Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Endometriosis Or Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Question:
I have a lot of medical problems and I am wondering if they could all be due to the endometriosis which the Dr. called severe. Part of my symptoms are irritable bowel syndrome. I want information so that I can educate myself on how to live healthier with my endometriosis and IBS

Answer:
These may not be *typical* endometriosis symptoms, but yes, it is possible that every one of them could be caused by endometriosis. I don't want to frighten those with less severe symptoms -- endometriosis doesn't always progress to this.  Actually, it doesn't *usually* progress to this.  But many women *have* experienced these symptoms as a result of endometriosis. When you think about what endometriosis really means, you have body tissue in the wrong place scattered all over your pelvic cavity and perhaps beyond. The tissue may be bleeding periodically, introducing blood into the pelvic cavity and various pockets of tissue.  Your immune system has to break down that blood, and is probably trying to get rid of the misplaced tissue all the time.  That means some wear and tear on your body and immune system! Irritable bowel syndrome can be a result of endometriosis in the vicinity of the intestines and the inflammation the endometriosis can produce. However, the intestines can be directly affected by endometriosis as well.  Endometriosis can grow on the intestinal wall, and actually it can push right through the muscle wall of the intestines.  And, yes, that will indeed produce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome! It is amazing to me that so many doctors do not consider that possibility.  I went around with a misdiagnosis for years until Dr. Redwine found the nodule of endometriosis which had invaded my colon wall.  (Yesterday I posted Susan's bowel story again with more details.) As to fatigue, pain will make you tired, there is no mystery there!  It seems to me that when a patient goes to the doctor's office complaining of fatigue, the doctor's first question should be, Are you experiencing any type of pain? When we live with endometriosis day in, day out for a number of years, we tend to get used to the pain, even ignore the pain, and it creeps up on us, worsening over time but worsening so gradually we don't always give it due consideration. I know that I made a number of doctor's visits complaining of fatigue, and I was never asked about pain.  We might have got to the root of the problem if I had announced, My endometriosis pain is 22 percent worse than it was last year, and dealing with the pain is causing fatigue. But the doctor didn't ask, and I didn't associate the endometriosis pain with fatigue.  And the two do go hand in hand. Researchers really need to learn a lot more about the relationship between endometriosis and immune problems.  I was saddened by the recent death of Dr. Arnold Kresch, who was a leading researcher in this field.  Our immune systems can get out of kilter because of the constant battle against endometriosis, but it is unlikely that endometriosis would gain a foothold in the first place if our immune systems were functioning properly.  It is a self-perpetuating downward spiral.  The best first step is a thorough removal of the endometriosis tissue, but immune problems can persist even then. I hope that research will continue into the immune aspects of endometriosis. The vomiting and fever might be related to a different problem altogether.  Then again... if endometriosis is invading your digestive system, it could be totally responsible for this problem.  It is unusual to have endometriosis invade the intestines to the extent of causing problems like this, but it is not unheard of. The invasion of endometriosis can make someone really sick.  I used to have this kind of problem, but the problem was eliminated when the endometriosis was thoroughly removed from my intestines. I certainly know the feeling of fuzzy brain! When we are distracted by pain and our immune systems are having trouble, I guess it's not surprising to find it difficult to concentrate. I want to mention that I dealt with one doctor who was baffled by my report that I could think more clearly and had more energy when I was taking a prescription pain medication.  He said he would expect a pain medication to do just the opposite, and started getting all excited about possible addiction, it never occurring to him that I was able to function better with a reduction in my pain.  (A lot of doctors unfortunately don't know much about treating pain.) I have certainly gained weight since dealing with endometriosis.  I have primarily considered it the aftermath of hormone suppressive medications. But I know that when the pain started getting really overwhelming, I started taking a lot of shortcuts.  I would toss a crumpled paper at the wastebasket instead of walking over to drop it in.  I would think very carefully about what I would need to take with me from room to room, instead of running back and forth to get whatever I needed.  I looked harder for a parking place in front of the store, instead of parking at the far end of the parking lot and walking up to the door.  I took the elevator instead of the stairs.  So even though my actual activities might not have changed, I started eliminating a lot of little steps which also help to burn calories. That's what pain will do for you!  Sigh. I hope that treatment of your endometriosis will eliminate some of these problems, or at least bring a reduction in your suffering.  I don't think endometriosis is given enough credit for the suffering it can cause!  I hope you will be able to see a knowledgeable doctor who will be of help to you.