Helen's story

After 14 years with no break on the contraceptive pill, I decided it was probably time to give my body a rest from it. During the 14 years on the pill, I must admit I had been fine with no pain or real inclination that I had any issues.

However, the reason for going on the pill at the age of 15 was due to me blacking out every month when I started to menstruate. There were no investigations at that point and the doctor suggested I go onto the pill, which I did. This worked indeed to stop these attacks. Looking back now it would seem that I probably had endo then without knowing it.

"The consultant said

my endo was hideous"

14 years on (last year) I stopped taking the Pill. Over the course of six months, my periods were becoming excruciatingly painful and every month it was getting worse. Seven months after stopping the Pill, I ended up in A&E with suspected appendicitis - or so I thought. After a scan at the hospital, they confirmed that I had endometriomas (blood filled cysts) on my ovaries. I would need to have a laparoscopy to confirm exactly what was going on.

I went home feeling completely lost. What was endometriosis? I had heard of it only once before through my friend’s sister, and I felt incredibly alone. After my laparoscopy, it was confirmed that I had stage four endo. The endometriomas and the endo in my pelvis had been removed. The consultant said my endometriosis was hideous and he was unsure of how to proceed. This left me feeling incredibly vulnerable and unsure of what to do next.

"I felt incredibly

vulnerable and unsure"

Thanks to looking on the internet I found Endometriosis UK, and joined as a member. I then found a support group which was instrumental in me finding a new consultant and some friends who really understood.

I have now had two further operations this year with my new consultant, which includes a recent bowel re-section to remove a nodule from my bowel.

"My support group

helped me find

a consultant

who understood"

Although my surgery has been intense, I feel that I am now with a consultant who listens and is very positive in helping women get a better quality of life. Before my second operation, every day was a challenge and my quality of life had become non–existent. Sleeping was impossible due to the pain during the night.

My advice would be to always ask for second opinion, and join a support group locally to you. There is no better way of helping than building relationships and friendships with people who genuinely understand and have been through it. Although I am still recovering from my last operation, and it is still early days, I feel much more positive about the future now and am extremely grateful to the endometriosis charity and the friends I have made through the support group. Without these, I wouldn't have got through the last year.