Can Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) mimic Endometriosis?
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Yes, both can have similar symptoms. Endometriosis on the bowel can sometimes make a doctor think that the patient has IBS when they don't. There are women (myself included) who have both.
They can be related if the endometriosis is causing problems on the bowel or in some cases (and I've met a few women it's happened to) eating thru all the layers of the bowel.
A word about if nothing shows up on the laparoscopy. If you find that you still have the same symptoms afterward and even after seeing a gastroenterologist it can still be endometriosis related any way. Sometimes a doctor can miss the other areas that endometriosis grows in such as an area called the rectouterine pouch also called the posterior cul-de-sac (it is called this because it is located behind the uterus).
When endometriosis grows in this area it can also make them think it's bowel related when it may not be.
If you have other questions for me please feel free to e-mail or IM me off site any time.
To learn more about endometriosis please check out: http://www.endocenter.org
Endometriosis and IBS have very similar symptoms to each other but are in no way related. Or caused by one or the other.
IBS is totally in the bowel, caused by stress and diet.
Symtoms are dirrehea, constipation, abdominal pain and nausea.
Endometrosis is where the inside of the cells found inside the uteruise deposit themselves out side around the pelvis. When you have a period they also become ingorged bleed causing pain.
Endometriosis also causes the runs, often severe abdominal pain, nausea and periods to become irregular.
You can have both at the same time. Making life miserable.
A laproscopy is the easiest and only way of diagnosing endometrosis. You may only have it mildly but exhibit extreme symptoms. Or have it severly and only experience mild symptoms.
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