First off, let me say that it is not usually like me to get worked up over things, but I can't get this situation out of my mind and I'm not sure what to do, if anything. I'm just looking to let it all out there and see if anyone has any advice. I have posted around the subject several times in the last few months and the story gets kind of long, so please bear with me. I'll try to be as brief as possible.
My husband and I have been trying to conceive for four years now (I'm 39). Our efforts have been hampered by two vaginal fistulas (resulting insurgery) and basically my inability to get pregnant at all.
In April, I finally got off Imuran. My doctor was advising me not to get preganant while on it, but I read that it's safe, so I tried anyway, but I wanted to try and get off of it before seeing a fertility doctor.
Anyway, got off the Imuran, got a clean colonoscopy and began seeing a fertility doctor. Two weeks after my colonoscopy, I noticed a bit of blood in my stool coinciding with my period. I called my GI who dismissed it as being from the biopsy site during the colonoscopy. However, the next month, I noticed even more blood, again coinsiding with my period. I called my GI again and he assured me that it was no big deal. He said it's probably from my running and since my colonoscopy was clean, don't worry about it. I also called my GYN who also blew it off.
My RE (reproductive endocrinologist) was the first to suggest that it could possibly be bowel endometriosis, but was neither interested in confirming this nor doing any thing about it. So I figured that there's nothing to worry about. However, 6 months later, I am noticing a large amount of blood rectally starting the day before my period and lasting about two days. It's large, mucousy clots and long thin strands encasing my stool. I have major cramping around this time too.
My husband and I are now on out 4th month of treatment including two IUIs (interuteral insemination) and still not pregnant. I found an on-line forum with doctor consult and asked him if he thought the bowel endo could be the problem. His response was that, yes it could be, but it is irresponsible for my RE to suggest that I have bowel endo if it was not seen on a colonoscopy. That leaves me wondering where I should go from here.
My RE does not seem interested in doing anything to confirm bowel endo beause it would involve laporascopy and could bring on a Crohn's flare. Also, if it was confirmed, what would we do? Nothing. Unless it was bad enough for a resection, which I would avoid at all costs.
So here I am wondering if bowel endo is cauing my infertility problems, if I even have bowel endo, and if I do, is there anything I should even do about it. The whole thing has me utterly stressed out. And if you actually read all of that, thanks for listening! I would appreciate any advice.
My husband and I have been trying to conceive for four years now (I'm 39). Our efforts have been hampered by two vaginal fistulas (resulting insurgery) and basically my inability to get pregnant at all.
In April, I finally got off Imuran. My doctor was advising me not to get preganant while on it, but I read that it's safe, so I tried anyway, but I wanted to try and get off of it before seeing a fertility doctor.
Anyway, got off the Imuran, got a clean colonoscopy and began seeing a fertility doctor. Two weeks after my colonoscopy, I noticed a bit of blood in my stool coinciding with my period. I called my GI who dismissed it as being from the biopsy site during the colonoscopy. However, the next month, I noticed even more blood, again coinsiding with my period. I called my GI again and he assured me that it was no big deal. He said it's probably from my running and since my colonoscopy was clean, don't worry about it. I also called my GYN who also blew it off.
My RE (reproductive endocrinologist) was the first to suggest that it could possibly be bowel endometriosis, but was neither interested in confirming this nor doing any thing about it. So I figured that there's nothing to worry about. However, 6 months later, I am noticing a large amount of blood rectally starting the day before my period and lasting about two days. It's large, mucousy clots and long thin strands encasing my stool. I have major cramping around this time too.
My husband and I are now on out 4th month of treatment including two IUIs (interuteral insemination) and still not pregnant. I found an on-line forum with doctor consult and asked him if he thought the bowel endo could be the problem. His response was that, yes it could be, but it is irresponsible for my RE to suggest that I have bowel endo if it was not seen on a colonoscopy. That leaves me wondering where I should go from here.
My RE does not seem interested in doing anything to confirm bowel endo beause it would involve laporascopy and could bring on a Crohn's flare. Also, if it was confirmed, what would we do? Nothing. Unless it was bad enough for a resection, which I would avoid at all costs.
So here I am wondering if bowel endo is cauing my infertility problems, if I even have bowel endo, and if I do, is there anything I should even do about it. The whole thing has me utterly stressed out. And if you actually read all of that, thanks for listening! I would appreciate any advice.