So I began my periods when I was 11 years old. Unfortunately, my Mum passed away the same year so my Dad was left to deal with all the 'girly stuff'.
Although I am close to my Dad I was always embarrassed to talk about periods and had nobody else to confide in when I was in pain and didn't know any different so I assumed it was normal.
Problems were noticed when I stayed at a friends house for a sleepover, I remember waking up burning hot thinking I was going to be sick, I got up and tried to make my way to the bathroom, after that I remember nothing.....
I woke up on the bathroom floor covered in blood with my friends mum attempting to cool me down and clean me up.
Once showered I was put back to bed with some pain relief and tea.
The next day when my Dad collected me he talked with my friends mum in another room and couple of days later I found myself at the Doctors.
The Doctors asked me what happened and after I told him all he said was 'if it happens again bring her back'.
For the next few years I was backwards and forwards to the doctors and eventually put on the pill at 15 following yet another event of flooding. Although the pill helped regulate it did nothing for the pain so I also tried other methods including HRT meds.
As I got older the symptoms got worse so I would wake in the night crying in pain or black out. Eventually I told my Doctor I would not leave his office until he referred me to a specialist. I had to wait months and have continuous tests before I finally got to see my gynaecologist!
By this time I was 28 years old.
I had my first laparoscopy and hysteroscopy within 6 months and was finally given the news it wasn't just bad period I have endometriosis. This was such a huge relief to finally know everything I'd been through wasn't normal.
After my op I was lucky to get 6 months relief before the symptoms started again. It took me a long time to be referred again.
Two years later I was back again for another laparoscopy and the endo was removed again.
This time I wasn't discharged and told I would need to attend a follow up appointment 6 months later. Unfortunately my appointment is 4 months late and the symptoms are back along with iron and B12 anaemia. Not much I can do now other than wait........
So that's my history, I would love to hear some of yours! But my main advice is if you are suffering please don't just accept it even if you have to demand to be referred. There is not enough awareness about this or how much it can affect your life so don't suffer in silence!
