I have been suffering with an incurable disease called Endometriosis, I was diagnosed with it in may 2002 after a minor exploratory operation called a laparoscopy. I had grade 5 endo which was as bad as it gets.
Apparently I have had this disease for at least 7 years without knowing, of course I knew something was wrong with me, but I didn't know what. Painful and heavy periods were something I had learned to live with.
“Women's problems,” you just got on with it.

I couldn't get on with it any longer, the pain and discomfort was ruining my life.

Three weeks out of four every month, I was suffering with one thing or another. If it wasn't painful periods it was ovulation pain in the middle of the month, that was due to the disease being on my ovaries. Tension headaches and migraines were coming thick and fast, mood swings, up one minute, rock bottom the next.
The pain was so bad I could hardly walk.

So, after many consultations with N.H.S consultants and many horrendous hormone treatments which do nothing but make life more miserable by putting your body into a pseudo menopause. I sought out an excellent gynecologist who had a private practice as well as worked for the N.H.S.

I decided to try and get treatment privately, to speed things up.
I went to see Mr Jenkins at his offices in april 2002. He booked me in for a laparoscopy which was performed in may 2002. I was subsequently diagnosed with severe endometriosis, the bill for all this was about £1200 but worth every penny as the waiting list on the N.H.S. was about 18 months. I didn't want to wait any longer, I now knew what was wrong with me and could start to deal with it.

Mr Jenkins put me on a 6 month course of hormone treatment, this he said would dampen down the endo. At the end of the treatment hopefully a hysterectomy, (which was what he was recommending), would be easier to perform.

HYSTERECTOMY, such a final word.

So I embarked on my treatment, a nasal spray called synarel or nafarelin. This came with its own set of problems. It shuts down your system putting you into a false menopause and comes with many side effects. I suffered with most of them, night sweats, hot flushes, aching muscles and bones, mood swings, migraines, extreme tiredness and lethargy.

After 6 months on the treatment I went back to see Mr Jenkins, he wanted my decision regarding the hysterectomy. I couldn't see any other way so it was decided. On December 16th 2002 I went into hospital and had my operation. It was extremely difficult, so much mess to clear up, adhesions and disease were everywhere. My bowels were stuck to my pelvis, my right ovary was stuck to my bladder, which whilst being removed damaged the bladder and tore, I had stitches, and had to have a catheter for 3 days, whilst it repaired itself. My cervix was removed due to the disease and I also had a very large fibroid on my womb.

The surgeon wrote in his report, “A very difficult operation, but with a successful outcome”.

I was put on H.R.T the day I came out of hospital which was 5 days later. It seemed I was making a good recovery, physically anyway. I have had a few problems with the H.R.T which comes with its own set of side effects. After 3 and half months recovery I felt I was ready to try and come back to work. I was missing my job and my colleagues have been so kind and caring, as were a lot of the clients around Melbourne. I wanted to start caring for them again, that is what I do best!

Thanks for reading my story
Sue