March is Endometriosis Action Month, a month that focuses on raising awareness of the common symptoms of endometriosis and improving understanding of the condition to ensure that those experiencing symptoms, their friends and family and their healthcare team know to ask ‘could it be endometriosis?’,
Endometriosis impacts 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth in the UK, yet so many are still unaware of the condition and its impact.
To mark the month, two colleagues have kindly shared blogs about their experiences with endometriosis and how it affects them to raise awareness amongst our colleagues.
By Anonymous
Since I was at university, I suspected there was something wrong. Of course, at that time, I had never heard of endometriosis. I would have extreme pain to the point that I would pass out or be sick. I was told for 10 years that I just had a low pain threshold. It was 2 weeks into joining GC that I was finally diagnosed (after passing out, being taken to hospital, and having emergency surgery, confirming that I did indeed have stage 4 endometriosis). It sounds strange to say, but I’m pleased that I passed out and these series of events happened, although at the time it was very traumatic, as I finally had an answer. It was confirmed that I actually had an extremely high pain threshold!
That was nearly six years ago, even though I had only worked at GC for a total of 9 days, I had to take nearly three weeks off to recover from my operation. Due to experiences, I had had at other organisations and also that I was only on a temporary contract, I assumed my journey at GC was finished. How wrong I was! I was overwhelmed with the support I received from my manager and colleagues and how well I was looked after.
GC have continued to support me and were very understanding when I told them I needed two more major operations, which would mean having time off work. I feel very lucky to have had such an understanding team who have continued to help me when I’ve needed it. GC’s continued understanding for my health condition is a strong contributor to my loyalty to the company. Unfortunately, I have not always had the same experience. With endometriosis, I think the first step is acceptance and continued persistence in getting a diagnosis because I feel like a new person with a new lease of life since having my operations!
By Alicia Marsh, Internal Recruitment Team Manager
I was diagnosed with stage 4, widespread endometriosis in 2015 after 10+ years of symptoms.
Since I was a young teenager, my periods have been nothing short of debilitating, I would regularly go to the hospital due to the unmanageable pain I was in. Unfortunately, no matter how many times I complained to doctors, I was told by various doctors that it was just period pain and something I had to live with, my pain threshold was really low or the pain I was feeling was just in my head. At this point every month my life was dictated by my periods, my life would go on hold until my period was finished, however, my symptoms progressed and I began to be equally unwell around ovulation time, I had less than 2 weeks out of a month where I felt well, this impacted on my mental health significantly and my ability to work.
Doctors had never mentioned to me that my symptoms could be endometriosis until one nurse recognised my symptoms were similar, this was a light bulb moment, I researched the condition and knew without a doubt this was what I was suffering with, I had every single textbook symptom. The doctor agreed to do exploratory surgery where he discovered extensive endometriosis, which had covered my uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, bowel, and bladder, after trying to remove the disease the doctor realised I required surgery with a specialist, he patched me up and I was immediately scheduled back in for further surgery 3 months later with an endometriosis specialist.
During my laparoscopy, I discovered I also had both adenomyosis and endometriosis, which are painful sister conditions that happen when tissue similar to the uterine lining (endometrium) grows elsewhere. The tissues implant either outside the uterus or within the uterine muscle itself (adenomyosis). The tissues respond to menstrual cycle hormones, triggering inflammation and scarring.
I’ve since had several laparoscopic surgeries and varied hormone treatments which involved artificially inducing medical menopause to manage my day-to-day symptoms.
This disease continues to impact my life every month, I recently took time off and I was admitted to hospital to manage my symptoms. I am so lucky to have always been supported with my condition by my line manager, team, and GC colleagues, I have been given the flexibility to work from home wherever needed without the dreaded guilty feeling that I am letting my team down again.
Do not suffer in silence and do not let anyone undermine your pain. Suffering in silence is no way to live. If you have a medical professional ignore your symptoms, then seek a second opinion. Do not be afraid to question their knowledge or to seek advice from others.
Speaking up and out about women’s health is serving a vitally important purpose. For too long, health matters experienced only by women have been brushed under the carpet. And the reasons for that are nowhere near as important or valid as the need to create lasting change.