This January, I'm taking part in the Winter Walk for Endo to ensure that everyone with endometriosis gets on the right pathway to care.

I was diagnosed in 2023 with Endo and Adenomyosis, after living in agony for a few years.

I was lucky to be diagnosed fairly quickly and hadn't suffered my whole adult life, like many other women.

Some days were horrific, and it felt like I was in labour - but I felt lame, weak for being in so much pain - yet I had to keep getting up and going to work every day, keep being a mum and doing all the things that involved, going to work as a shift engineer.

My children were supportive, and luckily my (male) boss was understanding due to one of his family members suffering something similar. My engineering shift partners were supportive, and put up with me complaining and constantly wearing heat packs to reduce the pain.

A visit to A&E gave me mefenamic acid - feels like a joke now to say that for the level of pain I was in.

One GP eventually gave me Tramadol, which numbed the pain, but left me in such a spaced out state that I couldn't take them. This (male) GP eventually referred me to a (male) consultant who dismissed me as having a hip injury and said I needed to see a Chiropractor instead.

The female chiropractor said the signs are obvious for Endo, but did a thorough examination and ruled out any other issues.

My male GP referred me for an MRI which picked up a significant amount of endo damage, specifically on one ovary and fallopian tube, along with other pockets of endo and adenomyosis.

I was lucky to get a cancellation appointment with the same consultant and told him how upset he had left me. I actually got a verbal apology, which surprised me.

He booked me in for surgery a few weeks later, and he removed my left ovary and left fallopian tube due to the significant damage, and also removed other pockets of endo around.

Things have been great since then - I feel like it was the start of getting my life back.

My daughter has suffered in agony 7 years of and been dismissed by GPs on many occasions - but last week she was finally referred to a gynae consultant.

On average it takes 8 years 10 months from the first GP visit to get a diagnosis ☹

So this walk is for her ❤️

I would be very grateful if you were able to support the charity in any way.

Endometriosis is a chronic pain condition that affects 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth. Those suffering with condition are often faced with making challenging and difficult decisions during diagnosis, treatment and management of endometriosis.

Endometriosis UK exists to offer support and reliable information as well as fight and campaign for change and better treatment options.