I have polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS not Endo, but I share some of the pain. It caused me to miss so much school that I was at serious risk of being held back despite having high grades in high school. As an adult, I frequently use all my sick days just to cope. Last year my new gynocologist finally took me seriously and realized that I was not just over exaggerating. Since I had very high blood pressure on the combo pill, we decided to try the IUD instead … I had it placed 3 times! Each time, within a week or two, my body expelled the IUD on it’s own.
Anyway, we gave up on the IUD because it wasn’t working. Instead she put me on Slynd (drospirenone) a progestin only pill. For some people it stops menstruation completely, and I was lucky enough to be one. After 19 years of pain, I’ve finally had 9 months of feeling great! I don’t have those stabbing knife pains in the middle of the month when I would get cysts. I no longer get anemic from blood loss or have 7-13 day periods with cramps that feel like I’m in labor. I don’t have a period at all!
I know that I’ve read stories of women with Endo who say they’ve had success using birth control to stop their cycle which stops the Endo tissue from growing each month.
The slynd is prohibitively expensive if insurance doesn’t cover it. However, there’s another progestin only pill that is coming out next year in the US that will be over the counter and supposedly affordable. That med is called Opill (norgestrel).
Sorry for the wall of text. I just want you to know that I feel for you and you have my deepest sympathy. It sucks trying to get a diagnosis for reproductive pain, and please don’t ever let them wear you down. The pain is not normal and someone should be doing something for you about it! I hope your upcoming appointment goes well and you get some relief soon.
I had issues with dry eyes and wasn’t a good option for lasik, so I had EVO Visian Implantable Collamer Lens surgery 2 years ago. Was $3500 per eye so $7000 total.
It’s not very well known. I had to ask for it specifically and even the receptionist thought I meant lasik until I clarified where it was listed on their own website.
It’s similar to cataract surgery but instead of removing your lens and replacing it; they just add a second one with your prescription in front of it. Basically it’s a permanent contact.
They slice a very small incision, slide in the folded lens, and then smooth it out. Takes 20-30 minutes. Doesn’t remove any tissue from the eye like other procedures or leave a flap. It can be reversed by removing the lens in another procedure, and can be redone in the future if your prescription changes a lot. They can also correct an astigmatism using these lenses.
After surgery, I wore eye shields at night for a week, and had to do the same eye drop protocol that is done after cataract surgery. 3 bottle of drops, 3-4 times a day for around 21 days. They had a single bottle option that combined all the meds which would’ve been only 1 drop 3-4 times a day, but it was $200. So I filled the 3 bottles at the pharmacy for a total of $30 instead.
Vision was perfect right after surgery. Eyes felt mildly dry for maybe 2-3 days but that could’ve been some of the drops.
So happy to not spend $800+ per year on contacts and solution, or worrying about losing a contact while swimming. I would do it again if it’s ever needed.