Hello to all of you..

I guess if you're reading this, then like me, you are either a sufferer of Endometriosis, or a support network, to a sufferer of this awful disease.

I have been debilitated by this crippling illness since puberty, but it is only since having my second daughter, that it has really shown its true colours..
As a young woman, like many of you, I'm sure, I had very heavy periods, and days were I was unable to function normally, my mum, was wonderful though, being a sufferer herself, I couldn't have asked for more support. It was a case of finding some very strong pain killers, a hot water bottle, and trying to ride out the excruciating pain. Since then though, things have really taken a turn for the worse.

So, It was roughly about eight years ago, when my suffering became truly unbearable, everything from terrible sharps stabbing pains, to break through bleeding, dreadful pain during intercourse, severe depression, exhaustion, back ache and much more...some symptoms, I think for many of us, are very hard to describe, all I knew is that, I shouldn't be feeling like this!!.

My doctor eventually referred me to a Gynaecologist, and like many consultants, he seemed baffled!, after many ultra sound scans, and being told I has a few cysts, there was no mention of Endometriosis and my consultant at the time, just kept sending me away with different contraceptive pills,all the while, my symptoms, were getting increasingly worse.. it got to the stage, where I was spending more time at A&E then anywhere else but those Morphine shots helped to ease the pain,if only for a short while.. I was even suspected of having rumbling Appendicitis at one point.. I was so drugged up, I couldn't tell you if it was Monday or Sunday.. Eighteen months on, and nothing was working, and eventually by some miracle, my doctor referred me to another Gynaecologist, a Dr Guyer and for me, my night in shining Armour!!!... Within ten minutes of seeing me, he diagnosed me with Endometriosis and had decided to do some internal investigations.. two years on, I had my first laparoscopy, which consisted of removing as much of the disease as possible, unfortunately, it was everywhere, I had stage five Endometriosis, it was on my bowel, right ovary, Aretha, cervix and making its way up to my womb. Thankfully, Dr Guyer managed to remove most of it, but sadly, I lost my right Ovary as it had a huge chocolate Cyst, and with the amount of open lesions everywhere, it was too badly damaged..

Once recovering from my surgery, I felt so much better, I had been given a drug called Provera, which I could only stay on for a short time, which was a shame, because for me personally, it was the best drug yet.. I knew that we had to focus on keeping the disease at bay, therefore, I had to keep trying different medications, and to be honest I started to feel nothing short of a pill popper.. I did however give the urethra coil ago though, sadly it didn't work for me, and if I’d known how much it was going to hurt, having it inserted, I would never have agreed to have it done.. But there you go, I guess we will try anything, if it means we may just get some of our life's back..

I am currently on Zoladex, and for a few months, it was pretty good, the only downside, as with allot of medications, there are side effects, and to be honest, the side effects of Zoladex have now started to outweigh the advantages of taking the drug...Initially, I was suffering with hot sweats, and My gynaecologist put me on HRT to try and counteract this, sadly though, it only made me feel unwell and so I came off of it. I have now been on Zoladex for roughly eight months, and for me personally, this medication isn't proving to be as successful as it was, I am finding that most of the time, I have symptom's such as nausea, fatigue, lower stomach pain, lower back pain, uncomfortable breasts, and just feel generally unwell..

I had my last appointment with Dr Guyer last week, and I have now decided to have a full Hysterectomy!, although I am 38 and I have two children, I am still absolutely terrified!!.. I know in my heart of hearts, that I am making the right decision, and that it is probably my only hope of a near normal life, but like any operation, we all have our concerns, my is feeling like less of a woman, a terrible sense of loss, by not being to have any more children, even though, I am 95% sure, I don't want anymore, I suppose, it’s one thing not want anymore, but it’s a totally different story, when you know you physically can't!!, I have been doing my own research on the net, and their appears to be pros and cons, with having a Hysterectomy...therefor, I suppose I am hoping the some of you may be able to offer some support, and perhaps, if you have had a Hysterectomy yourself, that you could share your own views with me... that would be most appreciated...!!

Anyway, Thank you for listening, I will update you after the surgery, which is taking place in October 22nd..( Fingers crossed ).

Once again, thank you for listening.