Endometriosis (en-doe-me-tree-O-sis) is an often painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus (endometrial implant). Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, bowel or the tissue lining your pelvis. Rarely, endometrial tissue may spread beyond your pelvic region. In endometriosis, displaced endometrial tissue continues to act as it normally would — it thickens, breaks down and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. Because this displaced tissue has no way to exit your body, it becomes trapped. When endometriosis involves the ovaries, cysts called endometriomas may form. Surrounding tissue can become irritated, eventually developing scar tissue and adhesions — abnormal tissue that binds organs together. Endometriosis can cause pain — sometimes severe — especially during your period. Fertility problems also may develop. Fortunately, effective treatments are available.
Flashback to about 4 months ago, I had my first attack at around 3am in the morning. Suddenly I felt a sudden sharp pain on my lower abdomen. At first I thought it was just a passing pain and that it will go away but the pain never went away and I started to sweat due to the pain and I woke Frank and said "Please take me to the hospital, I have this very very painful pain in my abdomen!!". He drove me to the nearest hospital which was Columbia Asia emergency room and they took some urine sample from me to test. I think about one or two months earlier I did some blood test there and found that I had some urine infections. I told the MO that I'm having period now and it's the second day and she said it's ok. While waiting for the urine test to come back, the pain somehow subsided and the results came back negative but because of blood in the urine, they suspected stones but I told the MO I've got my period !! Anyway, she gave me some antibiotics and pain killers and ask me to go back for another urine test after my period. She did not even suspect that it was due to some gynae problems cuz it's during my period , did not do any ultrasound or scan or whatever on my abdomen, what kind of MO is that ??
So I was on MC for 2 days due to pain which was due to wind in the abdomen after taking the antibiotics and pain killers, as I was told by another doctor. The pain was quite bad , if you touch your abdomen or sneeze or walk too fast or even in the car going over a bump causes pain! All due to the wind!!
The second attack came a month later, same second day of period! The same sharp pain on the lower abdomen. I then knew that it was something to do with my periods and gynae matters. I went to Klink Samurkh to check since it's a women maternity centre. The Doctor checked and did an ultra sound and found nothing! He said I had severe menstrual cramps and send me home with some pain killers. When I showed him the pain killers from Columbia Asia, he said that I don't need to take such strong pain killers. I then told him the whole story about my first attack and he said normally these antibiotics and pain killers will bring about lots of wind in the abdomen which will cause a lot of pain.
I was getting phobia when the third month came, expecting the sharp pains but luckily it did not come. I dont know if it is due to the Shaklee GLA which I was taking at double dose or what. The fourth month came and also no sharp pain but I did feel intermittent pain on and off at the lower abdomen that sometimes can be quite uncomfortable. So I decided to go check out again and I went to see Dr Yong (Surgeon) of Columbia Asia.and he recommended colonscopy and an ultra sound. So I decided to do the ultrasound first. Lo and behold, the radiologist found a 5cm fibroid in the scan !!! He proceeded to scan the rest of the other organs which he said was in good shape. Then I was referred to the gynae, Dr Suhaimi Hassan since this is a gynae matter and no more under the general surgeon. He asked me quite a lot of questions and then he did a pelvic exam and also an ultra sound too as he wanted to see for himself. He confirmed that I had a cyst measuring 5cm and that a total hysterectomy including ovaries. He said that in universal medical terms at my age this is what will be recommended to do, then I will go into menopause (surgically) as I'm not menopausal now.
Wham !!! that was a hard one to swallow ...such a major surgery ... do I have a choice ....never imagined that I would got through this at this stage in my life. Doctor asked me to think about it and do the surgery as soon as possible.
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