Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am taking part in my own #Walkforendo Summer challenge! I missed last years #walkforendo as I had undergone major thoracic surgery. 

It takes an average of 8 years to get a diagnosis of endometriosis in the UK - that's too long! I'm walking 8k in solidarity with those on the journey to diagnosis and beyond.

The latest facts and figures about endometriosis.

• 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK suffer from endometriosis.¹
• 10% of women world wide have endometriosis - that’s 176 million worldwide.¹
• The prevalence of endometriosis in women with infertility be as high as to 30–50%.²
• Endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK.³
• Endometriosis affects 1.5 million women, a similar number of women affected by diabetes.⁴
• On average it takes 8 years from onset of symptoms to get a diagnosis.⁵
• Endometriosis costs the UK economy £8.2bn a year in treatment, loss of work and healthcare costs.⁶
• The cause of endometriosis is unknown and there is no definite cure.

Throughout May & June, I will walk/jog in solidarity for the 1.5 million + with endometriosis, who wait an average of 8 years to be diagnosed.

It took me a lot longer to get diagnosis because I thought the pain, fainting and breathlessness was “normal” or muscle pain in my shoulder and chest. It took severe abdominal pain and me collapsing to be taken into A&E for them to find a fully collapsed lung. I had lung surgery to prevent further collapses and had a biopsy of my diaphragm which by everyone’s surprise diagnosed endometriosis. If I hadn’t had the lung collapse I don’t think I would have found the stage 4 pelvic endometriosis.

I have had 6 surgeries since 2018 and I will keep fighting and advocating for the people affected by endometriosis.   

Please support me in my quest to help find better ways to diagnose endometriosis. Less intrusive and quicker routes to diagnosis and the aim to gain more understanding of thoracic and diaphragmatic endometriosis to support new care pathways.

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