Hi! I'm Clover and I'm raising funds to afford private treatment for endometriosis.

You may know me as the red panda who hangs out in the UK furry scene but unfortunately, under the silly animal costume, I've been having health issues for the past few years. I've been struggling with suspected endometriosis for the past six years and my latest flareup has caused me to have to leave my manual labour job. This was never something I wanted to do, but I felt it was necessary after passing out at work due to the strain on my body.

I have tried to access care through the NHS multiple times over the past six years. I have received a slew of tests, including a pelvic ultrasound, a pelvic exam, various STI tests and been prescribed hormonal birth control. None have identified or treated my problem. I have been told my current wait for endometriosis treatment will take up to three years. I was only six months into waiting when this current flareup started. Existing with this level of pain is not sustainable for daily or professional life, especially not for another three years. This is why I'm going down the route of private healthcare.

Though it varies in severity, there is currently not a day where I go without pain. This can range from ripping sensations in my stomach to severe pain that resembles cramps that cause me to vomit/faint. My pain is felt most in my pelvic and thigh joints, which means I am now reliant on a cane on my worst days. I have tried to maintain a sense of normalcy but now once-easy tasks like getting up and down stairs is extremely painful. This condition has dramatically decreased my quality of life. The constant pain makes it difficult to leave the house, especially alone.

I currently work freelance as a fiction editor and receive disability payments, but these two streams of income combined are still not enough to afford private treatment. Working manual labour as I have been for the past year is no longer sustainable due to my declining health.

All funds raised would go toward covering consultation fees and a laparoscopic surgery to treat the endometriosis. I have already paid the initial £200 consultation fee out of my own pocket and I am now relying on limited savings for daily living expenses.