Hi, my name is Caitlin and I’m 22 years old. My story began when I was just 11, when I first started experiencing extremely painful and heavy periods. I was told it was normal and wasn’t offered any treatment or support. Throughout my teenage years, I continued to suffer in silence, taking time off school regularly because of the unbearable pain. Deep down, I knew what I was experiencing wasn’t normal.

When I turned 18 and started working, I hoped things would get better, but each month the pain returned and forced me to take time off. Eventually, I had to leave my job because I couldn’t keep up with the pain and stress that came with it.

On October 5th, 2023, I woke up in severe pain on the right side of my pelvis. I wasn’t on my period, and I had no idea what was happening. My family called a doctor to the house, and he prescribed antibiotics, suggesting I might have an infection. But the pain only got worse.

I was taken to A&E, barely able to speak from the intensity of what felt like a hot iron pressing against my ovary, wrapped with thorns. Doctors thought it might be a burst appendix, but all my tests came back clear. I was crying and screaming for help and was told there was nothing they could do. I was sent home still in agony.

Over the next week, the pain continued. My GP prescribed painkillers and birth control, but neither helped. In fact, birth control made my mental health worse. Pain medication barely touched the pain. Since then, the pain has spread to my left side too. I am now in constant pain every day and every moment, with no relief.

I was told I likely had endometriosis and would need an MRI to confirm it. I couldn’t wait months on a public list, so I paid privately for one. The MRI confirmed what I feared: clear signs of endometriosis. My left ovary is stuck to the back wall of my uterus, my right ovary has cysts, and there are fluid-filled lesions on my bowel. Finding this on an MRI was proof that my pain is real.

In Ireland, the waiting lists to see a gynaecologist or get surgery are incredibly long. I need excision surgery from an endometriosis specialist to remove the tissue and give me the chance to live without this pain. That’s why I’m creating this fundraiser to help me afford surgery abroad and the medical care I’ll need after it.

Every day is a struggle. I wake up and use a walking stick just to get to the bathroom. I’m constantly fatigued from being up all night in pain. I rely on hot water bottles and painkillers to get through flare-ups. I spend most days stuck in bed. When I do leave the house, I take the maximum dose of pain relief just to manage.

This condition has taken away my ability to enjoy life in my twenties. I can’t work, see family/friends, or even cook or clean. I used to love going for walks, they brought me peace and helped my mental health. That part of my life is gone.

I’ve included a photo of me before the pain became constant. I would give anything to be pain free like I was in that photograph again, even for a day.

If you’re able to support my fundraiser in any way, whether by donating or sharing my story, I would be forever grateful. This surgery is my chance to take my life back, the life that endometriosis has slowly taken from me.

Thank you for reading,

Caitlin

What is endometriosis? :

Endometriosis is an often-painful condition in which tissue that is similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It often affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis. Rarely, endometriosis growths may be found beyond the area where pelvic organs are located.