Natalie Mcgreevy

Natalie's fundraiser for Endometriosis UK

Fundraising for Endometriosis UK
£165
raised of £250 target
Event: Walk for Endo 2024, from 1 July 2024 to 31 July 2024
Our recent report shows that it unfortunately takes an average of over 8 years to get diagnosed with endometriosis in the UK, and that’s far too long! Walk over 8,000 steps this July to support those on their endometriosis journey.

Story

In January 2024, I was diagnosed with stage 3 endometriosis, after 13 years of being misdiagnosed by UHCW with 'IBS' at 17 years old. But my story doesn't end or start there.

In 2016, I was referred to gynecology with multiple symptoms of the condition, as well as a family history of it noted on my file. A laparoscopy (the standard diagnostic approach) was recommended and never actioned. Back then, I never knew how serious this was. But 5 years later, I would learn whilst living in Australia the disease had spread to ovaries, and made me subfertile at 28 years old.

After undergoing unsuccessful fertility rounds at a cost of around 5k, I focused on surgery. It was a relief, at minimum from the ongoing pain I'd experienced on/off each month. But after a 13 month wait, the surgery only made my life worse. My atertry was cut during my laproscopy and I bled heavily into my pelvis, developing a grade 3 hematoma. UHCW then discharged me with missing paperwork, medication, and no-follow up appointment. I wasn't even told when I could drive again, have sex, or work. The most I got was a phone-call, 2 months later where I was told to go speak to my GP about any symptoms I had.

I've spent 5 months of my life walking on a 'health' tight rope, developing infections, nerve damage and living everyday in pain, (as opposed to every other week), where sometimes even walking, using the toilet or basic actions like sitting are impossible. Even despite having a moderate form of the disease, I had to use Facebook groups to explore my ongoing care and referral pathways, to ensure the next hospital who picked up my care eventually, would have a specialism in more advanced forms of the condition that can impact multiple organs beyond the reproductive system. Yet the more women I speak too, the less my story seems like unfortunate case. For whatever reason, we continue to go undiagnosed and without treatment for years, only to have to fight again for care once we receive a diagnosis.

I'll likely not be able to walk 8,000 steps a day from July (my physio will tell me off), but I've charged up my dusty garmin and I'm going to try. I know times are tough, but if anyone can donate even a small amount to help improve the research and care for a disease that impacts 1/10 of us, it may even help someone else not have the experience I did!

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About the campaign

Our recent report shows that it unfortunately takes an average of over 8 years to get diagnosed with endometriosis in the UK, and that’s far too long! Walk over 8,000 steps this July to support those on their endometriosis journey.

About the charity

Endometriosis UK

Verified by JustGiving

RCN 1035810
Over 1.5 million in the UK have endometriosis and the impact of the disease is for some devastating, yet diagnosis takes on average 8 years. With your donations we are turning this around, raising awareness, providing support and information, supporting research, and campaigning for change.

Donation summary

Total raised
£165.00
+ £36.25 Gift Aid
Online donations
£165.00
Offline donations
£0.00

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