HEALTH: How endometriosis affects women's physical and mental wellbeing

Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating condition where patches of the womb lining occur in other parts of the body, often causing severe pain.

There is no known cause, but early diagnosis is key in limiting the damaging effects it can have '“ which can include infertility.

This week is Endometriosis Awareness Week, and to raise the profile of the condition three women have shared their emotional stories with the Herald.

HAVING endometriosis affected every aspect of Liz Pringle's life '“ from organising a holiday to being able to have a baby.

Extreme pain

In 2005, Liz started experiencing extreme pain every month when her period came. She visited her doctor on several occasions, but each time was told there was nothing wrong.

During that time she and her husband had also started trying for a baby, but after months where nothing happened, she returned to see her doctor in March last year.

Liz saw a new GP who sent her for an ultrasound, which showed the possibility she could have endometriosis.

Surgery

She was referred to a consultant who performed a laparoscopy and removed the endometriosis. In November, she also had surgery to remove a nine inch portion of her bowel because it was so severely damaged.

Liz, 40, of Ham Road, Worthing, said: "I'm happy where I am now, but sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had pushed for treatment earlier.

"Early diagnosis would 100 per cent benefit everybody, so I just want people to be aware of endometriosis and its symptoms."

Liz said many women with the condition feel down and depressed at times, and said it causes extreme fatigue.

Children

Her biggest concern now is whether the condition has affected her ability to have children, and she is hoping once she has fully recovered from the bowel surgery, to try again for a baby.

She said: "For some people, by the time they realise they have the condition it's already too late to have children. I'm told that's not the case for me and I'm hopeful I will have a baby one day."

WAKING up in the middle of the night in crippling pain and having to crawl to the bathroom was a regular occurrence for Alison Wright.

For 11 years, she assumed she just had very heavy periods and had learned to live with agony by using high doses of pain killers.

Life-changing

It was only when the pain got so bad that she could not walk and her husband insisted she went to Worthing Hospital's accident and emergency department, that she finally got the life-changing diagnosis.

Alison, 43, of Harsfold Road, Rustington, has now had two surgeries to remove most of the endometriosis from her body and said: "Compared to how I was before, it's been absolutely life-changing.

"Touch wood, I'm almost pain free, which has been a bit of a revelation really."

When Alison finally ended up in hospital in 2001, doctors thought she had irritable bowel syndrome, and told her to go and see her GP. On that day she saw a female locum doctor who, unlike GPs she had seen in the past, listened to the symptoms Alison described and "insisted" she be referred to a gynaecologist.

Laparoscopy

Consultant gynaecologist, Dr James English, then performed a laparoscopy on her '“ keyhole surgery where a laser is used to cut away the endometriosis.

What he found, according to Alison, was "a war zone" where the endometriosis had spread to her bowel, the base of her kidneys and the top of her left leg.

Following that procedure, Alison's endometriosis did return, but she has since had another laparoscopy to remove most of it, and she is hopeful the future will be brighter.

Personal subject

"The surgery is pretty invasive, and it is one of those things it's quite difficult to talk about as it's quite a personal subject.

"It is pretty emotive, but women who are concerned should demand they are listened to by their doctors and push for treatment, because there is help out there."

ENDOMETRIOSIS left Theresa Cuttress from Sompting bedridden and unable to walk.

The 37-year-old said at times she felt so low she even thought about suicide and was forced to start taking anti-depressant drugs.

Her condition was so severe that as a "last resort" doctors recommended she have a total hysterectomy in November last year, which she said has improved the pain.

No life

Theresa, of Peveril Close, believes her symptoms started 14 years ago and said: "I could not live a normal life. I had no life whatsoever really.

"I spent all day in bed as I couldn't walk and I could barely communicate with my family. Although I'm not better yet, it is a lot better than it was now."

Theresa, who has a 13-year-old son, is currently in battle with the Department for Work and Pensions to be allowed Disability Living Allowance.

Future

She is still unable to work, but said she hopes the endometriosis that has blighted her life will not play such a big part in her future.

For more information, call 0808 8082227 or visit www.endometriosis-uk.org

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