS for reference:
http://www.endo-resolved.com/symptoms.html

Hope this helps and that your IBS improves! Keep in mind though that hormonal imbalance and other issues can exascerbate the problem of IBS also, not just endometriosis.

Wow, good question. Before my surgery, I had been diagnosed with IBS. Because of various symptoms, including alternating diarhea and constipation and sometimes blood in my feces. Repeated colonoscopies came up with the same result - IBS. When they performed my hysterectomy, it turned out that I had terrible endo and my uterus was attached to both my bladder and my sigmoid colon. The doctor took the time to remove as much scar tissue as possible. Guess what? It is 3 years later and I show virtually NO signs of IBS. Maybe I am rare, but I suspect not. I think IBS is often diagnosed too quickly. I proably never had IBS. I certainly do know that my successful surgery has stopped the symptoms. Good luck!

Thank you both for your replies. I feel like I am onto something here. My doctor did not tell me any details about the endo, only that I had it. So you can be sure that I am not going to let him get away until he answers some of my questions! I had a colonoscopy about 5 years ago, and there was nothing unusual found, that's when I got the diagnosis for IBS (I think all that means is that they DON'T KNOW what the cause of the symptoms is). Wow, if it turns out that this hyst cured by intestinal problems, it will be a miracle!

Last summer i wondered if I had IBS or a kink in my colon ( this i what my dr thought) I had suffered from side aches for yrs and constipation. I am 8 weeks post op and so far no side aches, and my bowles work better now then they did before surgery
I had a TAH BSO

My Dr. thought I had adhesions from my Hyst. 11 1/2 years ago. I went through an colonoscopy and exploratory surgery in Jan. only to find cysts on my ovaries and endo. Dr. removed my appendix hoping that would alleviate my side aches, but not yet! Maybe after my surgery March 8 to remove my ovaries will the side aches and endo dissapear?!!! I can only hope!!!