Hello,

Thank you for checking out my fundraising page. I'm Naomi and my story is deeply personal with a great hint of urgency.

In 1979 I was adopted from India to the most southern part of Sweden. I emigrated to Scotland in January 2001, making it permanent a year later after falling in love with the country, and my husband Callum.

Ever since my first period when I was 12 years old I had monthly episodes when I was violently sick missing out on school, work and life. As I grew older the episodes grew worse but lessened somewhat with the support of various contraceptives. For decades I was told by medical practitioners and family members that the pain was a normal part of being a woman. I have also visited A&E on a few occasions as the pain get so intense. I was told by health professionals to take painkillers three times a day, paracetamol and ibuprofen. After having been bleeding for several months a friend, jon medical professional, alerted me that it might be a side effect and it stopped as soon as I stopped taking them. I've since read about the damage consuming exessive painkillers can do. The painkillers don’t work most times.

I've done my own research over the years, altering my diet and lifestyle, but living in a part of the world which treat symptoms not the cause has made it hard to be heard. Two years ago we went on holiday to beautiful Sardinia and I was so sick the whole time that I was limited to our accommodation during most of the trip. My friend Marta, who we were visiting, suggested I ask to be tested for endometriosis, which I had never heard of before. Through further research I discovered that my symptoms were classic symptoms of endometriosis. With this realisation I contacted my GP to urge them to act. Every time I was gaslit into thinking I was making it up. I did not give up and I finally got an appointment with a gynaecologist, who put me through CT scans, MRI’s, nuclear scans and ultrasounds. She really listened and seemed genuinely concerned. A little over a year after my travels to Sardinia I was finally diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis, PCOS and adenomyosis, which could’ve been detected in my 20’s, even teens, would I have had access to my biological medical history and/or medical professions who listened.

It took a further 6 months to get a consultation with the Surgeons. I was told the wait for surgery would be just over a year as my condition is stage 4 and requiring a bowel surgical team to work at the same time as the gynaecological surgical team. Six months later I was told by my nurse that the wait is now at least 3 years, as the queue is ever growing. My condition is progressive so I cannot afford to wait three years, if I do it will allow this condition to spread even further causing irreparable harm or become something very sinister.

That was 6 months ago, and my mental health is declining rapidly. I’ve tried many medications which worked somewhat but wreaked havoc on my hormones and mental health. and a few months ago I found myself on a plethora of medication to cancel out the side effects of each other. After being left with suicidal thoughts, which really scared me, I contacted several mental health and suicide prevention helplines, none of who answered or got back to me, despite me raising my worries of suicidal thoughts. I decided to cut out all the medication, as the difference they made on my pain was minimal.

So back to the research. At the end of 2024 I sourced and attended a consultation with the renowned Ayurvedic institution Arya Vaidya Sala Kottakkal in India. I sent my medical papers ahead of the appointment. I was told that I also have a prolapsed vagina as well as a prolapsed urinary bladder, something I had never been told before. I was also told that the endometrial lesion on my intestine might grow cancerous and should be monitored closely with scans every 6 months. The Ayurvedic and all-natural medicine prescribed by them reduced my kidney pain massively and I now get spells where I’m completely pain free, though not often, it still gives me much needed relief from the severe pain. Coupled with a recommended diet, It also gave me pain free moments free from endometriosis pain, for the first time since I was 12. The medicine have now run out and it's hard to get as I need someone to bring it for me since they don't ship.

All my adult life I’ve had to let this pain rule my life. I haven’t been able to work full time, I’ve been housebound only being able to go on shorter very planned trips, often cut short, and then stay close to a toilet and with limited walking. I love the outdoors and with limited access it’s really been tearing away at my mental health. Having never been able to work full time, resulting in us never having been able to save or buy our own home. Not having been able to pursue my dream as a filmmaker has almost broken me and two years ago I had to stop working freelance as the pain got in the way. I often become very tired and can’t think clearly. When I was in my 30’s me and Callum decided to try stop trying not to conceive, but fast forward and it hasn’t happened. We now understand why.

During the many scans they also found a large kidney stone, which I’m also waiting on an operation for, and which will be included in this appeal. I was told by the surgeon that it shouldn’t bother me, when I told him about the debilitating pain which comes and goes.

My research into my conditions have revealed some shocking truths about the treatment available to me. The first devastating realisation is that I am on a forever waiting list and I now believe that when I finally get surgery it may be too late. The second truth is the surgery being offered, if it were to happen, is the most extreme open surgery that carries far more risk and will have more severe outcomes than the keyhole surgery on offer if I am able to raise funds to go my own way.

I feel like my whole life has been on hold since I was a teenager, I've lost friends and tge chance to pursue my dreams. I don’t know how much more of this I can take so I am asking you to please consider helping me. The average cost for advanced endometriosis and kidney stone removal in Europe is £8000/each, plus any travel and I would be so grateful for any support you can give. In return you will not only have my forever gratitude, you’ll also be able to access my personal video blog, which I will start as soon as funds have been raised.

I am far from the only woman who’s suffering, “Endometriosis affects around 10% of women and girls who are of reproductive age, which is about 190 million people globally. It's a common gynaecological condition which is often misdiagnosed and goes undiagnosed for years.“ I have been undiagnosed for over 34 years and have, still am, missed out on so much in life. Despite of this I am trying to stay hopeful that there is light on the other side for me.

If you too are living with endometriosis, please know that you are not alone💜 We are the 1 in 10 🎗️

Love, Naomi

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