Endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting 1 in 10 women in the UK and there is currently no cure. Less than 50% of women have heard of it, and only half of those who have understand what it involves. Endometriosis is a gynaecological condition where the tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other area of the body. Instead of the tissue being shed, it remains in the body where it bleeds and forms lesions, cysts and scar tissue. The condition is categorised into 4 stages (4 being the most severe) and symptoms vary in all cases; some of them include chronic pelvic pain, infertility, depression/anxiety and in severe cases the disease can spread to other organs such as the bowel and bladder. On average it takes 7.5 years to be diagnosed with the condition which is one of the biggest drives for my fundraising this year. With more awareness, the diagnosis time can be reduced and with more money, research can be done to find causes and cures.

In February 2016 I was finally diagnosed with Endometriosis which was both devastating and relieving. I started with the symptoms aged 16/17 but doctors just said that it was 'bad period pains' and I was just 'unlucky'. I underwent a number of procedures to burn off cells and they even decided it might just be a gluten intolerance. For me it was perfectly normal to associate my time of the month with a day of vomiting and being bed ridden. When this happened on a school trip abroad, my work colleague reassured me that this was definitely not right and I should get back to the doctors - she had a friend with Endometriosis and was more clued up. By this point, the pain had become a daily struggle and I knew I needed to do something.

I had blood tests, scans and multiple checks and the doctors insisted that everything looked normal and that it was all in my head. I continued to be persistent and was eventually referred to a hospital where I was soon diagnosed and surgery was scheduled to remove the growths. On 1st April I went into Stafford County Hospital. However, the surgery didn't quite go to plan. When I came round, I was told that the Endometriosis was too severe and I'd need another operation with an Endometriosis specialist. It had been diagnosed as stage 3-4.

After a lot of research, my parents arranged for me to see a private specialist in Manchester; he had a successful track record for being able to help the most horrendous cases. Without this guy, my next options were likely to be a full hysterectomy or an early induced menopause. As a 24 year old who definitely wants children, none of these were considerable options for me.

In November 2016 I had my second lot of surgery and I was so excited for it all to be finally over. The surgeon could work miracles and he was so reassuring about being able to sort me out. So you can imagine the frustration and upset when I came round to be told yet again, it was too severe and there was nothing he could do at the moment. (I'd also fasted for 36 hours!!) It's now stage 4 and has spread to my bowel. He's still confident it can be sorted with surgery once there is a bowel surgeon present too!

So currently, at the start of 2017 I am waiting for my third lot of surgery. It will be an extensive operation lasting about 3 hours but I am extremely positive about the situation and I trust the worst of it will be over this year.

Had I have had more knowledge about the condition, I would have been diagnosed earlier and it wouldn't have spread this far and become this severe. So please, tell your sisters, daughters, friends and family to trust their gut and stand their ground if something isn't right!

Thank you all so much in advance! Xx