31/03/2026
As we near the end of march, Endometriosis Awareness Month, I will tell my story.
For years I was plagued with painful, heavy periods. The pain was unbearable, sometimes my bleed was so heavy that I couldn't leave the house and I'd have to fold a towel up to sit on. My cycle would cause huge flare ups of IBS, chronic diarrhea, painful constipation or nausea.
The contraceptive pill did help, it regulated my cycle but still the pain & heavy flow. It also affected my moods terribly.
I assumed it was normal. It was all I'd known.
But at 32 I went to see my GP. I described my symptoms, and to my horror, he ushered me out stating "you're approaching menopause, what do you expect?"
I felt stupid. I was making a fuss about nothing 🙁
My husband encouraged me to go back to see a different GP, it took six months but this time I was referred to Gynae.
I had scans, kept records and was diagnosed with endometriosis. I was given pain management. When this gave little relief, I was given monthly injections to put me into a temporary menopause. Such a relief, until after the last injection and my symptoms returned.
Surgery no 1 was to remove the endometriosis tissue from my bowel, uterus & fallopian tubes.
Yet my symptoms continued
Surgery no 2 was to remove lesions between my bowel & reproductive organs.
My symptoms continued.
Surgery no 3 was to remove my uterus entirely. I was 36 years old.
My ovaries were left in the hope that they would continue to produce hormones and prevent menopause - something that now seems bizarre, because it was those very hormones causing the endometriosis.
My periods ceased but the pain continued, I also started to get menopausal symptoms.
Surgery no 4 (a year later) was to remove my ovaries. By far the worst surgery - on my left, it had embedded into the wall of my bowel with scar tissue. My recovery was hard and I had to beg for HRT to prevent the osteoporosis that crippled my gran.
Here I am, 16 years later and still suffering from the legacy of Endometriosis. My insides are a mess of scar tissue that causes pain, not as bad as I used to suffer but still pain & IBS are just my life.
*Continued in comments*