I'm running the Great North Run to raise vital funds for Endometriosis UK!

I'm going to have to repeat that as its actually not something I ever thought I would say...

I'm running the Great North Run to raise vital funds for Endometriosis UK!

So why....its a long why but please, please bear with me, it was hard to write, its not a story I often share with people.

I've suffered with endometriosis for over 20 years. My whole life has been affected by it in many big ways. Endometriosis is the name given to the condition where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body. It is a chronic and often debilitating condition, that causes pain, inflammation and scar tissue. It can lead to infertility, complex surgeries and there is no cure.

For me, I first collapsed with period pain when I was 14. I was first rushed into hospital in an ambulance in extreme pain when I was 19, my first invasive Surgery followed the next day. I spent the next 20 years in and out of pain. In and out of Drs and waiting rooms and tests. I had 6 surgeries in total. I had quite a few more ambulance rides. After each surgery I would go on with life, try to recover and get back to living. Eventually though the pain always came back. I spent days, weeks, months, trying to live a life, going to work, going out with friends, being active pretending not to be in pain, often failing.

In my late 30s the pain became a constant. And then the chest pain came and breathing issues. Every cycle I would find myself lying on the floor trying to breath. Endometriosis is not just a pelvic condition. It can spread to other areas of the body. Its called Extra Pelvic Endometriosis, or in my case Thoracic Endometriosis. It took me years...YEARS for someone to believe my chest symptoms were related to Endo. Despite having already had 4 surgeries and demonstrating it was cyclical I was told that it was rarer than hens teeth and there was no way.

It was only after a year of respiratory tests and one brilliant breathing physiotherapist who witnessed my symptoms first hand that I managed to get referred back to a Gynaecologist and, with what basically turned out to be luck, an endo specialist with an understanding of Extra Pelvic endometriosis.

At this point, after more consultations and tests and when I was staring down the barrel of my 5th operation I decided I needed some help and I reached out to Endometriosis UK. They put me in touch with my local Endo support group and I met a group of women who knew exactly what I was going through because they were all going through it too. The support I received/receive from the monthly Endo meetings is immeasurable. The friends, the understanding, the advice. It helped me more than expected and continues to help me today. So much so I became a co-leader at my local group as I wanted to give back to the charity that had helped me so much.

After my 5th Surgery, unfortunately, more deep endo was found and my chest continued to worsen. It was at this point my consultant and I decided it was time for more drastic action and in December 2023 I had a total Hysterectomy. It was a life changing decision, a hard and impactful decision, but ultimately a decision that changed the course of my life. I woke up in menopause, suddenly full of hot flushes and night sweats but ultimately, so far, pain free and without chest symptoms.

5 months after my operation, for the first time in a long time, I started to exercise, I took on a PT, I started to get back to being healthy. I had a sudden urge to do all these things id avoided because of being in pain.

And now....now I'm starting to run! Being pain free, being able to breath is allowing me to run, something that just wouldn't have been possible a couple of years ago. So, I'm going to keep running and what better way to celebrate that than to run for a cause, my cause, the charity that has helped and continues to help me so much. Ive never run a half marathon, I never thought I would say the words im running a half marathon, but here we are and im so excited to try!

1 in 10 women have endometriosis, 1 in 10! It takes an average of 8 years to get a diagnosis of endometriosis in the UK, that's just too long! And there is still no cure.

So please sponsor me whatever you can afford. Your donations will mean that Endometriosis UK can continue to support those affected by Endometriosis through national support groups, information provision and their helpline as well as continue to campaign for change, fairer treatment and eventually a cure - and it would mean a great, great deal to me.

Thank you so much

Gemma