I I had extensive bowel endometriosis, along with Stage IV disease, and ultimately had excision surgery with a total hysterectomy and both ovaries removed. For me, it made a tremendous difference in my bowel symptoms. I know everyone's experience is different, but I have had significant relief compared to before surgery.

I completely understand your concerns about surgical menopause. I struggled with weighing the risks and benefits too. For me, the severity of my disease and the daily pain made surgery the right decision.

I am now on estrogen replacement therapy, and that has given me peace of mind because it can greatly reduce the increased risks of bone loss and heart disease associated with early surgical menopause. That was something I discussed at length with my surgeon before making my decision.

It is such a personal choice, but I wanted you to know that there are people who have found real relief after surgery, even with bowel endometriosis. I hope you find a treatment plan that gives you relief and lets you get your life back. ❤️

I am currently going to be doing physical therapy pelvic floor. My endometriosis specialist said it would really help me. I guess sometimes the healing just takes too long and the scar tissue that causes pain as well. So it's good to stretch your muscles and strengthen your core so you can heal faster. I have surgeries coming up in my future. Good luck.

Of course! For years I was diagnosed with mixed IBS. Over the last couple of years, though, everything became incredibly painful—not just bowel movements, but urinating and even passing gas. After several urgent care visits, I was told I had severe slow-transit constipation. I lived on Miralax for nearly a year with little relief. Eventually it got so bad that my body could not keep food down because my digestive system had essentially stopped moving food through properly.

The decision to remove my remaining ovary really came down to how extensive the disease was. During an emergency surgery the previous August, I had already lost my left ovary because of a 7 cm endometrioma with ovarian torsion. By the time of my follow up imaging to see if treatment was working, my remaining ovary was covered in multiple cysts, including two endometriomas, and it simply was not a healthy or functional ovary anymore. I also had extensive adhesions that had wrapped around my bowel and other organs, leaving them essentially stuck together and unable to move normally. At that point, the pain and ongoing disease did not justify keeping the ovary just for estrogen production. Since I no longer needed my uterus or cervix for fertility, and both were affected by disease as well, removing everything offered the best chance at long-term relief.

As for taking estrogen. I definitely had concerns at first, but my surgeon explained that because all visible endometriosis was excised, the benefits of replacing estrogen at my age outweighed the risk of recurrence. We also talked about the fact that I already have a diagnosis now. If I ever develop symptoms or recurrence in the future, we know what we are dealing with and can address it right away instead of spending years searching for answers again. We both agreed that if that day ever comes, we will deal with it then. For now, the benefits of hormone replacement far outweigh the potential risk for me.

There's a saying in the autism community that if you meet someone autistic, you met one person with autism... I guess it applies to Endo as well. Mystery causes for both...🌈

The mini pill IS progesterone so probs not for you-- sorry. I do have periodic bouts of rage which I attribute to PMDD; I chart the episodes & they've all happened at a specific time in my cycle. I used to get hopelessly depressed w/LOTS of ideation; spent a week at a psych facility where they tweaked my antidepressant & gave me a PMDD protocol: take a high dose of antihistamine & sleep through it. Not the best bc I still feel on edge when I wake up.

I talked to my therapist about the sadness & rage. At the time I know it's my hormones & can cry myself through the episode but lose control during the rage-- I am not myself. I also get migraines & was curious about treating both w/cannabis; my therapist convinced me to investigate & I got my green card this spring.

So far I've found relief for the cramps & migraines w/ a higher CBD & CBG ratio indica. For my "trouble" week, I mini dose w/ sativa gummies to stave off the rage; it also helps to avoid irritations if possible.

I would love to hear from someone who is naturally menopausal (no surgery.) How was it? How did you deal? How is it now? Hugs all around 💕