Claudette Lawrence's story

I started my periods at 14 and remember they were really heavy and the pain was terrible. I used to be in bed for two days a month and my mum would write notes to my teacher because I kept missing school. I was prescribed Ponstan. This went on for years. The doctors said I had psychological problems, and at age 20 I was told I had ME. Around this time I started having a serious relationship and experienced terrible pain during intercourse. I knew this was not normal so I kept going back to the doctor. They told me I had IBS and constipation.

Not long after this, a work colleague asked me why I was off work every month, I told her my symptoms and she said I sounded like I had endometriosis, she said she had it and told me to see a gynaecologist. I got a private referral. I was also sent to a clinic as I was told I may have a sexual transmitted disease or pelvic inflammatory disease. I knew this was not the case but went to the clinic. The examinations and tests were really degrading. In 1994 I finally had a laparoscopy and was found to have a large area of endometriosis on my uterosacral ligaments. I was given a D&C as I was getting very heavy bleeding. They burnt the endometriosis away, put me on the pill and said I would be ok and needed no further treatment.

"I thought

I wouldn't cope,

but I never gave up"

At this time I knew very little about the condition so did what they said. Unfortunately the pill did not agree with me. I had too many side effects so I stopped taking it. I did not realise that continuing to have periods would bring the disease back. In 1995 things got really bad again and my GP put me on Danazol. I was due to get married and was worried it would deepen my voice as I heard about the side effects. A week before my wedding I found out I was pregnant but was still bleeding. A week after my wedding I was rushed to hospital and had a miscarriage. The problems continued and it put a strain on my marriage. In 1997 I joined Endometriosis UK and formed a support group with another sufferer. Through her I found a brilliant gynaecologist in the Kent area. I went to see him and he agreed to do a laparoscopy.

Unfortunately I was dismissed from my job due to the amount of time I had off sick. I experienced bullying from work colleagues because they thought I was putting my pain on.

At this time the pain was unbearable. I was getting bowel spasms and a pain in my back passage like I had been stabbed. I would crawl round the floor crying and vomiting, getting a mixture of diarrhoea and constipation. I was unable to have a physical relationship. My poor husband had to take a second job to make ends meet and then he lost his job because he took time off to care for me. I had my next laparoscopy, and extensive endometriosis was found on my pelvic floor near my bowel and I had an adhesion that was sticking my appendix down.

Laser treatment was performed and I had immediate relief. I was put on Provera for six months. It took several laparoscopies and the Provera to get things stable. I have had five laparoscopies all together.

In 1999 I fell pregnant again but lost the baby and my marriage broke up. I found strength by doing campaign work and running the support group. I went to parliament and lobbied my MP and helped form the endometriosis parliamentary group. Through Endometriosis UK I found strength and hope.

I am now in a new relationship and take the combined pill called Yasmin. This is the only pill that has suited me. I have been taking this for six years and my periods have now stopped. Since taking this I have not had any surgery and have six monthly check ups. I am now waiting to volunteer on the helpline for Endometriosis UK again.

I never thought I would cope, but I didn’t ever give up.

Claudette x

What is a D&C?

A D&C, or dilatation and curettage, is a procedure in which the opening of your cervix is stretched just enough so a surgical tool can be put into your uterus. The tool is used to scrape away the lining of your uterus. The removed lining is checked in a lab for abnormal tissue. A D&C is done under anesthesia (while you're "asleep").

If you're having heavy bleeding, a D&C may be done both to find out the problem and to treat the bleeding. The D&C itself often makes heavy bleeding stop. Your doctor will decide if this procedure is necessary.