I’m trying a forum, because I don’t know what else to try. I’ve been diagnosed based on symptoms (extremely painful periods lasting 11 days, worsening after an IUD, extreme fatigue, inflammatory responses, painful urination and bowel movements, PMDD, nausea, brain fog, nerve pain) because they can’t find anything on the ultrasound or MRI. I’m on the waiting list for a laparoscopy and I’m terrified they won’t find anything once again. I keep thinking I made it all up and that my symptoms are fake. I really struggle to keep up at work and my sleeping schedule is horrendous. ChatGPT has really helped me track symptoms and discerning what might or might not be related to endometriosis, and to keep me from gaslighting myself that nothing is going on. But then I see people going to the ER or actually passing out from symptoms and I feel guilty or like I don’t have it worse enough… I get whiplash trying to deal with the endometriosis, but I mostly feel so misunderstood trying to inform people how I’m feeling and how every day is different, yet somehow equally horrible. It’s hard to find a balance acknowledging the toll on me and finding a healthy distraction.