Hi all! I’m Hazel Mehmet and for a long time I have been struggling with adenomyosis and a whole heap of other menstrual issues that leave me bed bound far too often and affect my quality of life. I am consistently suffering 10/10 pain levels, not just when I’m bleeding, which affect my work, my university studies, my capacity for parenting and have me often isolated unable to see my friends. I can lose as much as 200mls of blood in a day and I am always just exhausted from fighting to cope with it all. My periods last up to three weeks and I rarely have more than two weeks between one stopping and the next one starting.

At age 24, I went to my GP and begged for a smear test. I’ve had irregular, heavy and painful periods for as long as I can remember. My smear test results came back and I was told I had high risk HPV, but that it should resolve itself within a few years (it didn’t). I was also told I had some abnormal cell changes and was referred to a gynae consultant. Since then, it has been a whirlwind. I have had several biopsies of my cervix and my uterus. I have had most of the neck of my cervix removed, to the point that I would not be able to safely carry a pregnancy if I chose to. I have had LLETZ procedures and lesions removed, only for them to come back. They have repeatedly found high grade severe precancerous changes to my squamous cells, despite those areas being removed. They also diagnosed cervical glandular intra-epithelial neoplasia, a precancerous abnormality of my glandular cells.

Despite all of this, my pleas for a hysterectomy referral were largely ignored. Consultants believed that my fertility and ability to have more children was more important than my quality of life. They used this belief to make decisions about my body for me. Last year, I finally had a consultant listen to me and agree to refer me for a hysterectomy. I was told this was an urgent referral and to expect surgery within 16 weeks. A year later (the beginning of January 2025), after so much chasing and so many delays, I found out my surgery had been pushed back for at least another 6 months and they couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t be pushed back again. I was devastated.

On 30.01.2025 I was admitted to hospital from A&E, due to significant blood loss and pain levels causing vomiting, where I was an inpatient for 5 days. Whilst my A&E experience was abhorrent, when I was transferred to their gynae unit things *seemed* to progress pretty quickly. I had a doctor who took the time to really listen to me. He was horrified that I have been living like this for so long and that my surgery has been so delayed. He admitted me as an inpatient and has said if my surgery doesn’t happen within the next couple of days, it will be happening within a few weeks at maximum as I am now an emergency case.

Unfortunately, this consultant documented nothing and all subsequent consultants at my bedside all told me that this wasn't the case and it would still be another 6 months at minimum before my surgery, with no guarantee that this wouldn't be delayed further.

This has left me now trying to fundraise for a private hysterectomy, as well as to support me during my recovery post surgery. As a student nurse and front line homelessness worker, my work is very hands on, with lots of heavy lifting, manual handling and patient handling. Because of this, it is likely to be around two months before I can be back working enough to cover my rent and bills.

I know this is a really tough time in life for so many people, both in terms of it being after Christmas and because of cost of living. However if you are in a position to donate, I am trying to raise £10,080 for hospital fees incurred from surgery, a (currently) unconfirmed amount for consultant and anaesthetist fees incurred from surgery, consultation fees (£310 each, with no confirmation of total needed) and £6,000 to cover my rent, bills and expenses for two months. For full transparency I have listed my expenses below, so that where the money is going to is clear.

I know this is an absolutely huge amount of money, but anything towards this will be so helpful. I am looking into getting interest fee finance, to enable me to spread this cost over 12 months, but this is as yet unconfirmed and I have a sketchy credit limit at best.

I will continually update the target amount as the information comes in and to reflect any private donations/things that are covered outside of Just Giving. This feels so untenable, but the support I've had from friends and from people on social media has been getting me through a really tough time. If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing the fundraiser. If not for donations, to raise awareness about the disparities in healthcare and what AFAB people face when trying to access reproductive healthcare. I am not special and there are far too many others just like me. Speaking up makes me feel less alone, and hopefully someone reading this feels less alone too.

So much love to you all,

Haz 💚.

10.02.2025 - £310 has been privately donated to cover my initial consultation, which is booked in for 26.02.2025!

Monthly expenses for post-surgery recovery:

Rent: £1400

Food: £240

Car insurance: £76.08

Car tax: £36.31

Petrol: £200

Credit card payments: £300

Water: £60

Cats healthcare: £30

RCN membership: £10.50

Phone bills: £23.91

Cleaner: £120

Kids school lunches: £80

Medical costs for one of my children: £360

Internet: £10

Netflix: £10.99

Monthly expenses: £2,957.79.

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