Cumbria Support Group

Although I was diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 33, I believe I had the disease long before it was confirmed..

My first period was so painful that I remember my mother taking me to the doctors to try and find out what was wrong.

The doctor suggested putting me on the pill.

However, as my mother thought I was too young to go on the pill at the age of 13, I waited until I was 18 and then started taking it as a form of medication to relieve the painful symptoms, which it did.

When I came off the pill around 10 years later, the symptoms of what I now know as endometriois started to appear.

They progressively worsened over the next five years.

I was formally diagnosed with having Stage 4 deep infiltrating endometriosis in Paris in 2009 after having a laparoscopy.

As part of my treatment, I was injected with Decapeptyl SR (triptorelin) which lasted for three months. However, as I reacted very badly to it, I decided not to go ahead with the second injection.

I was also prescribed hormones. However, after taking a few and really not feeling myself, I decided not to take any more.

As I didn’t want to go on the pill again, I decided to just manage the pain by taking prescribed anti-inflammatory tablets and spending a lot of time suffering in bed often after a period of writhing on the floor in pain...

In 2015, when my gynaecologist told me that I would need a resection of the deep lesions I had, probably a bowel resection and very likely a hysterectomy, I was in shock...

After thinking it over for 6 months, I decided against surgery and started researching the condition for myself and seeking alternative ways to managing the pain.

This led me down a path of discovering how dietary and lifestyle changes can help reduce inflammation in the body.

Over the next three years, I found a number of complementary treatments which enabled me to live a life without experiencing pain every day.

I was also diagnosed with Stage 1 adenomyosis in March 2020.

Although, I still take prescribed anti-inflammatory tablets every month (flurbiprofen) and experience vomiting, I’m no longer obsessed with pain management on a daily basis.

I'm reconsidering surgery.

Endometriosis UK Cumbria Support Group

I moved from Paris to Cumbria in 2019.

Realising that there was no support group in the region, I contacted Endometriosis UK at the end of July to ask about the possibility of setting up a support group in the region.

In October 2019, the Endometriosis UK Cumbria Support Group was officially set up.

We held our first meeting in December 2019 in Windermere.

Just a few months down the line, we are beginning to see the makings of a strong, supportive group which is much-needed in the community. This is very encouraging.

The creation of other groups in Cumbria is currently underway in collaboration with women's centres in Barrow, Whitehaven and Carlisle.

You are welcome to attend our meetings if you would like to:

• share your story in a safe and confidential environment;
• receive support with any issues you are experiencing;
• get information to help you deal with any challenges you may face living with the condition;
• increase your awareness of the disease;
• provide practical support for someone who has the disease (men are welcome).

RSVP by email and on Facebook.

I look forward to meeting you soon!