I have been going from doctor to doctor for 23 years for my endometriosis. I have yet to find one that actually listens to me. Is it me or do doctors not listen to patients? Maybe they don’t believe us when we describe the pain of endometriosis. Maybe they don’t believe us when we break down and cry after years of misdiagnoses, endless medications that didn’t work or made things worse. Or maybe, our pain is just too real and because they know they cannot treat it, they back away and ignore it. I don’t know why so many doctors treat endo patients the way they do, but I know it’s never going to change if we keep suffering in silence. The pain is real and shouldn’t be ignored. That is why I share my experiences here on Hormones MatterTM and on other social media sites. If we don’t speak up, how will they ever understand how much we suffer?
My Experience with Doctors
My first doctor seemed like she was out of it and not interested in my pain. I didn’t feel that I could speak to her. I was young and so I just believed what she said and left it at that. I always thought she would tell me what I needed to do next to feel better. I went to see her about my horrible cramps. Immediately, she thought it was endometriosis and left it at that; no medications, no treatments, and no advice whatsoever. At 13 years old, I didn’t think twice and went on my merry way.
Soon, the pain was so bad that I found another doctor. I saw him for almost five years. He ordered tests, prescribed different antidepressants. Needless to say, the antidepressants did nothing for the pain of endometriosis. If it wasn’t blatantly clear that it was cancer or some other obvious disease, he had no clue what he was doing and he had no interest in diagnosing or treating my pain. He finally told me that I cried too much and that could no longer be his patient. I think he’d cry too if something were strangling his insides.
During my teen years and into my 20’s I must have seen over 15 doctors and specialists. I had a neurologist tell me to touch my nose and when I did, he said I was fine.
Probably one of my worst experiences with a doctor came three years after my daughter had been born. One day I called, because I was feeling flu like and nauseated every day. The secretary booked me that day even though they were busy. While I was in the waiting room, I could see the doctor having an argument with his assistant, I assumed for putting me in when he was full. When he called my name and while walking into the room in front of everyone, he said to me “What is so wrong with you that you had to bud in front of all of these fine people?” OMG I was so angry I told him I didn’t need this treatment and walked out and never went back to him again.
At this point, I had been suffering with untreated Stage IV Endometriosis for 13 years. I had seen multiple doctors who either ignored my pain or made me feel as though I was somehow imagining it. Frustrated, I finally started to do my own research. I found support groups online to help me with what questions to ask the doctors. I found yet another doctor and scheduled an appointment. He told me after reading my Ultrasound report that he was sure it was endometriosis and that he would book a surgery for it.
Talking to my friends online made all the difference in the world. They told me to ask questions like what to expect, what could make the surgery change from laparoscopy to open surgery etc.
Next time I went in to see this new doctor, the one who said my ultrasound showed endometriosis, I started the conversation with “The last time I was in you said I probably had endometriosis” I was about to finish my sentence when he got really angry at me. He said that he never said I had endometriosis. When I tried to ask more questions, he got mad and said I wasn’t ready for surgery and then cancelled the surgery and red flagged my file. I was so confused. Why was I not allowed to ask questions? It was my body that he was operating on. He had such a God complex. I walked out of his office.
No wonder people with long-term, undiagnosed medical conditions get depression. They are treated like crap, like hypochondriacs and as if we are wasting the doctor’s valuable time.
After 15 years of excruciating pain and being treated poorly by many doctors, I finally found a doctor to operate on my Stage IV Endometriosis. The surgery was a success. I thought that I would feel vindicated, but I didn’t. I was, and I am still, angry with how I was treated.
I have been talked down to by many doctors. They have made me feel really uncomfortable about myself. They made me think I was going crazy. I can’t even count of how many times I contemplated suicide because of the mental stress my health put on me, the fact that I had no one to understand what I was going through and not even a doctor who cared to listen. If they did, they would have known I had all the symptoms for endometriosis.
Even after all of this, every new doctor brings with him the risk for misdiagnosis and mistreatment. Read my story about developing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Post Endometriosis Surgery and the horror of getting that diagnosed appropriately. My present doctor now knows nothing about endometriosis, a disease that affects millions of women around the world. How does this young, female doctor NOT know?? I just go there now and tell her the tests I need done and what drugs I need or if I need to change them. She does nothing on her own.
Lessons Learned about Endometriosis
If I have learned anything through this ordeal it is too keep your own medical records, be an advocate for your own health and ask a lot of questions. If you want sympathy or empathy and a little understanding do not expect to get it from your medical doctor. Find an online community of women with a similar condition. That is where you will find the support you need to survive.
I am in desperate need of your help. My story is almost identical to yours. I started my period at age 12. From day one my pains were so bad I literally was doubled over in pain. I am 30 now, I’ve had two unsuccessful laps. It took 11 years just to get my first lap scheduled. It was a complete waste, I could cry just thinking about it. A young not very well trained GYN performed it. He opened me up found Endo on my bowels and bladder took pictures and closed me back up again. When I woke up and realized nothing had been done I fell to pieces. He said no one will touch your bowel, do you want a colostomy bag? That’s what will happen if they perforate the bowel. I left completely broken. Two years went by I had my daughter and after I finished breastfeeding her (extensively to keep the pain away) the pain cake back much much worse. I had a new doctor who was willing to give it another look. Pretty much the same scenario from the first lap played out. He was able to remove a tiny bit via Omni laser but nothing extensive. He too said he wild not operate on my bowels. Even though he knew where my Endo was located before my surgery. I too have been to countless doctors as you described. As a teen I was just made to feel like a baby. One female obgyn I remember districtly told me to just deal with the pain, get used to it. She put me on Lupron, which did nothing but make me crazy. I’ve been on every type of hormone birth control known to man. All of which just caused more pain. Through all of this I’m thankful for my mother. She too has endometriosis, diagnosed at age 19. Had a full hysterectomy at age 29. She’s pushing for me to get one, hoping it will end my pain. I’ve been reading that’s not always the case. Sorry so long, if you know of a specialist in the New York/ New Jersey/ Maryland/ Delaware area please share their info with me. I’m willing to travel for surgery. I am just feeling so beat down and depressed with the constant pain. Thanks, Ashley
I’m so sorry to hear what you have been going through. 🙁
Dr Iris Orbuch is in New York and she is fabulous not just surgery wise but bedside manner as well 🙂
Dr Cook in San Francisco is a specialist and a specialized surgeon. My insurance doesn’t cover this and I’m a disabled veteran. VA just sends me to the psychiatrist telling me it’s med reactions. One doc told me whether this is from God or the devil it’s out of his scope of practice. I have an unusual twist on this.
I don’t have endometriosis myself, but I have read a lot about B6 because of my own medical issue, and I’ve been reading about women seeing improvement with endometriosis from vitamins. Slowly, I’m learning that many of us are just deficient in things, even though most of the medical world deems this impossible. Especially with B6, because so many medications can deplete this very important vitamin. No one tells you that if you’re on birth control, you need to supplement with B6. Or if you’re on an anti-depressant. Or if you use a nasal steroid spray for allergies. Or if you have anesthesia for surgery. All of these things deplete B6. And this is just a short list.
Vitamins are nothing new. It seems like if they were the solution, doctors would tell you that the first time you show up in their office. After all, it’s safe and easy. They’d test us, and ask about diet, and make sure we didn’t have some absorption problem. But there is an assumption in our medical community that deficiencies just don’t happy in the developed world. And since they never look for them, they never find them. In my situation, I’d been slowly depleted of B6 over a 15 year period from taking flonase. It resulted in several breast lumps, period problems, depression, lack of sex drive and eventually a full blown thyroid disorder, which are all mostly resolved now, from vitamins.
B6 is needed for hundreds of functions in the body, including moderating estrogen levels, making red blood cells, bringing iodine into the thyroid, and controlling inflammation throughout the body. B6 is needed to make serotonin which is then used to make melatonin. Melatonin has a role in sleep and in fertility, controlling levels of follicular stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone.
Studies have shown that women with the highest levels of B6 are less likely to get breast cancer. I didn’t even know this when I took B6, but it made my three breast lumps disappear in only two months, after having them for four years!!! I took a very strong b-complex with 100mg of B6. I’m now up to 200mg of B6 a day, but that may be because of some absorption issue, or because I got so depleted. I had to experiment to figure out how much B6 to take.
B6 is just one vitamin. But the same could be said for other vitamins, because they work together and a deficiency in one will effect the others. Kerry Morris wrote a book about endometriosis and has a protocol using vitamins.
Hello,
I am not sure if you ever found a proper physician since your original post was in 2016, but I felt the need to comment.
I recently read a book by Dr. Tamer Seckin, MD titled Recognizing and Treating Endometriosis- The Doctor Will See You Now. He is located in NY and after reading his book I would give anything to see him. The book is amazing and he describes his process with his patients down to how the appointments will work.
I hope the is of some help,
Jess
It’s so good to find this! I have suffered with severe pelvic and me strual pain since I started my period very young and throughout my teens just got told it was normal ‘teen pain’ and because it ran in my family it was just normal pain. I have come to learn , there should never be ‘normal pain’ ! The last year I have been so proactive e after doing my own research because the pain had got so unbearable after stopping my contraceptive injection which did a very good job at masking the pain bt every doctor told me to come off of it due to bone density worries. I had weeks off of work being inj controllable agony, and waiting for referrals for scans which had been lost, luckily I had an amazing doctor who was so supportive and agreed with me that it was endo, so finally 18 months after my first federal being sent got my lap. It was awful, I was sent to the ‘chop shop’ to a surgeon who had no idea until they saw me right before hand I was there to see if I had endo and looked almost perplexed at it and then had no idea of my history, and when I woke up I was told oh we had a little look around but nothing was found although you do have an Ectropian in your cervix with no explanation,did my smear and they inserted a merina, (which I found out today six weeks later that they have cut the strings too short) so after having all of that I then get a letter with ‘no further action t be taken’ ike I’m fine now? Now they didn’t done any endo I don’t deserve anymore help? So today I went for my coil string check and to have my smear re done, and had a wonderful doctor who I cried to (quite hysterically) as I haven’t had a day free of pain in almost two years (I keep a diary) I have been sent away with amitriptyline for pain management and a referral back to my gynae, which hopefully I will get more answers or a referral to a specialist. It’s so hard knowing what is wrong with me without any definitive proof! Which after seeing your post is so reassuring that someone else knew for so long and struggled for so long to be heard! I know I got so lucky getting a doc who referred me and I got the lap, but I feel so cheated like the surgeon just didn’t care, and there was a queue of fifteen other people to have different quick day surgeries that morning. sorry for all of the rambling and probably a million spelling mistakes!
Hi Angela,
I just went to the doctors again. And now they are telling me the pain is because I was sexually assaulted years ago and my body is just reacting to that now. And my doctors still dont want to do the test, because now they are just saying it is in my head because of the assault. I know thats not what its from. And they dont want to do the camera test until they do yet another pelvic exam. So far I have had 8 pelvic exams since January of this year. I dont want to do another pelvic exam, because I just end up in excruciating pain after it is over. I need help! I dont know how to do this. I feel so alone!I dont know what other options I have anymore. They have put me on a total of 15 medications right now. I dont want to take any of the pills, becuase they either make the pain worse or make me feel loopy. What can I do??
Please help!
My heart is breaking for you right now. How they are treating you is utterly disgusting and unacceptable.
1st step- Find a new family doctor ASAP!!
2nd step- File a complaint against this doctor.
3rd step- I am emailing you now with some options and where to go.
4th step- STAY STRONG! YOUR PAIN IS REAL…
Thank you SO much for making me feel like someone actually is listening. I honestly hurt extremely today. Trying not to let this pain effect my work, but right now I dont know. I am having extreme pelvic pain and cramping. And they gave me more meds, but I just feel SO loopy again.
Dear Angela,
I have been reading your pages and I honestly am dealing with the same thing. I am 24 and have been going thru this extreme pain for 5 years now and doctors keep telling me that Im fine, since every test isnt showing anything. But I was told to look into endometriosis from a friend and it explains everything, but none of the doctors I have seen will do a test for it. And honestly I dont know what to do anymore. This pain just keeps getting worse and I am being told its just “all in my head” since the tests dont show anything. Can you please help me?? I have been in and out of the hospital non stop and no doctor seems to listen or care.
What can I do? How can I make this pain stop? How can I make them listen??
This page caught my eye as we have a 25 yr old daughter with similar issues. The reason I (a 53 yr old man) am commenting is because of the hell I too am going through with one idiot doctor after another ! SIX YEARS of some sort of autoimmune disease that can not be diagnosed ?…Non damaging inflammatory arthritis that has now spread to muscle and tendons. Long story but my point is most doctors are like robots with a primary focus on seeing as many patients as possible, $$ Sending them out the door with a script that likely will do little other than create side effects and more problems !(In my case serious immune suppression with methotrexate or a biologic given with no diagnosis)? Truly a broken system that has ruined my life … cant find a doctor who will take the time to really research this complicated condition – Best of Luck !
shirohana86
I am so sorry to hear that has happened to you. I feel your pain completely but please try not to give up hope. I am here for you and I can help. Please contact me at my blog http://endendoforever.blogspot.ca/ or message me on twitter or facebook. The Faces of Endo or @EndEndoForever
I am 28 years old and quite frustrated with my doctor as well. I have had these symptoms since I was 13 years old. I got my period at age 11 and it’s been hell for 15 very long years. My cousins and aunts have endo and they are quite thin. I was overweight and went through bariatric sleeve and have lost 70 pounds and the pain went away for a couple months. And now it has returned worse. Basically even after that my obgyn told me I was too fat and told me to keep exercising to prevent pain. on top of it When I had my surgery my surgeon told me I had a baseball sized cyst. I wanted it removed but my obgyn could not see it on mri so she told me she would not do any surgery. I still have I’m mobilizing pain and can feel the cyst at times on my left ovary. I am extremely angry and searching for another obgyn, but I don’t expect anything since they are all incomprehensible idiots. One male doctor told me I was lying about the pain and that there was nothing wrong with me. A nurse had to come in because I started screaming at him in anger because he led me to tears. I may one day punch a doctor in a face and be arrested, and I might as well since no one believes the pain I have ….every….single…day…
Hi I’m so sorry to hear what you have gone through. I have been dealing with horrible periods for yrs. I was diagnosed with ibs yrs ago. Due to that I haven’t been taken seriously. I went to my obgyn and she did pelvic exam. Said uterus felt tender but that was about it. Said she felt as if my pain was coming from hormonal changes during my eriod. Also said she didn’t see any endometriosis when she did my tubal which was over 2 yrs ago. She threw birth control at me and told me to come back in 3 months to see how I’m doing. I’m so upset and feel that she isn’t going to take me seriously. I cramp all the time with ibs , though I heard that it can be endometriosis Too. During period it’s wors. Horrible stabbing pain to where I feel as of I’m going to pass out. I go back and fourth from diarehea to constipation. I hope to see h3r in June and be dealt with in a caring manner.
Hi Angela,
I have been through the ringer with a long medical history myself & am only 24 and am finally seeing a specialist Dr. Charles Koh in Milwaukee, Wi. I was curious if you or anyone else you know has had experience with him? I found him on an Endometriosis Org website and seeing he was near me, I finally scheduled an appointment. I know he worked with Dr Redwine who is an expert of Endometriosis.
I was diagnosed with endometriosis when I was 18, I was really blessed with an amazing, smart and caring doctor. He had me in lap surgery within 2 months of entering his office. Fast forward to now, 14 years later with medical coverage again and plagued with unchecked endometriosis over the last 10 years, just my usual monthly visit to the ER. Finally get a referral for the gyn and I provided him with my symptoms, well he only let me get 3 out, said there was no way I could have endometriosis confirmed at 18 and be able to have a 19 month old baby. He said I was constipated or just bleeding heavily that causes bad cramps but he thinks the only course of treatment is mirena or hysterectomy.. But insurance wouldn’t approve because my hemoglobin levels are fine which proves that I’m not Olin pain just because of extremely heavy bleeding… He also said Motrin was a different compound from ibuprofen… Really? Does this guy have an actual medical license? Well I asked my go for a referral for a different doc, trying to track down medical records from the 2 surgeries I had
Hi Amanda. You have two of the best surgeons in your area.
Dr. Andrew Cook
Vital Health,
14830 Los Gatos Blvd,
Ste 300,
Los Gatos, CA 95032
T. (408) 358-2511
Specialisation: GYN only
Bowl/urinary tract surgery: Does most bowel/urinary tract work himself and has a colorectal surgeon on hand to assist when needed.
*Dr. Cook’s practice offers a functional approach to treating endometriosis.
Dr. Camran Nezhat
Center For Special Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery,
900 Welch Rd
Ste 403
Palo Alto, CA 94304
T. (650) 327-8778
Specialisation: GYN only
Bowl/urinary tract surgery: Does some bowel/urinary tract work
Hi there! My name is Amanda and I live in Los Angeles, California. I’ve read your blog about endometriosis and read your posts on this site. I’ve always been brushed off by doctors when I tell them about all my pain and have only found any support through women on the web like you and Facebook support groups. I’m undiagnosed but so untrusting of general gynos and doctors at this point that I really want to find a specialist to do a laparoscopy. I know your in Canada, but do you know of any specialist in California? Even if you don’t, thank you so much for everything you write. Not getting muh help from docs has made me feel crazy, like maybe they’re right and it’s in my head. An article like this one makes me feel I’m not alone and that tons of docs are not educated on this subject!! Thank you again!
I am so sorry that you are going through this. That is the sad part about Endo. If it can’t be seen they make you feel like you are making it up and need therapy. For me I ended up with Complex PTSD partially from the treatment I received from doctors for 20+ years. They made me feel like I was losing my mind.
When you say removed it all, is that the endo and scar tissue that was removed or a hyster as well?
Did you have excision surgery by a good Endo specialist? The key to getting relief is definitely having surgery with someone that knows this disease. It is possible your last surgeon left some behind.
Hi everyone,
I am going through the same experiences you all are as well. In August of 2013 I had an eptopic pregnancy in my right tube. In November I started experiencing some
Of the same symptoms from the ectopic. Bit of course they “couldn’t find anything” in the er and sent me on my way. Only for me to return the next day in more pain. With no answers they admit me to the hospital sending in social worker after social worker and finally a psychologist who I absolutely flipped out on. All of my doctors and nurses were telling me I was depressed and that they couldn’t find anything wrong with me. I kept telling them there is something wrong by my right tube I know it! I know my body. Finally after a week and a half in the hospital getting treated like a mad woman they finally scheduled a “exploration lap” where they found endometriosis and many adhesions. They removed eveything and sent me on my way. Now in June of 2014 I am having the same symptoms as before, went to the er last night after seeing my family doctor (who beloved it is probably my endo making me feel awful)and my obgyn (who talked to me in his office and did no exam whatsoever and told me I probably had a viral infection or something but he didn’t know and didn’t know what to order me) so from his office I went straight to the er where they did a pelvic exam that made me scream and unable to move the pain hurt so bad. After some blood work and a ct they then a sent me
On my way with a prescription of pain meds. When I had asked her why my pelvic hurt so bad and why I feel so tired and dizzy and nauseous she smirked and said I don’t know you’ll have to follow up with your gyno. Then in tears I explained to her that no one ever listens when I tell them I am in a lot of pain. And she said I’m sorry the er is for emergencys. Okay so being in unbearable pain is not an emergency?
I don’t get it doctors are so rude when I comes to helping.
Bonnie,
If you want to find me on twitter my handle is @EndEndoForever let me know who you are and I can definitely help you find a good Endo surgeon that will remove the Endo properly as well a diagnoses. I don’t think that you would want to state where you are from on here but you can message me on twitter or facebook your location and I can help 🙂
Hi Kelly, thanks for sharing your story. Since the age of 14 (now 20) I have had awful symptoms of endo, I’ve been in and out the doctors so many times about it I can’t even remember. Obviously after going no where with doctors for a year and having extreme pain and heavy periods, I decided to research myself and self diagnosed with endo.im now 20 and recently started having a sexual relationship and the pain during sex is unbearable. I have severe depression and get really anxious standing up for myself in the doctors when they say it’s nothing. They’ve unofficially diagnosed me with endo now and just put me on the pill. But I want a concrete diagnosis and better medical treatment because I’m still in agony constantly. I’ve been getting bad period pain without actually being on my period for 3 months now.it hurts too much to have sex, my doctors aren’t listening, and I’ll have a panic attack if I say ‘no, I want more help with this’ to the doctor instead of being fobbed off. I’m so scared, and stressed, and sick of being treated like a hypochondriac. Can you share some advise please?
Kelly,
I know what you are feeling it can be soooo frustrating. It upsets me to hear the treatment you are getting hence why I started my own blog at http://endendoforever.blogspot.ca/ a year ago because I was put through the ringer for 14 yrs and made to feel like I was losing my mind. Let me know where you live and I can help find you a good Endo specialist in your area. 🙂 Hugs my friend
Angela,
I don’t know if you know this, but you have helped this female tremendously! My story is similar to yours and now that I have full health coverage, it’s like I’m a waste of their time. When I lived in Illinois and was in my early 20’s, I had my period for 3 months straight and it was heavy and horrible as all get out. I went to planned parenthood which lead me to the emergency room. Lucky me, I got a male doctor who told me this was “normal” and “women are made to bleed”. Word for word. I’ve never wanted to punch someone as much as him.
Now in my early 30’s and still have those pains, but WORSE. Described it to one doctor who felt she couldn’t help me, but knew of one to refer me to who now is acting like I’m wasting her time.
I took myself into the ER alone yesterday because of these common symptoms we all know of plus NEW stabbing pain when I bent over – like something had grown in me. Not pregnant, blood tests fine, CT scan as well. I was pumped full of morphine and sent on my way. The ER doctor told me before I left that they can only help if something is new, but I should see my doctor for any chronic pains. I thought when you have abdominal pain, you should see someone immediately? And I swear they don’t listen.
After all that, home today with a bruise from the IV (obvious iron deficiency), still have the pains I’ve been telling them – I don’t want to give. I emailed my doctor last night to inquire about PT and to get an appointment with her ASAP. She only asked to verify my phone number and that’s all I’ve heard yet. I’m tempted to send this blog to her.
I plan on looking for a new doctor and if that one doesn’t listen/work, then another. Thank you!
My ultrasound revealed a 10cm complex mass. The reason mass was mentioned and not Endometrioma at the first U/S was because it had solid matter which in the end, ended up being everything wrapped around my uterus. The actual Endometrioma was 5cm. An Endometrioma (blood filled Cyst) is an indicator of moderate to severe disease.
I am curious what your ultrasound showed that made them guess endometriosis?
I’ve recently be diagnosed with endometriosis after years of trips to the doctors and gynecologists with pains in my side and severe pain during ovulation. I was told that I did n’t have cancer so what more did I want them to do! When I went back to my doctor with pains in my side I was also told these pains were to far over and was diagnosed with IBS, no tests done at all!
My partner and I were trying for a baby and had no success. We were referred to the Reproductive Medicine Clinic. I explained I had had problems conceiving my last baby 12 years ago and was about to under go an appointment with them when I fell on naturally. Rather than getting to the root of my infertility I was immediately offered IVF at a cost of 3k for my own eggs which I could just about get away with using at the time! We did n’t have that kind of money for only 10% success rate! I was never offered a laparoscopy at any point! I had also tried for a baby with a previous partner and been referred to them (my infertility I believe was the reason he left).
That was 3 years ago and I am now 43 and have just had a scan showing endometriosis. I was told that this was probably the reason it took so long to conceive my son (15 years ago!) Hence, once I got into my 30’s conception was basically impossible. My FSH rates are so high now I have no chance of using my own eggs. The only treatment I have been offered is an hystorectomy (I also have fibroids). I am so angry and depressed as I know the outcome would have been so different if I had known this when I was still in my 30s and would have known IVF was my only option.
Did you have a lap done to check for Endo?
I feel like your story is so similar to mine. I have had so many tests and surgeries(lap append and lap gallbladder removal) and also many imaging tests, blood work etc and nothing has come back. It’s finally gotten so bad that I went to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist because the GI said it could be a gyno issue. I had my first surgery and saw a Endometrial polyp during an ultrasound and then did surgery and during the surgery she found 5 polyps and removed them. I was also diagnosed with PCOS and she prescribed OCP (Yaz) which has not helped. I have been suspecting Endo because I have all the symptoms and everything has been ruled out. Now the RE is saying it’s not a gyno issue so I don’t know what else it could be.
I totally feel what you are saying. It makes me angry that we have to be subjected to such rude undignified behavior.
I think why I have depression is not based on the disease itself but by the way I have been treated for 25yrs.
Thank you so much for responding. It is so good to know I am not alone in this journey.
Thank you so much for this blog. Your story is identical to mine. I’ve been in tears attempting to convince about three males and ttwo female doctors something is terribly wrong. I too was referred to a pain clinic to take antidepressants and nerve pills. I was even told I needed to stop saying my ovary hurt because where I was pointing was not where my ovary is located. I explained as a woman I know damn well where my ovary is as I feel it monthly during ovulation. I was told it was impossible to feel my ovulation by one of the female doctors. She said she would schedule a surgery just to shut me up but she knew she wouldn’t find anything and even guaranteed me that I did not have endo. I went to my preop and saw a different female doc and was told I had a hernia. She was going to send me to a different clinic and was going to cancel my surgery. She was rude and asked why if it doesn’t hurt when I have sex but supposedly hurts when she pokes and prods during a pelvic! It took a male pelvic pain specialist (who she called iver to convince me I had a hernia and to make a mockery of me about the whole no pain during sex thing) to determine something was wrong and ordered a laparoscopy 48 hours. Even after he was certain he knew what was wrong, the female doctor even told me the operation was to be a waste of time because they wouldn’t locate anything. (The previous female doctor said the same.) After my surgery she comes out beaming with a huge smile how “we” found endo and my ovary was fused to the back of my pelvic wall, that they had to do “a lot of scraping” and even remove my uterosacral ligament and scar tissue. I wanted to say “I told you so” but I never got an apology.