I’m looking for some answers to some questions based on your experiences.

I am 40 and have a history of painful, heavy periods, fibroids, ovarian cysts, and adenomyosis. In 2017 I had a hysterectomy where my uterus and cervix were removed. Previously I had my tubes out for surgical sterilization. I still have my ovaries. I take Sprintec to try and control my ovarian cysts. It works pretty well.

After my hysterectomy, pathology confirmed the adenomyosis.

I’ve been feeling pretty good in my post-hysterectomy life. I’d have a twinge of pain every now and then that made me think I had a cyst growing, and I was always right.

Over the past 3 weeks or so, I noticed the familiar pain on my right side. It was tender at first and then grew to be burning. Then I got sciatic pain down my leg which I had also had occasionally with my cysts. So I called up my doc and got in to have an ultrasound.

Well, the ultrasound showed I do have a cyst but it’s tiny (less than a cm and usually mine are at least 2 cm before I feel them). So the doctor said my pain was most likely endometriosis—my history of adenomyosis put me at very high risk of endometriosis growth.

Here are my questions:

• can you have endometriosis excised from an ovary without removing the ovary?

• does anyone have experience with a progestin only oral contraceptive for endometriosis? Would this even work? I have a history of hormonal migraines

• I also have herniated discs in my lumbar spine and I have gotten an epidural for that which was really effective. As my sciatic pain goes all the way down my leg and is especially intense in the pelvis/thigh area, would that type of injection help?

• is it really the standard of care for the pain to say take ibuprofen but no more than 5 days in a row? What the heck are we supposed to do the other 26 days of the month???

I’m no stranger to pelvic pain. This has been my life for my entire menstrual life. I thought it was over once I had a hysterectomy and my adenomyosis and fibroids were out. I’m angry that I have to deal with this again. It’s really disappointing. I know I’m preaching to the choir here.

TIA