Hi there. My name is Claire and I have Endometriosis.

Over the last three years, my condition has deteriorated to the point that I can’t work. I had to leave my job, my health insurance wouldn’t cover me and now I have to rely on my wonderful family for financial support. We are now trying to fundraise so I can have surgery privately with an Endometriosis specialist.

What is Endometriosis ?

My Story (in a nutshell).

Since I was a teenager, I’ve struggled with my periods. But the summer I finished my Master’s degree I started experiencing excruciating pain each month. Bad enough to send me to accident and emergency multiple times. I went back and forth to doctors, tried lots of medication, went for scans, and nothing ever really came of it. I was in pain for 7-14 days a month, every month.

In 2019, I went to a specialist, but I had a horrible experience and he dismissed me because I didn’t want to take any hormonal treatments. I’ve only just found out he actually saw signs of Endometriosis on my scans but failed to inform me. I could have started treatment FIVE years ago if he had given me my results.

This disease has taken a lot away from my family and me. I’ve lost the ability to work and earn money, to go out and make friends, to travel, to visit my parents when they’ve been ill, and more.

To make matters worse, the NHS waiting lists are YEARS long. I waited 18 months just to speak to an Endometriosis specialist and 2 months later he went off on sick-leave. No one knew when he’d be back, but that meant all of his patients had to be shared out to other doctors, thus increasing our waiting time further.

My only option is to have surgery. On the NHS, I’ve already been waiting 12 months and there is another 1.5 years to go. In the meantime, I’m expected to just ‘get on with it’.

Endometriosis and Surgery

My family and I have decided to work with a private Endometriosis specialist, who has already been amazing. But his services are not cheap. He has a 2-month waiting list for surgery (instead of 3 years on the NHS), but the cost of surgery will be between £10,000 and £15,000. After more than 10 years of fighting this disease, trying loads of medication, therapy, acupuncture, and Chinese medicine, this is the only remaining option.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Endometriosis and the surgery may not take away much of the pain. However, not having the surgery will cause the disease to grow and make matters worse - possibly even life-threatening.

*updated 27/03/25*

So, my family and I are turning to the public to ask for any support you can provide us with. None of us are in the financial position to simply hand over the £14k for the surgery, but any amount we can raise will be a big help and immensely appreciated.

The donation target is now set at £13,000 because that seems to be the minimum amount for a surgery with bowel involvement. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that it could be £15-20k or even more. Aside from money for the surgery, I will still need to pay for consultations, MRI/scans, medicine, transport and recovery support - whatever that may look like!

Update 13/1/2026

The surgery is going to cost £14,000 alone. We have already spent £1,000 on consultants' fees and more on medicine, mobility aids and so on.

If you are not in a position to donate, we completely understand. However, please consider sharing our fundraiser and helping us spread the word. The more people that hear about this devastating disease and what it’s doing to women around the world, the better.

Lots of love,

Claire & family <3