I am supporting 

#EndometriosisAwarenessMonth

I still remember my first ever period like it was yesterday, most people see this as young woman’s gateway into ‘womanhood’ for me it was a gateway to hell. Every month I would be crippled with pain, pain so severe I would vomit, pass out, overheat often having time off of school. I remember begging to have “all of this taken out, I don’t want kids anyway” anything to make it stop. I was told this was ‘normal’ but it didn’t feel normal, no one else my age was experiencing this. “This happens to some young women” “you’ll grow out of it” just a few of the phrases I heard. By the time I was 14 I had tried numerous different drugs to no avail and was put on the mini pill for a couple of years. I began to feel ‘normal’ no longer did I dread the monthly visitor, don’t get me wrong I would still experience mild cramps but nothing like before.

I ended up being on the pill for over 10 years, I eventually reached the age where I needed it for the intended purpose! Nearly two years ago I decided that I had had enough of the side effects of the pill and I wanted to try non-hormonal contraceptive so came off the pill. I kind of forgot how bad my periods used to be and after all I’m nearly 30 surely I had ‘grown out of it’ by now. I remember my second period after coming off the pill, my mother-in-law took me to the walk-in-centre as the pain was so bad I couldn’t even get out of bed.

After being back and forth to the GP for almost a year I was referred to a Gynaecologist in August 2019. I had a diagnostic laparoscopy in January 2020 where I was diagnosed with @endometriosis.uk and told further surgery is highly likely. I’m glad that I finally have some answers although this is by no means the end of the road.

On average it takes a woman 7.5 years for a diagnosis. Mine was nearly 15. March is Endometriosis awareness month and I wanted to do my bit to spread awareness and raise some money.