Jenny

I first went to my GP complaining of excruciating periods at 14, from then on life had been repeated visits to the GP and local family planning clinic, displaying horrible symptoms, with no answers, no idea how to really treat it, and just feeling alone. At 18 fell pregnant with my son, the pregnancy itself was a traumatic experience and towards the end I had been seriously ill, being otherwise healthy it came as a surprise to the doctors that it had gone this way, however I gave birth to a health baby boy at 19.

It wasn’t until I was around 20 that anyone mentioned the word ENDOMETRIOSIS to me, a locum GP who referred me back to the same Gynaecology department that at 17 told me I was ‘just one of those unfortunate women’. Sadly that locum left shortly after and the consultants I’d seen couldn’t explain it without mentioning weight gain or IBS. 

At 27 I managed to convince my consultant that after all this time I should be put on the waiting list for laparoscopic surgery. 

FINALLY at 29 I had my diagnosis of ENDOMETRIOSIS after adhesions were removed from my ovaries. 

During the 15 years that I went undiagnosed, I looked for support wherever I could, but living in West Wales, our access to adequate health care and support is limited. My nearest support group was Swansea and I didn’t feel as though it was accessible for me. I have followed Endometriosis-Uk’s social media pages through my journey and when the opportunity to volunteer and start my own support group in West Wales came up I had to get involved. 

I think it’s really important to have access to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through, especially in rural areas with limited access to facilities. I still have a long fight ahead of me but if I can help just one other person dealing with Endo, whilst making as much noise as possible to raise awareness along the way, then it will all be worth it!