I’m asking for help again. This time, it’s after life-changing endometriosis surgery that finally made me pain-free - but left me with a financial burden I can’t manage alone.

Hi, I’m Maria, I’m 29, a musician based in Salzburg - and I have endometriosis.

A bit of backstory

Endometriosis is a chronic, incurable, and extremely painful disease. I’ve been living with it since my very first period at 12.

For almost 18 years, I’ve dealt with pain that ranged from barely manageable to so severe it sent me to the ER. The pain, bloating, fatigue - and everything that comes with it - have cost me countless opportunities, cancelled projects, and lost income. As a musician, that means missed concerts, rehearsals, and connections I worked hard to build.

In 2023, I was finally diagnosed. I had surgery - but instead of helping, it made everything significantly worse.

Over the years, I’ve tried everything: hormonal treatments, multiple painkillers (including strong opioids), acupuncture, physiotherapy, psychosomatic therapy, supplements, restrictive diets… nothing worked.

Last year, I even started a fundraiser to afford a nerve block procedure. It felt like my last hope - but it didn’t help at all. That was devastating. And to be honest, I also felt ashamed that so many people supported me financially, and it led to nothing.

Finally - hope

At a certain point, I was completely exhausted - physically, mentally, and emotionally - and I genuinely felt like I was running out of options. What made the difference was the people around me. My incredible friends refused to let me give up. They pushed me, supported me, and made sure I kept searching for help when I didn’t have the strength to anymore.

Because of that, I found a doctor who truly listened - and who had the expertise to treat my condition properly.

Two months ago, I underwent endometriosis excision surgery and a hysterectomy. And it changed my life. For the first time in years, I am pain-free. I didn’t even realize how much pain I was constantly in - until I experienced what “zero pain” actually feels like. Waking up without pain still feels unreal.

Why I’m asking for help

You might wonder - why private treatment in Austria? Because while there are endometriosis centres, waiting times for surgery can stretch up to 2 years - regardless of how severe the pain is. The few highly specialized surgeons work privately.

Why go private if I couldn’t afford it? Because I couldn’t wait anymore. And after a previous negative surgical experience, I couldn’t risk going through that again. So I made the decision to go ahead with the surgery - and deal with the financial consequences afterward.

What the funds will go toward

This fundraiser is to help cover the cost of the surgery, which I have already undergone. I have received the official invoice and will share documentation for full transparency.

I also want to be completely open: I still have some funds left over from my previous fundraiser (including private donations). These will go toward my post-surgery recovery, including physiotherapy, medication, and follow-up care.

Where I stand now

Right now, I am doing well - and I’m incredibly grateful for that.

But endometriosis is unpredictable. Even after excision surgery, there’s a 30-40% chance that lesions can return. No one can say when, how severely, or what comes next. The disease is still heavily under-researched.

For now, my focus is recovery and rebuilding my life.

Thank you

I truly hope this is the beginning of a more stable, healthier chapter of my life.

If you’re not in a position to donate, sharing this fundraiser would already mean a lot.

Thank you for reading - and for being here.

Maria