How painful periods ruined
a woman’s life
By Sun News
Tuesday, July 6, 2004
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| Women |
| Sun News Publishing |
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Imagine a pain in your abdomen so unbearable you are unable
to get out of bed for three days every month.
That is bad enough in itself, but when it continues 12 times
a year for around 25 years, most people would agree it is
barbaric.
Women with chronic endometriosis will recognise this debilitating
scenario as not imaginary, but very real.
But even those with milder symptoms will know the misery of
pelvic pain and have poignant, heart-breaking stories of how
endometriosis has devastated their health, their relationships
and their lives.
It is a disease of the lining of the womb, which can be treated,
but is difficult to diagnose.
Endometriosis happens when tissue, which normally lines the
uterus, is found elsewhere in the pelvis.
Around 10 to 25% of women of reproductive age are estimated
to be affected by endometriosis and about two million women
in the UK have the condition.
It can start at any time from the onset of menstrual periods
until the menopause and not only causes painful periods, but
pain during sex and when going to the toilet and can also
lead to infertility.
At 46, Roz Rosenblatt, is finally enjoying a pain-free life
after battling endometriosis since around the time her periods
started aged 12.
She was not properly diagnosed until she was 29 and it was
another 13 years before she was free of the condition.
Roz, far from being angry or despondent about being robbed
of a normal life through her teens, twenties and thirties,
including motherhood, is composed about her experience.
When the condition first started, she describes it as "terrifying".
No-one could tell her what was wrong.
She said: "Doctors started giving me iron tablets to
start with because they thought it was all in my head."
Bed ridden
She was prescribed the contraceptive Pill, and tried many
different brands over the next 13 years.
It eased the symptoms, but caused terrible side effects.
When she stopped taking the Pill her symptoms were totally
debilitating.
She said: "I would have three days every month where
I could not get up on my own.
"I spent that time in bed, unable to move."
By now she was employed as a health visitor. Because her period
always started on a Friday, it did not stop her working, but
it ruined her weekend.
But the pain would emerge about two weeks before her period,
so that she was pain free for just one week out of four.
At its peak, the pain was so unbearable she would often keel
over.
"Doctors would say to me 'women get painful periods',"
she said.
One day when she was teaching an ante-natal class, one of
the women in the group said their pregnancy was not going
very smoothly because of her endometriosis.
Roz said: "It occurred to me while she was talking about
her symptoms that I might have endometriosis."
Pregnancy heartache
She went to her gynaecologist and demanded a laparoscopy.
This is a minor operation in which a telescope (a laparoscope)
is inserted into the pelvis via a small cut near the navel
to enable the surgeon to see the pelvic organs and any endometrial
implants and cysts.
The laparoscopy proved her theory and at the age of 29, she
finally found out what had been torturing her for 17 years.
Roz and her husband had been trying unsuccessfully for a baby,
but after taking a fertility drug, she found herself pregnant.
But her joy was short-lived and she miscarried six weeks into
the pregnancy.
She tried further fertility treatment, but by the age of 30
she gave up.
Painful sex
She became ill and was eventually forced to resign from her
job.
The endometriosis was becoming more painful.
She explains that it ruined her social life and that sexual
intercourse was also painful.
At 32, she had another laparoscopy, which showed the endometriosis
had progressed from mild to severe and her ovaries were covered
with it.
She was told she would never be able to get pregnant.
At 37, she "reluctantly" had a hysterectomy and
thought that would solve her health issues.
It helped, but the pain returned, although not as severe as
before.
Another gynaecologist found that an ovary had been left behind
after the hysterectomy - and the endometriosis had returned
A further operation was required and the endometriosis had
spread to her appendix, which was also removed.
Awareness campaign
That was four years ago, and although she still suffers a
small amount of pain, it is nothing compared to what she endured
before.
Looking back she said: "It does totally ruin your life.
"I lost boyfriends and friends because they thought I
was being stupid.
"I was angry with myself for not pushing too hard and
I think that many women are going to their GPs and being fobbed
off."
She would like to see more experts trained to recognise and
treat endometriosis and is backing a campaign to raise awareness
of this chronic disease.
National Endometriosis Awareness Day takes place at the House
of Commons on 7 July.
The event is being organised by the Endometriosis All Party
Parliamentary Group (EAPPG), which consists of MPs, Endometriosis
SHE Trust (UK), Endometriosis Zone, The National Endometriosis
Society, Poole Endometriosis Support Group and a constituency
member.
The aim is for women with endometriosis and their carers,
to lobby their MPs for greater awareness of the disease and
get better health care in their areas.
The group is launching a national survey, looking into the
effects of endometriosis pain and the quality of life of those
affected.
The results will be available later in the year.
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