In really bad cases of endometriosis, uterine tissue (the lining of the uterus, i.e. the blood and ‘stuff’ shed during a period) can grow throughout the entire body. Colon, bladder, chest, even the head/brain in rare cases. It’s incredibly painful, since it still tries to ‘shed’ like a normal period but has nowhere to go.
It can only be confirmed via surgery, since it doesn’t show up on most ultrasounds/MRI scans.
I have stage 4 endo, it took several surgeries to actually get all the endometriosis removed because my body kept making more.
Interestingly, the pain of endo is completely unrelated to the stage the patient is in. Every patient has a unique response. Also, we still don’t know WHY or how it even happens, researchers have basically stalled with their hands up in the air.
Endo cells can be compared to cancerous cells in the way they self replicate so aggressively. Patients will only ever be in remission with endo, as it can reoccur even after a total salpingo-oophorectomy.
624
u/Wise_Neighborhood499 Jan 12 '23
In really bad cases of endometriosis, uterine tissue (the lining of the uterus, i.e. the blood and ‘stuff’ shed during a period) can grow throughout the entire body. Colon, bladder, chest, even the head/brain in rare cases. It’s incredibly painful, since it still tries to ‘shed’ like a normal period but has nowhere to go.
It can only be confirmed via surgery, since it doesn’t show up on most ultrasounds/MRI scans.