This March I'll be taking part in Go Yellow! to raise awareness and much needed funds to support the 1in10 with endometriosis.

From starting my period at the age of 13 and experiencing very heavy and painful periods at 14 I knew I had to go and speak to a professional. After speaking to a doctor and being told it’s ‘ just period pains it’s completely normal ‘ to leaving the doctors with a combined pill. After the first visit it sure wasn’t my last, this wasn’t the only pill that I went to go on. Trying numerous pills and different brands I still couldn’t fight this pain or manage my irregular periods. Few years went on and painkillers were prescribed missed school days were becoming a regular things due to not being able to move out of bed, once pain relief weren’t working the doctors just kept trying different things and increasing the dosage. Still no relief.

So came 17, I was still back and forths with the doctors and they had explained I should try the coil, me being 17 and thought they were selling the dream to me I took the offer to get it placed. Worst experience that I passed out getting the coil fitted. The coil certainly did not work for me 3-4 periods a month and even heavier bleeding. So I continued with going back to the doctor to be then prescribed codeine which still didn’t work.

I was passed back and forth to gynaecologists that completely knocked my confidence made my mental health spiral down hill. 2024 was my year, I found hope. I had seen a gynaecologist in Newcastle which was happy to complete a laparoscopy to diagnose and if so remove any endometriosis that was there. The surgeons completed my surgery and endometriosis was found, which was removed and also removed round my bowel area too. I cried with happiness as I knew this wasn’t all in my head and I knew there was something up with my body.

5 months after my surgery I had a niggle of pain again and I thought nothing of it… untill I bled really really heavily and the pains were even worse then before. I went back to the doctors and they had explained it would have come back, increased pain relief and tried me on oral morphine as I had tried naproxen, codeine, tramadol, mefenamic acid you name it. I decided after I’ve had the surgery I will get my coil removed and see if that will make any difference.. it sure didn’t, my hormones wouldn’t balance at all I was crying everyday, I was off work because I couldn’t control my emotions. My mental health was the worst it could ever of been. I went back to the doctors which changed my antidepressants to fluoxetine 40mg which once again still couldn’t control my hormones and mood. I decided to get the coil back in just so I could control my hormone imbalance.

The pains I suffer with is pelvic pain, lower back pain, bum pain, thighs go completely numb, headaches nausea and bowel movement has completely changed. Which the doctors have prescribed me oral morphine for pains. The pains are so intense that it completely stops me getting on with my day to day life. I think everyday how long do I have to go on with the pains the thoughts just everything. The physical and mental pain I am in atleast 4 times a week is insane and I am only 24 years old. It took me 8 years to get diagnosed and after my first surgery in 2024 I was then referred for my second surgery in 2025 which I am still currently waiting for 2026.

My advice to anyone suffering from this, please don’t suffer in silence. You know your own body and when you know there is something up please speak out to a doctor if you feel like you aren’t getting anywhere ask for that second opinion it is 100% worth it as 9/10 you will be turned away from a health professional.