Elaine

Hi!

I'm Elaine, I’m based in Windermere and I’m a Health and Wellbeing Coach.

At the age of 33 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 (severe) deep infiltrating endometriosis as well as Type 1 adenomyosis. However, I believe signs of the disease had started to appear when I was 13 years old as I had painful and heavy periods and was advised to go on the pill to alleviate these symptoms.

Things only got worse over the years and I ended up having major surgery in 2022 at the age of 46. Thankfully, I’ve been living pain and sickness free ever since.

I created the Endometriosis UK Cumbria Support Group in December 2019 and since then, I’ve been on a mission to raise awareness of the disease in Cumbria as well as the profile of the group so that no one is left to suffer in silence on their own the way I did for many years. Current members are based in Barrow, Bassenthwaite, Carlisle, Coniston, Crosthwaite, Kendal, Kirby Lonsdale, Orton, Penrith and Windermere.

If you’re looking for a place where you can express yourself freely amongst a friendly group of peers and in a relaxed environment, we would love to have you join us.

I look forward to meeting you soon!

Elaine

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2022

2021

Gemma

Hi I'm Gemma :)

I joined the group a couple of years ago when I was looking for support and found a group of wonderful friends.  I have struggled with Endometriosis since I was 13, and over the years have had 6 operations to remove it.  My last operation in December last year was a full hysterectomy and since then I have been relatively pain free!  As this support group gave me so much I wanted to give back and so I am now a co leader :)

Im looking forward to meeting more people who would like to be part of the group.

jacqui

I was diagnosed with endometriosis in my mid twenties following a laparoscopy. I suffered with heavy, sometines very heavy periods along with chronic pelvic pain. Like many, I visited my GP a number of times prior to this diagnosis, only to be told it was normal to have heavy periods and pain. I tried numerous treatments, including the pill and coil, and these only worked for a period of time and then the pain returned. Endometriosis has had a significant negative impact on my life, mentally, emotionally and physically. My mental health was very poor at one stage. I was also unable to have my own children, which has been difficult to come to terms with. 

I am now reaching age 50 and in the last couple of years I had my remaining ovary removed and I am in surgical menopause. I take HRT and this seems to work well for me. I am now relatively pain free too. 

I was encouraged to become a volunteer for Endometriosis Uk and I have now held my first support group in Carlisle. I look forward to being able to allow others to have the safe space to be able to share their story and to learn from each other with how to deal with Endometriosis and the related symtoms. 

Jess

Vicki

I was diagnosed with endometriosis in November 2024 having struggled with debilitating symptoms since my early teens. Like many, I was told for years that my scan results were normal and that my symptoms were a "normal" part of having periods. It has recently been confirmed that I have adenomyosis too. 

Although I have struggled for years I feel as though I am still only beginning my medical journey and coming to terms with such heavy diagnoses. 

I volunteer as a co-leader of the Carlisle Support Group to help the inspirational people who attend the groups. The group offers a safe space where you do not have to over explain or justify yourself. There's something really special about being in a room full of people who understand your pain without you having to tell them.