[bstribbell]

A little bit of back story... (warning, going to be a long post)
The summer between my grade 9 and 10 years, I was 15 (2015) and in immobilizing pain. I laid in bed for almost 3 weeks straight, not being able to move without screaming, crying, or being in so much pain that I felt as if I was going to be sick to my stomach. My parents were obviously very concerned and my mother thought that it could be something to do with my reproductive system, as the height of the pain was around my period.
I am taken to an OB/GYN and given an ultrasound. She told me that I had ovarian cysts and most likely endometriosis. (Endo can't be fully diagnosed without getting a sample of the tissue of the area) Me, being the ignorant 15-year-old I was, Googled these as soon as I got home. I was met with horrible stories of how girls and women with endo and ovarian cysts then had them progress into cancer.
At 15, I thought I was going to have cancer.
I had played volleyball since I was 12. My doctor told me to stop playing as it could jeopardize my health. So, I stopped. I was a very active person, I went from training 3 days a week to not being able to do anything. During my grade 10 year, I was barely able to participate in much of my required PE class and had to explain multiple times why I needed to go to the nurse to get a heating pad, or why I wasn't able to run around the track.
I'm now 16 and have been put on, and taken off of multiple different types of medication. The pain was keeping me up at night, so my doctor put me on sleeping pills, that turned out to actually be anti-depressants. I was on anti-nausea medication, sleeping pills, and countless pain meds.
I have currently just started my grade 11 year, so it's been just over a year since I was diagnosed. I am currently on birth control and have been on it for at least 6 months. It was supposed to help the pain, it hasn't. My doctor told me that I could take Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve, (basically any pain medication) if I needed it, and I definitely need it.
I started taking Aleve about two months ago and it doesn't help anymore. I have basically run out of options.
I am seriously considering a hysterectomy. I was given this option when I was first diagnosed and I was immediately against it. As I have always wanted to have my own kids. But I am sick and tired of the pain and constantly missing opportunities due to being in pain, I want to play volleyball again, and want to get my life back to normal.
I'm fully aware that I will not be able to have children, and I am okay now, knowing that I can adopt. (Yes, I knew this before, I just really wanted kids)
I sort of feel like this is my last option to get my life back on track, I don't want to be in pain for the rest of my life.

Thanks

[jns]

I'm sorry that you have bad choices in all directions. I don't know what I would suggest if you were my daughter. There is little posting on the weekends, so please be patient with replies.

[Ashlee T.]

I would seek alternative care, from a different doctor before I even considered permanently eliminating my ability to reproduce, and not just that but permanently depleting my hormones. You have certainly gone through a hard time but please, please try to get a second and even a third opinion before you are forced to make such a life changing choice. Lots and lots of women have endo and ovarian cysts and still go on to have children and healthy lives.