Hiya,
Firstly I would like to say thank you for taking the time to read my story! For those of you that know me, you will know that I did not take the decision to fundraise for surgery lightly. You will know how passionate I can be about educating and driving positives and change for not only myself but others. Endometriosis UK. https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/ offers advice and support for others with this condition.
There’s no better way then painting a true picture of my life so there’s no holding back just truth and heartfelt honesty………
I have always continually put others first but for once in my life I am having to put myself first. My journey with Endometriosis started from as young as 12; although it was not diagnosed symptoms began! Periods began so heavy that you can’t leave the toilet, fainting, dioherrea, sickness, tiredness, mood changes, irrational behaviour, low concentration, headaches. Started on the pill and then swapped to another and another and you get the picture until you find one that suits after 7 attempts later.
At 17 I had my first gynaecology appointment where they told me all my symptoms are made up and there is nothing wrong! This hurt because it seemed nobody believed and now even the doctors thought I was making it up. Slightly off topic but also GET YOUR SMEAR! My cells came back abnormal and after ablation (laser therapy) treatment the cells were removed. I am 26 now with another of many Smear results come back with changes in cells with a 10 week wait for treatment. At 18 I had my first Mirena coil fitted to help fight symptoms and laraposcopy surgery to remove endometriosis.
Changed to another coil after 3 years, earlier then the lifespan as symptoms came back. I have had to have B12 injections due to extreme mindfog, fatigue, tiredness and after dietary consumption would not allow for this vitamin to be absorbed. Folic acid tablets as my system is low on this too.
So Eat, Sleep, Pain, Surgery, Repeat is where we are now. I have had surgery to remove the endometriosis which has grown back and then 2 more surgeries later I am needing another.
After an up and down journey on the NHS and I was on the waiting list in which they cancelled 3 surgical appoints. Due to the consent pain I have made the decision to receive partial private treatment where I am under a fantastic private consultant who I pay for regular appointments with. This is all due to the NHS waiting list times for an appointment and the pain has a debilatating effect on my life. I also as well currently fund herbal and non prescribed treatments daily and weekly and can highly recommend Beyou Products https://beyouonline.co.uk/ their patches help with some of the pain management and lying in a bath with one of the bath bombs can sometimes be bliss!
I am now in induced menopause receiving injections every month as well as hormone replacement therapy. Bowel movements are irrational, I constantly live in pain as if someone is stabbing my side and shooting pains up my rectum. I have changed my diet, no spicy food, caffeine, excess sugar, dairy or gluten and reducing alcohol intake as I find this can make symptoms flare up causing pain and excessive bloating. Mentally this is draining and having to remain positive each day becomes difficult. Not only do I have physical pain where I can’t sleep and back pain where I can’t even sit or lie comfortably, my legs have aching pain and sometimes the pain in my front stops you in your tracks and tears plenty of tears. Its heart breaking to not even be able to do small daily activities or things you love because of the pain , constant barriers is soul destroying, and then question your appearance for the excess bloating and bleeding and the constant rollercoaster your body is on.
My consultant has allowed for the final 3 months of induced menopause then after this there is no treatment other then surgery to try and eliminate some of this pain and extract the endometriosis from spreading and becoming more damaging. Currently the endo has spread from my uterus to my right ovary impacting my chances of fertility and surgery needs to take place to remove the existing cysts and assess if a stoma may be needed due to the endo on the bowel.
So far, I have waited over a year for NHS consultant who then cancelled my surgery 3 times, due to living in constant pain I have had to resort to going private and have currently waited 2.5 years. This time last year I was told a years wait which I have powered on through to be told with no more injections and at least another year to wait for surgery on the NHS, I have resorted to private treatment. Currently I self fund for my private appointments with no help as it is not seen as a debilitating condition but I can tell you it is! If I had known this a year ago maybe things would have been different and we would have been able to put our dreams and plans on hold to accommodate for this, but a private operation is now out of the window as we have put our money into buying our first home together.
Some people see this disease as a BAD PERIOD (menstrual cycle), but it’s far from that, right now the only BAD PERIOD is this moment in time and lack of NHS support and treatment to alleviate the immense pain which is suffered daily.
Thank you in advance for reading about my journey to this point in my life and if anything I hope it educates and improves your understanding of this horrible condition.
Thank you in advance if you can donate anything it would be appreciated and if you are not in a position to donate I totally understand but please do share my story the more people who become aware of this condition the better people will start to understand.
I will post all receipts of surgery payment and if anything remains donations to charity!
Fran
xxx
Firstly I would like to say thank you for taking the time to read my story! For those of you that know me, you will know that I did not take the decision to fundraise for surgery lightly. You will know how passionate I can be about educating and driving positives and change for not only myself but others. Endometriosis UK. https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/ offers advice and support for others with this condition.
There’s no better way then painting a true picture of my life so there’s no holding back just truth and heartfelt honesty………
I have always continually put others first but for once in my life I am having to put myself first. My journey with Endometriosis started from as young as 12; although it was not diagnosed symptoms began! Periods began so heavy that you can’t leave the toilet, fainting, dioherrea, sickness, tiredness, mood changes, irrational behaviour, low concentration, headaches. Started on the pill and then swapped to another and another and you get the picture until you find one that suits after 7 attempts later.
At 17 I had my first gynaecology appointment where they told me all my symptoms are made up and there is nothing wrong! This hurt because it seemed nobody believed and now even the doctors thought I was making it up. Slightly off topic but also GET YOUR SMEAR! My cells came back abnormal and after ablation (laser therapy) treatment the cells were removed. I am 26 now with another of many Smear results come back with changes in cells with a 10 week wait for treatment. At 18 I had my first Mirena coil fitted to help fight symptoms and laraposcopy surgery to remove endometriosis.
Changed to another coil after 3 years, earlier then the lifespan as symptoms came back. I have had to have B12 injections due to extreme mindfog, fatigue, tiredness and after dietary consumption would not allow for this vitamin to be absorbed. Folic acid tablets as my system is low on this too.
So Eat, Sleep, Pain, Surgery, Repeat is where we are now. I have had surgery to remove the endometriosis which has grown back and then 2 more surgeries later I am needing another.
After an up and down journey on the NHS and I was on the waiting list in which they cancelled 3 surgical appoints. Due to the consent pain I have made the decision to receive partial private treatment where I am under a fantastic private consultant who I pay for regular appointments with. This is all due to the NHS waiting list times for an appointment and the pain has a debilatating effect on my life. I also as well currently fund herbal and non prescribed treatments daily and weekly and can highly recommend Beyou Products https://beyouonline.co.uk/ their patches help with some of the pain management and lying in a bath with one of the bath bombs can sometimes be bliss!
I am now in induced menopause receiving injections every month as well as hormone replacement therapy. Bowel movements are irrational, I constantly live in pain as if someone is stabbing my side and shooting pains up my rectum. I have changed my diet, no spicy food, caffeine, excess sugar, dairy or gluten and reducing alcohol intake as I find this can make symptoms flare up causing pain and excessive bloating. Mentally this is draining and having to remain positive each day becomes difficult. Not only do I have physical pain where I can’t sleep and back pain where I can’t even sit or lie comfortably, my legs have aching pain and sometimes the pain in my front stops you in your tracks and tears plenty of tears. Its heart breaking to not even be able to do small daily activities or things you love because of the pain , constant barriers is soul destroying, and then question your appearance for the excess bloating and bleeding and the constant rollercoaster your body is on.
My consultant has allowed for the final 3 months of induced menopause then after this there is no treatment other then surgery to try and eliminate some of this pain and extract the endometriosis from spreading and becoming more damaging. Currently the endo has spread from my uterus to my right ovary impacting my chances of fertility and surgery needs to take place to remove the existing cysts and assess if a stoma may be needed due to the endo on the bowel.
So far, I have waited over a year for NHS consultant who then cancelled my surgery 3 times, due to living in constant pain I have had to resort to going private and have currently waited 2.5 years. This time last year I was told a years wait which I have powered on through to be told with no more injections and at least another year to wait for surgery on the NHS, I have resorted to private treatment. Currently I self fund for my private appointments with no help as it is not seen as a debilitating condition but I can tell you it is! If I had known this a year ago maybe things would have been different and we would have been able to put our dreams and plans on hold to accommodate for this, but a private operation is now out of the window as we have put our money into buying our first home together.
Some people see this disease as a BAD PERIOD (menstrual cycle), but it’s far from that, right now the only BAD PERIOD is this moment in time and lack of NHS support and treatment to alleviate the immense pain which is suffered daily.
Thank you in advance for reading about my journey to this point in my life and if anything I hope it educates and improves your understanding of this horrible condition.
Thank you in advance if you can donate anything it would be appreciated and if you are not in a position to donate I totally understand but please do share my story the more people who become aware of this condition the better people will start to understand.
I will post all receipts of surgery payment and if anything remains donations to charity!
Fran
xxx