Beverley Glynn's Story

I had my first period aged 12, and although bearable, they weren't what you'd call pain-free. I started taking the Pill at 17 and my periods became lighter and less painful. But in 1992, the problems started again. I had pain when passing urine one to two days before my period, lasting for one to two days after my period ended. Passing urine was a knife-like pain and also made the period pains much worse.

"We stopped eating out

in case something I ate

triggered off symptoms"

After visiting my GP on several occasions, trying different pain control with little or no relief, and giving endless urine samples, I asked to be referred to a gynaecologist. During this time it was increasingly frustrating; my GP hadn't offered to refer me, and my symptoms were becoming worse. I saw a consultant, and after one examination, I was provisionally diagnosed with endometriosis of the bladder, though I needed surgery to confirm this.

I underwent partial removal of my bladder, which took three months to recover from. I had been married for three years, and we were hundreds of miles away from family. We decided to start a family soon as there seemed to be no endometriosis affecting my reproductive organs. I had a normal delivery in 1995 and another in 1998.

During this time my periods remained 'normal.' Then in 2003 my periods became very painful. I no longer suffered with pain passing urine but I'd feel nausea bordering on vomiting. I couldn't stand the smell of cooking/food, and the pain was not controllable. It began to affect daily living, especially as my children were still young and I was working part-time.

I had a laparoscopy to determine the cause. The outcome was a mass on the right side engulfing my fallopian tube and ovary. I had requested sterilisation but only the left tube could be clipped. I needed further surgery to remove this mass. It required two months off work. I also started Zoladex implants and HRT, which I took for three years. We were still far away from family and had to rely on the good will of friends to help with the children.

Two weeks after my operation I was rushed back in with severe vomiting and pain. This was to become routine for me over the next three years as I was referred from one department to another. Each episode would last for several hours until I received pain relief and anti-sickness injections and I'd be admitted for up to four days.

I began to despair as did my family; my husband became increasingly over protective, which at times put a strain on our relationship. We stopped holidaying, eating out just in case something I ate triggered off symptoms. I'd developed severe bloating to the point I looked five months pregnant.

I turned to hypnotherapy in October 2005 in an attempt to relieve stress. After about four sessions it seemed to help, I went for 10 months without any severe episodes. During this time we moved near to family in Sheffield.

However, two weeks into my new job in July 2006 I was back in hospital. I was admitted under a colorectal surgeon who became my saviour for want of a better word. I had several investigations which pointed to adhesions. In April 2007 I had a hysterectomy.

It's been over a year now and I have had the best year, travelling abroad and eating whatever I fancied. Life has got back on track. I still have severe endometriosis in my bladder which will never go away but I hope I'll be able to carry on as I am for some time.

"Life has eventually

got back on track"

As a family, life is so much more relaxed - not having to worry about every little twinge. I have now gone through an enforced menopause. It's been a long haul over 13 years but I have come out the other side and now wish to give something back by becoming a Helpliner for Endometriosis UK. I look back and feel some of my surgery could have been avoided but it's important to remain positive and look forward.