Endometriosis pain in ribs

A little update
I had my first surgery 8 months ago and I was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis, adenomyosis and 5cm chocolate cyst on my right ovary. Today I had an ultrasound and there were no signs of any cysts which is nice to know. I have been on visanne since my surgery and I don’t have periods so I wonder if vissane has been helping but unfortunately it has affected my mental health. But overall I’m doing ok considering I was covered in endo even on my diaphragm. I have daily back pain which I don’t know how much of it is related to endo, some bladder urgency/retention( under investigation), bloating and endo belly but very minimal abdominal pain. I will also be having an MRI to check for regrowth.

So I have a UTI. I ordered some antibiotics online and they're not ready until tomorrow, so I went to the pharmacy to ask if there's anything to help me while I wait. They gave me some of those cranberry sachets things and I was in too much pain so ask what they do, so I took one and googled it after.
The NHS says "there is no evidence to support that these work". So why do they sell them? Why not make something that works? But then I looked on Reddit and loads of women are saying how good they are.
An hour later and I felt a wave of relief wash over me and I fell asleep. It was so good. Was it psychological because I'm a woman and don't understand my own pain? Science will probably say coincidence or something.
Then I thought back to the last time I had a UTI and the pharmacist said "don't bother drinking more water. It does nothing other than make you pee more, so its just more pain. Drink as you normally would". So, male pharmacist, please explain to me why the pain feels less when I drink more? And I've heard so many women say they've even flushed UTIs out by catched them early and chugging water and cranberry juice.
Do they just not study these things? UTIs are a common problem for women and yet here we are, just going by random things with no evidence.
I don't think there is a woman out there who hasn't had a medical problem and not been believed. Endometriosis, for example, is often seen as women just been dramatic.
What century are we in??

I don't really no where to start. I feel I've lost myself, consumed with anxiety and guilt and fear and regret and I fear, this new fear, that it's going to be the end of me if I don't start to get it out in some way, shape or form.
I guess I'll begin at the beginning...
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I had a difficult childhood with fairly neglectful parents. A mother who openly expressed she never felt she really stepped into her mom shoes until she gave birth to my younger sister, who is three years younger than me. She is my only sibling. My mother told me when I was a kid that she "had to love me", but when my sister came around "she was finally a mother and over the moon", or simply "I always always wanted a girl". I'm not sure if this could be attributed to Post-partum depression, not that she ever researched that or was daignosed with it. That's probably just me trying to pardon my mother or something to the effect. She was 17 when she had me and I'm sure times were different then, my parents both were raised religious, father christian, mother mormon. Maybe their guilt. I ask myself why they brought me into this world if I wasn't wanted to begin with. Or, give me up for adoption to a set of guardians that would have loved me better. I know I was an accident and that's not what gets me down, I get that life be lifing and what happened happened. My difficulties stem from the feeling that my presence never gave my mother any sense of purpose, responsibility or love, or concern. She was emotionally unavailable to me virtually my entire life and I feel like that caused many issues later in my life and how I perceive myself and what I deserve. Coupled with the fact that my neglect met such extremes that I am frankly shocked that I was never picked up by child care services, maybe things were different in the 90's. I'm not sure, I was just a child then.
Much of my upbringing I didn't receive a lot of the things most people would consider essential. As a baby my crib was the sock drawer, then I grew large enough to have a closet, then slept on the floor of a walk-in closet, then I had a single bed from what I recall for maybe a year or maybe two years and I remember feeling metal springs poke me in the my ribs and I recall it being uncomfortable enough for me to move back to sleeping on the floor next to the ratty old used mattress my father found from who knows where. I remember feeling like I had to keep that secret, that the mattress they gave me was uncomfortable enough for me to sneak sleeping on the floor next to it. I think I was really afraid as coming across as ungrateful. My father came from a third world country, so the "gratefullness issue" was address frequently by my mom because "I don't have it even half as bad as what my father had to endure. And she was probably right. But it just silenced me ultimately, didn't put things into a mature context for me. I just learned that I can't complain about anything ever. Anyway, that trend didn't really change when I grew older. grade 9-10 I was sleeping on the living room couch so my sister could have privacy and a bedroom to exist in for herself - which I realize is important for an individual so I encouraged her to have the bedroom. Although I figured my parents expected me to do this for my sister regardless. I was okay with making sacrfices for those I love, it was instilled in me from a very very young age.
I do feel like my father took advantage of me in the form of labour as well, having to do custodial work with my father from 10pm to 3am, at two highschools I believe he was contracted, at that young age I honestly enjoyed just spending time with my father I think, working alongside him. When I was in grade 2 and 3 I had garbage bag duty for all the students bathrooms, and I remember loving snapping the bags open by rushing air into the bag and making it blow up like a baloon. I remember the scary unlit shadowy hallways that I couldn't perceive the ends of. No bodies to see, it felt eerie but exciting in a way - like it was a whole different world.
School was a different experience for me. It was very stressful, my parents had to move a few times a year because they would dodge rent or just generally be selfish with their dual income. They loved to party hard on the weekends. I remember wondering why my father did this to himself all the time. Hoping that we could spend quality time on a saturday, but he wouldnt get out of bed until just before dinner. I didn't really understand hangovers or alcoholism and how it meant our plans would get cancelled. I think I remember trying to wrap my head around willful self-poisoning for entertainment and how could that be more enjoyable then spending time with your son? I couldn't tell my mother why I was so sad about it. Why I didn't want to move again and again and again. Why I found it so difficult to make new friends everytime I had to switch schools. Why I couldn't just do one single full school year with one class of students. It was so hard and at the time, I didn't know anything different. It was so hard to make friends and I think it created this approach to making a "new family" of friends when I became a teenager and young adult.
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I remember always wanting to be a "good kid". The "best kid" for my parents. I feel like my parents attached this moniker to me that made things harder for me to mature into a rounded adult later in life. My parents always flaunted me as this point of accomplishment, the accomplishment that I was "so extremely well behaved". I would strive to be super polite, and a good host, try to help out when my parents had their friends over, literally fill their cups when the opportunity presented themselves. I think I did this because I must have made the conclusion that if I was quiet, super polite, helpful and useful then I had value. That I could be loved. That I could earn this love from my parents through acts of service.
I remember feeling like my sister and I had extremely different experiences growing up. When my parents were at work I took care of her, cleaned and cooked. one time my sister told my mom to eff off when she was 5 and I was 8. My mind was blown. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that she had the bravery and courage to defy my mother. Looking back, my sister was just mirroring the language she learned from my parents from whenever they fought. I remembering seriously worrying and getting scared that my father was going to belt her, or use the coat hanger, which was his preference with me. I feel like my mom was always checked out and I'm hurt that she allowed my father to take his rage out on me. That my mom could care less about me being beat, but never my sibling. It was very confusing and difficult for me to process. Not that I really processed it much as a kid. I honestly just wanted to be loved and be the best child possible. Honestly though, 'm seriously so glad that my sister was spared all of that complete non-sense. I don't wish that on anyone in the world. There were some punishments where he would walk in and tell me to pull my pants down without explanation. I have memories of tearing up and saying I didn't know why this was happening, asking what I did wrong and he would just remind me that if I resisted then I would get it worse and to hurry up and get ready. My father has since apologized. I think it is how he was raised. I didn't know what to say in response, but I told him I loved him and it's in the past. But I don't know if I was being honest when I said that. My mother would still gaslight me to this day if any of this became topic of discussion, not that I'm guessing. A year ago she told me that much of my pained memories were false and this never happened. My father on the other hand typically stays pensive and unchallenging.
It seems so damned crazy writing all of this out, it feels like a heartbreaking novel and not my life at all. But it was and is my life. I have difficulties opening up and expressing my feelings and advocating for myself when the moments are true and appropriate to do so. I know it's the healthier way to communicate, but I was literally taught to stay quiet and be useful. Fast forward 20-25 years and I'm going to be 35 and I feel like just ending it all. Every year my birthday passes and I'll get a text from my family happy birthday. But they know I'm in a difficult place, they know I miss them, they know I love them and forgive them, I try the high road whenever I can but I just don't see the point anymore. they won't celebrate my life and existence, but they'll throw family gatherings for each other, birthdays, christmas, fathers day and mothers day.
On that note, another mother's day has recently passed and my mother never invited me over, I texted my father three weeks in advance in hopes of securing a time to come over and celebrate my mothers life with my family as a family. I felt particularly stung this mother's day when they celebrated and didn't text or call to invite me over. I live in the same small town so it's easy to hop over. I literally live three blocks away.
Anyway, my mother was diagnosed with cancer over christmas this year and I have been worrying for my mother ever since and thinking about my life with her and the mortal coil and the finite mount of time I may have with her. I feel like there is a large empty part in my heart that wishes my mother and I could go grab a coffee together. She can show me her ipad app art that she has been really excited about for a couple years now. She loves showing off her digital art and I love seeing her joy and how proud she is about her art. I just don't know why she couldn't feel the same for me, her only son. Maybe I'm just a her dissapointment.
I dropped out of highschool and left the family home when I was 16. I just couldn't work for my dad during the night AND go to highschool AND socialize. Something had to give. Unfortunately it was highschool and my parents didn't really care about that at all. They were just... fine with it. they supported my sister through college and she was fortunately able to graduate with a veterinary degree of sorts. she still lives with them now as she pays off her student debt, but I left and travelled and worked on music for over a decade so I admit that I was entirely out of the family picture for some time. But as I get older, not wanting to repeat the mistakes of my parents I fear that that is precisely what's been creeping up in my life.
five years ago I met the absolute most wonderful human being and I am so lucky to have my partner in my life. She and I are engaged now and set to be married. I hoped that the news would overwhelm my parents with excitement and joy. Maybe a facebook post about their son, share some family pictures or something. But they did nothing at all. I think they showed off pictures of the trip to Mexico that week instead.
I just don't really understand how I'm this unworthy of their love and unfortunately now I'm realizing that illusion that I am unworthy has infected my relationship with my fiance. I love her so much but when I can't fix everything in her life I feel like I am the failure and the guilt overhelms me so much and the guilt is such a strong motivator for me, and it usually motivates me into becoming the biggest doormat in the world. I've never worked harder for a relationship or invested this much energy. I feel she deserves it. But I don't advocate for myself. So I build up resentment. Like I clean the house constantly and work and help bail out of her bad spending habits and cover her rent without question and this and that. To be clear, she doesn't take advantage of me and that's not how I feel about it. But I do let this annoyance build up inside of me because I don't know how to communicate my feelings in a healthy way. I'm scared I'll lose the person if I speak up, or I'll be gaslit. Again, that's not my partner that gaslights. That's just generally how I feel I'll be treated if I open up with people. It all goes back to my childhood. It's affected every friendship and work relationship I've had since.
When I was 20-ish, 15 years years ago I did the classic, "seek the relationship that most comfortably fits into the patterns you experienced with your parents". And so I trapped myself in a horrific and extremely damaging relationship with a girl I'll call K. She has undiagnosed bipolaBPD, she would never seek help but self-medicate. She ended up in the hospital maybe four times for self-harming and this where she was considered to have these diseases by a few doctors on different occasions. Anway, it turned into a relationship of abuse and it wasn't exactly new territory for me. I was ashamed in that 8 year relationship. I wanted out so bad, but she would threaten to unalive everytime I tried to get away. Of course, some weeks would go by and i would get my hair pulled out of my scalp, a knife waving in the air in front of my face, spat in the face, kicked, punched, bit, a pot of freshly boiled ramen soup thrown in my face and eyes. What's worse is that I seeked police intervention on multiple occasions. Every single time the police visited, they talked me out of pressing charges, asking me " well if she doesn't have any place to go, then do you have a place you can stay at, or the shelter?". twice they talked me out of a restraining order, that legal proceedings would take forever. Adn de-escalting me from wanting to take measures to ensure my safety because she may end up on the street as a result. To this day, I absolutely wish I advocated for myself here and pushed for a restraining order. I'm so mad at myself for not doing so.
Unfortunately, fast forward a couple years into that relationship and one evening everything would finally hit the fan. I told her to never touch me again and I absolutely meant it. she had just yanked out the largest chunk of my hair to date, to the point where my scalp was bleeding and I could even see epidermal matter still attached to the folicle ends that were in her clenched fingers. My head bled a bit and I pushed her off of me. Telling her that I needed to leave, that I was walking to my secure jam space just a 10 minute walk away. It had a leather couch in a cold concrete basement, but hey at least I would be safe for the night and I could play my drums and try and blow off this anxiety and fear in a way that was safe albeit very noisy.
She hated that I wanted to leave and convinced herself I would never return. To be fair, that was the energy I had. I never wanted to see her face again and have her name on my lips after that night. So her tactic was simple, to threaten me with calling the cops and tell them that I violently pushed her. I called her bluff and said "go ahead and I will just tell them everything you've done - yet again. All I am doing is going to the space to sleep, I said, maybe play drums." She called the cops and told them she was pushed into a wall, and she felt very unsafe. Which yes, I did push her off me when she attacked me. In the past, I tried various tactics, to run away didn't work, she just always chased me down. Or sometimes I would just sit there while she was violent against me and I just "dissapeared" kind of like how I would when my dad used his coat hanger. This time, I just pushed her off of me, I was done with the relationship at that point and we both knew it. Anyway, she called the police, they arrived and when questioned I told them that I pushed her off of me in self-defence. I was drinking that night and it didn't help my case as I was arrested without question that evening and I was charged on the spot without question with domestic assault. It devasted me. I asked the police how this could happen lawfully. That she is an abuser and there is a history of this multiple times. That I've requested a restraining order. They explained that in quebec the laws are a little different and in the case domestic cases, if there is a male aggressor against a female, then the male is automatically charged to the fullest extent. I was absolutelyu devasted by this. I can't tell you the amount of fear and anger I felt in that jail cell that night.
I feel so incredibly betrayed by the justice system, keep in mind, this is law that from what I understand is only in Quebec, I was there for music at the time with an old friend whom I am no longer in contact with. I don't think the rest of the country operates under law in this way. Now I appreciate that they are vigilant about woman abuse victims, but the law shouldn't be this absurdly biased. It just doesnt feel just and fair to me. Covert abusers shouldn't be able to take advantage of the justice system in this way, but it happens.
It was an awful experience, I was homeless for a couple months afterward, not allowed to retrieve my belongings, so I lost all of my life "crap" that I had built up, years of hardwork and investment. I mention this because I realize later in life that I have intense collecting behaviour. maybe as a self-soothing behaviour. But I love building up collections of my hobby stuff as I have many and I feel they keep me regulated and it's a form of therapy for me. In any case, I lost everything when I left that whole situation. It sucks, although ultimately it's clearly best that I got out of that dreadful circumstance. I flew across the country to my hometown and to be closer to my family and old friends from highschool. It's quite a small town mind you.
Unfortunately, my classic tendency to hide and not advocate for myself created an opportunity for my abusive ex. A year following those events, despite me assuring her that I had to block her because I flew away to start a new life provinces away. That I wished her the best. That I even promised I would never tell a soul what she did to me. Not to mention that unfortunately we live in a society where nobody really has an ounce of sympathy for a male abuse victim. I had every intention to keep that promise, but she couldn't trust me ultimately. I think her logic was maybe to just beat her ex to "the punch". Kill or be killed or something like that. I don't live my life like that so I don't really know what her plan was. But she made a bunch of posts on various social media platforms for all of our mutual friends, music friends, coworkers etc. that the relationship was over and she was free. That she got out of a cycle of abuse and she was ready to start a new chapter of her life. She never used my name, just that she was glad she got away from her toxic and abusive ex once and for all.
It was exactly like that night a year prior, she threatened me with this outcome she could design for me, and I called her on her bluff by saying I was still going to block her and I can't control what she does with her life or how she conducts herself, but that I was out and to never contact me ever again. She made me regret that decision.
The posts she made that day got so many likes and support from so many of our mutual friends, even musician mates that were closer to me than her, and it absolutely destroyed me, not just internally but socially. I no longer make music anymore and it hurts to go outside into the world because it feels like everybody sees me as this monster. And still I don't have a voice to inform anyone otherwise - except my family and my fiance. I have no friends anymore. They all left my life with the belief that I did all of these horrible and awful things.
I just don't trust people anymore as a result and it's just caused me to become extremely bitter and depressed. I ruminate on the past, maybe in attempts to fix the past so I can move on. So I could do better, so I don't have to punish myself for my mistakes in the past. But it just reopens every emotional wound I have and they never get a chance to heal. That was maybe 7 years ago now and I'm still replaying these events in my head every single morning for about 1 - 2 hrs. Then I go completely numb for the majority of the rest of the day, shallow breathing, and the mildest sadness that mascarades as fatigue and disinterest.
There are some days where I seriously fear for the future and I just feel like every cruel soul will inherit this earth and that's the future, they built this world of suffering and they deserve to inherit it. Their toxic flag staked so deep into the earth in reclamation. The future isn't holding any seats for people like us. I'm so heartbroken and defeated. I feel like white-wolfing my fiance because she deserves better than this traumatized person that hides from the world. I feel like giving her my collection of collections so she can sell it all off and pay off her 10k of credit debt, then with this act of kindness I can go out not feeling like a guilt-ridden defeated loser. And leave on a high note.
When I'm alone, I get trapped in these ruminating cycles and it's the angriest I ever get. It's reached the point where I feel like I am actually reliving all this past trauma every morning and I can't do it anymore. I just feel like I am so at the end of whatever this ride was.
I don't have any friends anymore and everyone but my fiance thinks I am a monster and it's just unbearable.
I just don't even know. I am even afraid that someone will read this post and suss through all of this and make the connection. Then I'll get another new email or random throwaway account with an insta message that says "I told you you would never be able to get over me. You can move on, but you will never be able to erase the past. Never truly. You know where to find me."
It's haunting and it's poisonous. I just feel haunted and poisoned and I don't know if there is a snake oil potent enough or antitode true enough to get me back to the generous, lighthearted, energetic kid I once was.
To whoever was willing to read through all of this, thank you for hearing me out. I don't know what advice I am even asking for here. I'm hoping just speaking this out into the world in some way can alleviate this misery. I don't know.

I am 35 now and had always considered my pain just normal for me. I went through so many tests when I was in my teens that never came up with any conclusive results and we kind of gave up searching for answers.
My wife has been saying I had endometriosis since we started dating about four years ago. She finally convinced me to mention the possibility of endometriosis to my current primary care doctor who sent me in for an ultrasound immediately(had both an transvaginal and pelvic ultrasound). The scan itself was actually pretty painful and I could tell by the way the tech was lingering in certain areas and talking to me that they had found something.
My results came back and they are pretty sure I have endometriosis and myomatous uterus (fibroids). But ever since the ultrasound I have been in pretty severe pain. Has anyone else found that ultrasounds cause a “flare up”?

In 2022 I was able to take Elagolix for treatment for about 3 months. My insurance denied further coverage so I was unable to afford it.
I was basically left with no options, but to just suck it up. I’ve been dealing with severe endometriosis pain since I was 10, I’m now 24. I have chronic gastritis due to constantly needing and taking NSAIDs for the pain, eventually more than the recommended dosages which messed up my stomach permanently.
My OBGYN wouldn’t prescribe me anything stronger than Naproxen which was the biggest slap in the face. Since stopping Elagolix, I began taking the combination birth control Lessina and after about 3 months of taking it consistently, my periods stopped being irregular and it reduced my endometriosis pain about 70% which was amazing to me.
I’ve been on Lessina for a year and a half, however my new gynecologist needs to check my hormones so I stopped it two weeks ago for blood tests tomorrow.
Endometriosis pain was an everyday thing before the birth control, except for when I got my periods. Since stopping it two weeks ago, I am severely bloated and in pain. My back and pelvis, especially the right side hurt like crazy.
For sure I’m not constipated, but idk what to do about this pain and bloating. I look 7 months pregnant. I don’t miss this pain, it has negatively affected my life for so long and the thought of it legit terrifies me.

My wife has recently started taking THC gummies multiple times a week. This is mostly for her back pain and to sleep at night. Still, I like to slightly rib her, especially when she not frequently forgets things. (All in good fun) So far I've used: Gwyneth Pepper Pothead, Great Barrier Reefer, and Weed for Speed
Please send me more ideas!

35F, nulligravida, 10 years post sub total hysto for dysmenorrhea (bled for six months straight & hormonal BC didn't touch it, didn't want kids) so I still have my ovaries. Mother has psoriatic arthritis mutilans (with associated bowel inflammation) and history of non-PCOS, non-cancerous ovarian growths.
The past 18 months, I've had cyclical severe constipation and weird raspberry-jam like stool for 2 or 3 days every 28 days. I get awful left quadrant pain to the point of being unable to sleep for a night or even two and I often can't work in the middle of the bouts. It's extremely painful, not respondent to taking stool softeners and upping my fibre a few days before it's going to happen, and it's extremely consistent. In the last six months I can also predict it happening because I break out in a rash on my eyelids and trunk, as well as dry splitting skin on my fingertips, a day or two beforehand.
I thought it might be endometriosis or psoriasis. My doctor ordered bloodtests and ultrasounds. My CRP was 14 but rheumatoid factor was negative, and ultrasound showed no fluid in abdomen, and she has told me that rules out IBS and endometrosis, and while I 'might have arthritis' the issue is primarily my weight and fibre intake.
I've been blowing through Metamucil for the last year with only worsening bowel symptoms. I can set a calender to how predictable they are, and I noticed how regular they are because my period (when I had it) was a 28 day cycle (12 of which I would bleed during). I also know from my family members who have psoriasis that they have never tested positive for rheumatoid factor and usually have a CRP of 12-16.
Am I mistaken in thinking I need a second opinion? Is it worth asking my doctor for my labs and ultrasound have not justified investigating more thoroughly for psoriasis? Am I wrong in thinking I need a rheumatologist referral?

18F, 5'7, possible endo, severe menstrual pain and appetite loss. at my limit with my symptoms and have no idea where to go from here.
Around March/April 2023 I began having 2 periods a month, significantly heavier than usual and significantly more painful than I've ever had. This pain has been so significant it will make me curl to the ground when I have cramps, even with alternating 800mg Ibuprofen 2-4x daily and Tylenol.
had been on Hailey Fe 1.5/30 for 4 years, and after discussing with my doctor I then went on Ortho-Cyclen (28). My doctor believed it to be PCOS after my ovaries appearsd to have too many immature follicules (I've had 4 ultrasounds since, all of which state everything looks normal), and stayed the Ortho-Cyclen was more effective for women with PCOS). I had no improvement and continued pain, so we discussed the potential of Endometriosis (I also have cyclic difficulty urinating with my period), and I had the Mirena IUD inserted.
Shortly after insertion (~2 weeks) I began noticing appetitie loss (not nausea, more just a complete lack of desire to eat food, nothing seems appetitizing ever and forcing it down makes me feel sick). Besides this, I've had a great experience with the IUD- no bleeding, and while I still have pain, it's tolerable if I alternate Ibuprofen and Tylenol.
Fast foward to now, the appetite loss has gotten so severe that I'm having difficulty eating more than a few bites of food a day. I haven't lost a TON of weight, but I feel insanely weak. I'm usually very active as I'm a full-time college student and figure skate (usually 1-2 hours, 5-6 days per week, now managing once or twice a weak for maybe 30 minutes). I had a hard time getting in with my regular doctor so I was placed with a different OBGYN, who told me it likely wasn't the IUD and to drink smoothies and protein shakes and cream (which I was already doing, main source of nutrition over the past 3 months). She also did several blood tests, which showed nothing other than a slightly elevated Anion Gap (14 iirc). I was told my next option would be remove the IUD and get a Kyleena placed, although that would carry the risk of returned pain. I was told if that would happen, I could get a laproscopic surgery to check for and remove any endometrial lesions. I weighed around 146 at this appointment at the beginning of March. I began bleeding once a month like a regular period just after this appointment as well, after having no bleeding since the insertion (the strings are still in place).
I had no improvement in symptoms and noticeably lost weight, so I visited another doctor (again, could not get in to see either previous doctor until June). At this visit on April 4th, I weighed 128 (~16 lb weight loss). This doctor was incredibly dismissive (as well as two different nurses saying to my face "they wished they had my problem") ans told me she's never seen a case where someone has had appetite loss from IUD and that it was more likely another medication of mine.
I'm on 300mg Modafinil daily for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome I developed in 2022 after getting Influenza A. I've been on this medication since early August 2023 (1.5 months after getting the IUD placed). While I had no increases appetitie loss after starting it, I had suspected this to be the case, so I paused taking it to find no difference in my symptoms back in January. I told her this and she said while she would take the IUD out, she doesn't believe it to be the cause and provided no further discussion on options.
I found IUD insertion to be rather uncomfortable, but no where near as painful as my menstrual cramps. That said, I really didn't want to remove the Mirena and replace it with a Kyleena unless I needed to. I followed up my primary and decided to take a 3 week break from the Modafinil. I've had absolutely zero improvement in symptoms.
Im about to make my appointment to swap the IUDS, but I'm just so frustrated with the care I've recieved.
I understand my weight loss isn't that significant, but for someone like me who has a very consistent weight and a very active lifestyle, it is for me. I can't function how I need to, and my symptoms are interfering with my life significantly. I still have no idea if its PCOS or endometriosis, but I feel my symptoms better align with endo.
Is there any advice anyone can give me going forward? I'm terrified the pain is going to come back after swapping these IUDs, as the pain is so bad I can't handle it twice a month. I can't continue not eating either.
Thank you to anyone who got this far

My doctor is refusing to do a tubal since bisalp is the standard and I agree with her. I also have endometriosis so removal of my tubes might help with my chronic pain. However, my insurance company (allied benefits through my employer) is saying bisalp is not a preventative surgery. They are also saying I cannot appeal until I have the surgery done and have a claim. The hospital is estimating the bill at $27,000.
I found the thread on this forum about trying to get the bisalp covered. I explained it to my insurance company and they straight up said they don't recommend I go through with the procedure because my plan doesn't cover it. My doctor wrote an appeal letter and I am working with a patient advocate that is independent from either party. The doctor refused to code the bisalp as "tubal via bisalp." My plan states it's ACA compliant, but is not explicit about which methods of sterilization it covers. Customer service said they "couldn't tell me" which methods were covered.
I will update as to what I decide to do and how the appeal process goes. I'm preparing myself to be a real pain in the ass for the insurance company to encourage the appeal. I can't take the medication to treat my endometriosis while on hormonal bc and do not trust condoms/other methods. I need it 100% protected. I really don't want that huge bill on my credit as it will have to go to collections. My hospital is refusing to do repayment plans with me because I had one bill I didn't know I had sent to collections.

Well...I finally got my first corticosteroid shot. Anterolisthesis l5-s1, 8mm slip with bulging discs all the way up the L vertebrae. I had a "flare up" of pain, stiffness, and immobility 3 weeks ago...felt like my body was broken in half and every rib was out of place. Hands are numb, and my right leg is numb and goes weak out of the blue, and my right glute is clenched tight. I have fallen dozens of times, but managed to keep from addition inuries to all but my pride and a slightly sprained right shoulder.
So far, only change is a dull ache and stiffness around the injection side, and my right glute has finally unclenched. I really hope this works...I really need to get back to work.
Let me assure anyone worried about this procedure, however, it took 5 minutes apart from waiting after check-in and waiting after for them to be sure of no major side effects. The needle hurt less than most immunizations or blood draw, and most of the immediate pain was from the actual material injected...that swollen feeling is unusual to say the least, but weirdness aside the pain was actually quite tolerable. If it works, I would strongly recommend it....will update this post in a week, to share progress.

I finally had my laparoscopy done today and they didn’t find anything.
I don’t get it, multiple doctors suggested me to get the laparoscopy done since my symptoms in the last 7 years pointed to endometriosis.
I don’t know how to feel, I wish I could have the answer that caused me all this pain and discomfort.
I don’t want to get into details, but I feel like the doctors who told me that it was all in my head were right even if I know that all of my symptoms are real.

Not a doctor but a biologist which makes me an incredibly annoying patient.
So it feels like every woman I know has this or has gone through this, but I am having really bad early satiety, distention, pain/pressure mostly under my left ribs, reflux, and frequent burping. My doctor put me on omeprazole which is helping with the reflux and is supposed to help with the bloating too but it isn't really. And now I'm just really curious about why I'm having upper GI bloating at all and why a PPI would help. I guess the distention is from gas because I'm burping so much but where is it coming from? I'm not having gas pains or passing gas in my lower GI, or having diarrhea or constipation. I don't think I'm swallowing extra air. Why will lowering the stomach acid decrease the gas in my stomach? Is the early satiety because there's gas taking up space in my stomach?
I was trying low fodmap for this for a while and it didn't seem to help much, but I also was having trouble adhering to it perfectly. But I am also wondering if it even makes sense because the idea is that fermentable sugars cause bacteria in the gut to produce a bunch of gas and lead to digestive problems - but in that case wouldn't I also expect lower GI symptoms? Does that logic make sense, or could there be something going on in the lower GI that is affecting my upper GI?
Lastly, this all started around the time I started an SSRI and has gotten progressively worse over the last few months. This led me to think that the dyspepsia could possibly be a side effect. My doctor is telling me that SSRIs don't cause dyspepsia and I'm just having anxiety and told me to double my omeprazole and my SSRI. My gut is telling me (no pun intended) this is not good advice and I don't like that she is not considering any other possibilities. I'm also extremely drug sensitive and it was incredibly hard for me to adjust to the current dose I'm on, and I'm already having other bothersome side effects to the SSRI. I also don't really get why the dyspepsia would keep getting worse as the anxiety has significantly improved. I tried to ask for some nutritional advice because I'm worried I'm not getting enough calories, let alone fiber, protein, etc. and was told "maybe this is a fun excuse to eat some calorie dense foods." So I honestly have no idea what to do right now. I feel like this isn't the right forum to ask for advice about what meds to take, but like, I'm not being crazy right? My doctor should be giving me better guidance than this right? And does anyone have advice on what I should be eating so that I can keep functioning at work, etc.?

Hi all - I am new here. I recently just had my second miscarriage in a 6 month span and went through repeat loss testing. My RE suspects endometriosis because of painful periods and low AMH for my age (I’m 32 and my AMH is ~1.0). My periods are regular but on the heavier side, usually lasting 5-7 days. Aside from the first day or two of my cycle, I don’t experience pain otherwise except maybe mild cramping during ovulation.
I saw two endometriosis specialists. The first one told me immediately upon inserting the vaginal ultrasound wand “yup, you have endometriosis” and told me they could get me in for surgery in the next week. This made me nervous because this diagnosis was all very new to me and the idea of laparoscopic surgery wasn’t even on my mind at this point. I wanted to get a second opinion so I went to another specialist who thinks it’s also plausible that I had endometriosis but because I’ve only had two miscarriages (“only” 🙄) they don’t think we should opt for surgery at this time and we should keep trying for pregnancy naturally.
My RE is supportive of us trying naturally again and possible trying baby aspirin and/or progesterone to help support a natural pregnancy, should we get pregnant again. Where I’m looking for advice is, has anyone here had multiple miscarriages due to confirmed or suspected endometriosis? And what ended up being your outcome? My RE also suggested we do the Receptiva biopsy of the endometrium to test for endometriosis markers. I am torn on whether I should do this because the confirmed endometriosis probably wouldn’t change our current plan of action. But I’d be open to doing the test to rule out any infection as well (“endometritis”).
Just looking for advice from anyone who may have been in a similar boat. Thank you!!

For those who don't know me already, 33 female, 4 pneumothoraces, 2 VATS (chemical and mechanical). My last VATS was almost a year ago, June 7th 2023. knock on wood
I had robotic surgery at NYU Langone in 2019 to remove endometriosis that had spread to my bowels (this came after a grueling 7 years of being passed around by different doctors who had no idea what it was). This doctor told me that I would probably need surgery every couple of years to keep it under control, along with hormone therapy. Fast forward to Nov 2022, I had my first pneumothorax. Since then, I moved from New Jersey to Florida, so I was treated here for the collapses and 2 VATS that followed. The thoracic surgeons (got a second opinion, too) did not determine endometriosis as the cause, but leaned more towards damage from COVID.
Today, I saw my OBGYN who found more endo on my recent scans 😭. She initially tried treating it with medication, but it has not helped, and now wants to do another surgery. During the procedure, she will look at my diaphragm for any endo growth, and work with a specialist to remove it and potentially prevent more lung collapses.
Her only concern is whether or not my lung will be able to handle a breathing tube, since it puts stress on the lungs. I'll need to check with my pulmonologist to see if he'll give clearance for the surgery.
I've been through so much trauma already, and haven't even scratched the surface in therapy to process what I went through. While I don't want to put myself through even more pain and suffering, I trust this doctor, and she truly wants to help me.
Has anyone had more surgery post-VATS, and did you tolerate it well? Any women here that experienced something similar? I'll take any words of advice or encouragement to distract myself from the impending doom of another surgery.

Hi!! I just had my bilateral salpingectomy this morning & I wanted to share my excitement here! I'm officially tube-free & sterilized, & I couldn't be happier or more relieved! It feels like a heavy weight has been lifted off my soul, its an amazing feeling. 💗💗💗 I'm so grateful for the sterilization & childfree subreddits. Reading about other people's bisalp experiences & having access to information about sterilization is what gave me the resources & courage to finally make that first consultation appointment. Now it's done & once I'm all healed up, I'll never have to fear for my body ever again!
As for pain, I'm feeling only the tiniest bit of soreness in my upper shoulders, my ribs feel like I just jogged, & my tummy is slightly sensitive. So aside from some mild soreness the medication has me feeling pretty comfy & pain-free right now! I'm about to head to bed so hopefully it doesn't hit too hard in the morning haha.
I'll be sure to share my own bisalp experience soon once I've had a little time to rest & recover. This was my first surgery so I was really nervous at first, but it was such a positive experience for me, I hope that I can help allieviate some medical anxiety from others too like so many people in this subreddit has done for me. 🥰💕 Thank you all & take care!

I posted about this awhile back and did not get much response but I am gaslighting myself and need people who have gone through this or similar to help me be objective.
I will Try to keep this brief but it's a lot.
-long history of stricturing Crohn's of terminal ileum diagnosed in 2006. First resection Sept 2018, Last resection in April 2022. Surgeon told me he found Crohn's high up in small bowel, could not remove safely, hoped new biologic (Stelara) would take care of it.
-6 month delay in starting Stelara due to GI F up (forgot to send preauthorization)
-July 2022 began having severe upper gastric pain (under ribs and belly button) after even the smallest amount of food, followed by severe nausea and often vomiting. Within half hour multiple liquid BM's undigested food and insane amount of fluid. Began to eat less and less, moved to soft diet, and finally to complete liquids in August 2023
-July 2023-Oct 2023- Weight loss of 20 lbs over 3 month period. Many ER visits needed for rehydration and IV anti emetics and pain meds as could not keep down any oral meds. GI did colonoscopy but only found microscopic Crohn's in anastomosis site (he only took 2 biopsies from that area and nowhere else). CT's done in hospital showed thickening of wall of ascending colon, and collapsed bowel, free fluid in peritoneum. GI dismissed as "not reliable". Fecal Cal slightly elevated. Constant low grade anemia. After 4th ER visit in Oct 2023 they did a high res Ultrasound and I was admitted by surgery department. However, as I was urgent but not emergent, there were no beds available. Was given choice of staying in ER and receiving IV steroids, or going home and following up with GI. Chose home and was given Entocort. Entocort slowed down bowel from 30-50 bm's a day to ten. Did not help pain, nausea, vomiting, lack of ability to eat. After several desperate emails where I begged for help, said I wanted to die-GI ordered urgent MRI, would not change meds or give prednisone without "proof".
-November 2023-Began to experience fatigue like never before. Could hardly keep eyes open. This would be followed by severe upper gastric pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that went on for days, followed by constipation for 1-2 days and severe bloating, only on the left side of belly which would be rock hard and hot to the touch. Then the diarrhea cycle woud begin again. Always pure liquid, sometimes black, always tons of mucous.
-Went to Mexico to visit my parents for the holidays where I usually feel better but still could not eat. Injecting myself with IM Gravol (anti emetic) just to keep fluids down. I lived off of chicken broth with rice. Saw GI in private hospital. Ordered full workup. Blood found in stool. 3 D CT ordered (could not find a vein for IV after 5 nurses, two doctors, and a radiologist with a vein finder so only had oral contrast) showed inflammation in small bowel, thickening of the ascending colon wall 11 mm, and inflammation of ileum. He wanted to send me to special IBD hospital in Mexico City for MRI but it would have cost 2500$ so I decided to wait till I got home to Canada where it would be free. Treated me with antibiotics for IBS (only available in Mexico and Germany) Zero improvement. I lived off of electrolyte drinks.
-Jan 29th 2024 returned to hospital because I could not keep any oral meds in (pills would be in toilet) also pain was 9/10, high fever, vomiting. Admitted again, but no beds. Left AMA with another prescription for Entocort.
-Feb 12 2024- High fever followed by two days of 40 plus liquid BM's, some of them bloody, all of them black. Husband insisted back to ER where I was admitted immediately. Cortisol levels 11 (close to adrenal failure) very low potassium. Doc said if we'd waited I likely would have died from heart event. Spent 8 + weeks in hospital having every kind of test imaginable. NOTHING showed on MRI, inflammation on CT, lower scope clear, upper endoscopy showed inflammation in esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Negative for H Pylori, negative for celiac. Started on 150 mg of hydrocortisone for low cortisol to rescue my organs. MRI of brain showed small tumour on pituitary. Endocrinologist did ACTH test and was unhappy, kept me on 40 mg of hydrocortisone IV. PICC line insertion went awry when they Discovered I had complete stenosis of veins and needed port catheter surgically implanted. Was on TPN for 5 weeks. Needed pain meds and anti emetics every 4 hours or severe vomiting and diarrhea would ensue. 30-50 liquid bm's continued (they made me write down everything I ingested and every time I had a BM. They tested me for everything. No blood, NO CDiff, no parasites, no infection. High fever 104.5 plus delirium and CRP shot up to 50. Continued Anemia, blood work all over the place, even with TPN I needed potassium and sodium boluses 3 times a day.
-Requested pill endoscopy, GI said no Crohn's, no need for test. Suggested psych evaluation for a fucking eating disorder. Endocrinologist disagreed, said starvation and whatever disease process was causing symptoms was causing my cortisol issue. Psych diagnosed medical PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder (no shit) but NO eating disorder. Fired GI and hired IBD specialist from another city. Re ran all tests, CT showed huge diverticulum on duodenum otherwise clear. Was going to be moved to a ward from a private room. Had a panic attack because I could not share a bathroom and was not about to use a commode. Asked to be discharged after nearly 9 weeks. They were so overcrowded and basically did not know what else to do to help me, so they let me go even though I was still on TPN and NPO. Got a 5 minute instruction on how to insert a butterfly catheter for pain meds, and let go.
-Present-3 weeks later, still on liquid diet, (Boost drinks, blended oatmeal, yoghurt and soup) still on sub q and IM meds. Finally got new IBD doc to order capsule endoscopy and is treating me for SIBO (never been tested) plus set me up with nutritionist and psychologist for support. MRI repeated- totally clear.
I FEEL CRAZY. This is the sickest I have ever felt. It's been almost a year since I chewed food. The pain under my ribs just to the left of my belly button is now constant, whether I eat or not, pain meds barely take the edge off. Sometimes it's so intense I can hardly breathe. I keep passing out on the toilet. I projectile vomit daily, even using Gravol and Pantoprozole, the bile acid is awful. I've been doing tons of research and have learned that GDC and Jejunal Crohn's are extremely hard to diagnose. I have every single symptom and fit the criteria. Does this sound familiar to anyone????

I have always had these watery cysts. Sometimes they would rapture in the middle of the night, where I would not be able to walk. It would be sharply painful and would feel like it's hurting from my bum. I would need to go to the ER for this. Fast forward to a year ago where I had laparascopy because of a bloody 6 cm ovarian cyst that had to be urgently removed because I could literally not walk (I even went to work in the WAREHOUSE with that pain). I never got official reports of the cyst, but my family doctor told me there is no endometriosis. I suffer with heavy bleeding and cramps every period for 7 days, first 2 days being the worst. Ever since then I have pain that feels like of that when I had that big cyst, like it is in my bum. I cannot walk properly, so many times each day I get these "shocks" which are painful shocks that go from my "bum" to my stomach, where I cannot walk without feeling like there is a baloon in my bum, I had an ultrasound couple of months ago and they told me there is nothing seen. I always have painful ovulations and pain in general every day. For the last year and a half I have been having gas, bloating and painful abdominal pain. I would run away from people in order for my stomach to not make sounds and to not accidently pass gas. My anxiety has worsened because of this and for my bloated anxious stomach they keep on prescribing me pills that do not work and I keep on wasting whole lot of money on these useless pills. I am writing to you right now from my floor because I CANNOT GET UP and cannot walk from all this pain, especially on my left side (where I used to have that big cyst), went to pee after first being on the floor for 10 minutes crying in pain, I peed in pain and now I cannot get up to go to bed and idk if I will even be able to sleep tonight. So far I was given the worst treatment from the doctors as the public healthcare does not care, just wants to get rid of you and go next. I am not only crying because I am in pain, but because I am emotionally sick and tired of living with this and literally BEGGING to be alright while some, such as a fellow woman herself, my mother, thinks I am just too sensitive. It's all told that this is normal for women and they release me. TELL ME IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN A SITUATION SUCH AS ME AND WHAT DO I DO ANYMORE?! I am tired of living. I feel like trash being here on the floor, helpless and alone. Btw I also have to find a new job which is, with my situation, extremely terrible since I feel isolated, anxious and terrible and in pain because of my.."condition".

I hate to ask for things but my mother and I had to move to Lethbridge with our 3 small dogs on emergency short notice due to abuse and are now living in our car as we don't have any money since we're both unemployed and disabled. We discovered we could move our stuff into the front at night so we could sleep properly (horizontally) in the back, however it is extremely painful (I have bruises on my ribs and Hips from how hard the folded seats are) and we don't have enough blankets so we are cold at night. We have tried local shelters but we dont fit their criteria, especially with our dogs. I'm adding a list of chores/jobs i could do and things we could use, if anybody has these items and are willing to part with them for free or for the completion of a task or chore, please comment or message me!
Suggestions for jobs I can do: - mow lawns or pick up dog Poop - vacuum/sweep/dust - wash windows - walk/wash/lightly groom dogs/cats/other pets (I'm very good with animals) - wash cars - babysit (my mother ran a day care most of my life and I grew up naturally learning how to care for kids as well as babysat most of middle/high school) - Help move furniture - And more! If you have a job I didnt list, let me know and if I'm capable I will do it!
Things we need: - Air mattress or mattress topper. This is a big need for us, absolutely high priority item. We are both in a lot of pain from the hard, uncomfortable seat backs of the car, but it's still better for our disabilities than to sleep in the front seats, even reclined. - Air pump (if we recieve an air mattress) - Portable charger batteries to charge our phones when the car is off at night - camping gear, such as a tent, heater, tarp, camping stove, cooler, etc. - sleeping bags or blankets, believe it or not, it gets quite cold still at night when you don't have indoor heating haha - car chargeplugs with USB ports - sun reflectowindshield and/or window covers, to keep the sun out so we and the dogs can stay cool - 2 peoples worth of plates, mugs/cups, and cutlery. We can't keep a lot of dishes but a couple plates and cups would make eating a lot less messy, 1 dish and mug for each of us is perfect - Cash or gift cards especially for gas or dollarama (you'd be surprised what we can find there) - in exchange for helping you with a task

Hey there! I just wanted to weigh in with my personal experience taking wellbutrin for 2 years to manage depression, for anyone else out there who may find this helpful.
Before going into details, I want to emphasize that for managing my depression, wellbutrin was absolutely incredible and saved me from a really dark and heavy period in my life. Further, while stomach issues with wellbutrin are not uncommon, I believe my reaction was likely exceptionally severe (so I don't want to fearmonger).
The Good:
Wellbutrin was a huge help for me. I was on 150 mg for ~5 months and then 300 mg for ~20 months. It helped my depression a lot (though not my anxiety). I noticed on 150 mg my mood was quite unpredictable in a way that was really uncomfortable for me, but going up to 300 mg leveled things out.
The Ugly:
How it Started
While I was on wellbutrin, especially after going up to 300 mg, I slowly started to develop stomach issues. I had struggled with IBS-like symptoms on-and-off for a long time, but after about 3 months on wellbutrin it started to get much worse, and within 1 year of being on 300 mg it became horrifically unmanageable.
Stomach Pain & Diet
I lost over 10 pounds within a month last summer and, for context, I am already someone who has been "underweight" my whole life. I lost the weight really rapidly, none of my clothes fit, and I had no energy. I would take my wellbutrin in the morning (as is generally advised) and by around 2 pm would start to feel really bloated, and it would just get worse and worse until the evening, to the point where I could never eat dinner, or even leave the house much, and would just sit on the couch with a hot water bottle. At one point the pain was so bad a family physician sent me to the ER thinking I had appendicitis! I had multiple ultrasounds that came back clear.
I became gluten intolerant (not even a bite of bread was okay) and developed a pretty severe intolerance to soy (even small trace amounts of soy lecithin in things like granola bars and chocolate would take me out for an entire day)
Ultimately, doctors classified it just as IBS and put me on the low-FODMAP diet. It certainly helped, and it helped me identify my 'trigger' foods, but with being vegetarian, on low-FODMAP, and unable to eat soy, my diet felt impossibly restrictive. But, I felt better and stuck to it.
Eventually, the low-FODMAP diet stopped working, and this past January I had another flareup. This time was even worse. No foods were safe foods, and I was constantly in pain and bloated (to the point of looking 6 months pregnant on a regular basis). Eating became something I feared, but not eating would trigger stomach pain as well. I couldn't eat so much as a salad without taking multiple IB-Guard capsules beforehand and ginger gravol after, and even then it was painful.
Menstrual Cycle
While my stomach issues were constant, they definitely became significantly worse around my period and around mid-cycle (ovulation) for about a week at a time (so 2 out of 4 weeks, rip), and it was debilitating. For 2 days before my period and around ovulation, it felt like I had the flu. I couldn't eat, I would have the chills, throw up, be nauseous, and virtually unable to eat. This lead doctors to think I may have severe endometriosis, despite the absence of period cramps or heavy bleeding (which is possible, but unlikely).
Figuring It Out
I went to yet another doctor and she sent me for some tests, but I live in Montreal, Canada, where the wait times for those specific tests were ~8 months each, and I just couldn't handle it anymore. So, I decided to do an experiment on myself. Keep in mind that because the stomach problems evolved slowly while I took wellbutrin, I never realized it could be what was causing my issues-and for some reason no doctor suggested that either.
I realized that I took my medications in the morning, and by lunch I would start to feel unwell. So I did a trial where one day I didn't take the other prescription medication I take (sprionolactone for hormonal acne)-no difference. The next day, I didn't take my wellbutrin. I had the best day I had had in well over a year. No stomach pain whatsoever. I thought it could be a fluke, so I skipped a second day. No pain. Day 3, I took half my usual dose (150 mg)-horrible pain. So, I did what doctors would definitely not recommend and went off it cold turkey. Stomach problems=gone. It was incredible, and I felt like I had my life back.
Today
Today I feel amazing. I have virtually no stomach problems at all, and I have started to re-introduce foods that I could not tolerate a small bite of before. My gluten and soy intolerances completely disappeared, which was shocking. Last week I had pasta for the first time, today I had tofu for the first time again. Having a restrictive diet was not super bothersome to me after I got used to it, and I know many people live their whole lives with eating restrictions like that. But it is nice to be able to expand my diet again (especially as a vegetarian, being able to eat things like tofu and seitan is sooo helpful). I don't feel horrible around my period at all. I feel like I have my life back-I can go out with friends at night and just enjoy myself and not be in pain, not have to take 3 different supplements to eat a meal, can eat whatever I want on occasional restaurant outings, etc. My stomach problems felt like they took up 90% of my thoughts and energy, and now I have that all back to put towards myself and the people I care about <3
Important: Now, for the first few weeks wellbutrin withdrawal was kind of no big deal. I was definitely tired, but it was manageable and went away after a short while. HOWEVER, a month after I had a full nervous breakdown that was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I was inconsolable for 4 days, and eventually went to the ER, and ended up taking Ativan to get through the couple days that followed. However, I was put on Lexapro (just 5 mg) and have been 100% fine and thriving since, and my anxiety is way better than it ever was on wellbutrin. I should also note that I left a very, very difficult relationship during this time, and it went quite horribly, and so while I would be amiss to not say quitting wellbutirn cold turkey didn't contribute to this "breakdown", I think context is really important.
I should also note that I have a history of having a hard time with prescription medications (so before anyone else says it first, myself or a doctor probably should have guessed wellbutrin was the culprit long before the 2 years). In any case... I had to stop taking Zoloft a few years back because it made me horribly nauseous and bloated, and the same was true for oral contraceptives (I tried 5 different ones over 4 years and all caused horrible nausea)-I now have a copper IUD.
TLDR: Wellbutrin help my anxiety but caused horrific stomach problems (severe and painful bloating, constipation, stomach cramping, nausea) and lead me to develop intense food intolerances (to gluten and soy) and made a strict low-FODMAP diet the only way to keep myself going. Stopping wellbutrin cured my stomach issues within a month, but quitting cold turkey lead to an intense emotional break.
Sorry this was so long, but I hope it helps someone

I have been battling GI and Neurological issues that I believe is the result of Long Covid for the last 8 months now. It seems like every time that I recover from one issue I am inflicted with another affliction with the latest being a persistent and relentless back pain that has been going on for nearly 4 weeks.
About 6 weeks ago I tried to come off my PPI (endo diagnosed mild gastritis in Dec) and started introducing HCL, enzymes and probiotics. Shortly after, I started having pain in the center of my stomach that was sensitive to the touch. I thought it was a gallbladder attack so got an US that was unremarkable and then got a MRI which was also unremarkable. About 2 weeks later (4 wks ago) my pains migrated to my back and have been there since. It started with an intermittent burning sensation between my shoulder blades (felt like rug burn/road rash across my back). This pain has only progressed and become more persistent. The pain now alternates between a a dull ache (like a bruise from an impact across my back) and the burning sensation. I have found a vertebrae that is sensitive to the touch near the pain areas but believe this is all GI related due to all of the other issues. I now also have pains that ride up my left shoulder blade from lower rib to my left shouldetrap and neck. I also get occasional burning pains under my ribs both sides and the occasional pains below my sternum.
I can’t make sense of any of this and lost support of my GI doc with recent negative scans and he couldn’t provide a logical explanation. I was very healthy before all of this and now feel like I am going crazy or my body is just quitting on me.
Does this sound like gastritis or something else (ulcer, pancreas, etc)? If gastritis how long can it persistently last and/or is there anything I can do to ease the pain (pain level is only 2-4 but relentless)?
I greatly appreciate any feedback or advice.

I just had a total laparoscopic hysterectomy last Tuesday. They took my uterus, tubes and cervix.
18f, had a previous laparoscopy for endometriosis about 2 years ago.
I'm still taking everything for pain they gave me, but I've read that normally people can drop opiates only a few days after?
I also had to stay in the hospital a day longer than we planned, it was supposed to be outpatient. I had to stay until afternoon the next day, despite being the first surgery of the day.
I also haven't had a bowel movement yet, despite taking stool softeners, Miralax and a gentle laxative. I just took a less gentle laxative, hopefully that doesn't cause too much cramping.
I stopped bleeding the day I got home, which is amazing to me! If I heal right I will never need to worry about it again!!
I've wanted this surgery for 4 years, I'm so happy I got it!
Are my bowel movements really concerning? I can't feel anything, even when I try to make a bowel movement I don't feel anything happening. I also had large bowel adhesions, notes said large bowel adhesions to left pelvic brim and left pelvic sidewall. Does this mean my bowel was stuck to the side of my pelvis?
Thank you so much!!