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Link between endometriosis and crohn's?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 9/25/2012 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
I am a 38 year old who had intussusception surgery at age 3, and diagnosed with endometriosis at age 33 after a laparoscopic surgery. I recently scheduled an abdominal hysterectomy in December of 2012 (I am a full time college student and that is my winter break). A month or so ago, I began experiencing all of the symptoms of Crohn's or IBS, and began testing. The ct scan came back only showing my ovarian cysts that I knew about from an ultrasound last month, and my colonoscopy is scheduled for next week. I was put on Bentyl every 6 hours, which does absolutely nothing. My concerns are since the ct scan showed nothing, and I know SOMETHING is going on in there, could any of these Chrohns symptoms be related to the endometriosis? My pcp said no way, but what if this colonoscopy comes back with nothing too? Then what should I be certain my doctor does. As anyone who suffers the inability to eat ANY types of foods without severe pain knows, I just want answers.

Thanks in advance
tarakenjor
Posted 9/26/2012 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
I don't have hard info on endometriosis related to CD, but my sis has UC and had severe endometriosis.  The UC was not dx'd until long after the endometriosis surgery and her miraculous twins (now almost 30 years old!).  I know she had some severe abdominal pains with the endometriosis, but I sometimes wonder now if she was not suffering the UC at the same time and it was all put on the endometriosis.  However, she had some time between the surgery and the UC dx where the pains were reduced so ?????

I would wait to worry about what to do next untiul you have the scope.  Have a good long talk with your gyn for the endometriosis as they are the expert on the endometriosis and also talk to your GI about the results of your scope---hopefully your specialists can provide better direction for you.

Posted 9/27/2012 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
HabsHockeyFan,
Thanks so much for your reply. I have spent the last few days reading so much from this site, and I did come across an article about endometriosis and CD. It just stated how studies have shown that women with endometriosis are more likely to get IBD or CD than those without. I will definitely keep talking with my drs about my concerns. I think I now understand why my GI doesn't really have any answers for me yet....every person is different when it comes to food triggers and symptoms.
Did your sister end up with the hysterectomy? Or just the endometriosis surgery? That is awesome that she had twins after battling all of that!! :-)

Again...thank you so much for your advice!! I truly appreciate it!
Posted 9/27/2012 9:06 AM (GMT 0)
I think endo and IBD can have similar symptoms and it is hard to tell what is the source of pelvic pain without scope or lap. For years before my diagnosis I was a fertility patient and I complained about pelvic pain, especially during ovulation. My RE thought I must have endo and scheduled a pelvic lap to clean it out. He was very surprised to find a completely clean pelvis. Unfortunately for me, he never suggested I see a GI so it wasn't until I was passing bloody stool after my first child was born that I started down a different diagnostic path.

So yes, your bowel symptoms could be related to IBD. Endo can certainly cause pain - not sure about diarrhea. How has your endo been treated since your lap at age 33? Do you think it has returned?
Posted 9/27/2012 11:36 AM (GMT 0)
tara---my sister did not originally have a hysterectomy.  They did some major scar tissue clean up, then she did the high costs meds to help her get pregnant (with my favorite niece and nephew who became my substitute kids smilewinkgrin ).  It wasn't until years after the kids were born that she resorted to the hysterectomy.  Knowing how horribly scared her colon is, I have to wonder if the hysterectomy was really needed---but I will never know as she doesn't really talk much on her health (an overally strong person who takes on all pain!).

I wish you best care and hope you are eating better.

Posted 9/27/2012 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
I have Crohn's and my gyno also thinks i have endometriosis. He says that because of my Crohn's everything else is a little more irritated during my period, which is why they are so unbearbly painful and heavy. He said there could be a link
Posted 9/27/2012 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
I do not have endometriosis however a ruptured ovarian cyst was one thing they tired to tell me was the cause of all the pain, diarrhea and vomiting in the beginning. My youngest daughter age 24 was diagnosed with endo. just last spring. I pray to God each night they have it right with her.
I have always worried that maybe I shouldn't have had children if crohn's might be their legacy from dear old mom.
Posted 9/29/2012 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
I was at a endo confrence two weeks ago where they where talking about Endo and auto immune disese. Endo is not a auto immune disese but you are more likely to see them toghter. I have endo and CD and my Endo is good if I take progestrone. It is very hard to tell what is what when everything is in the same spot. I had endo surgery in 2007 and meds after that so I was good for a few years but I just had twins in July and my Endo came back with vengeance :/ So now I am back on progestrone. Its a awful disese who so few know about and causes a lot of pain and discomfort. I just pray that my girls will be lucky and not get it.
Posted 10/1/2012 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
I suffered severe endo..I had albation done in Aug 2009' and my uterus lining did not grow back right and they want to do it again now..I had severe bleeding, and progesterone did help..I was diagnosed perimenopausal at 33 and now my periods are irregular..Early menopause is often common in women with auto immune disorders as well..I did have severe diarrhea and an upset stomach with the heavy periods so it was hard to tell if it was CD of endo??
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