Join the worldwide Endometriosis March on 25 March!

Endometriosis is sadly one of those illnesses that is dismissed as “women’s issues” and the resulting lack of understanding and awareness often prolongs the suffering and pain of women afflicted with the illness as on average it takes about 7.5 years of suffering in silence before they are diagnosed.

In the UK, a staggering one in 10, that is 1.5 million women, are currently living with the condition, which can be described as a chronic and debilitating condition that causes painful or heavy periods which may also lead to infertility, fatigue and bowel and bladder problems.

Endometriosis UK, a charity that provides vital support and services for those suffering with endometriosis, is supporting a worldwide march, involving 46 countries, including four in the UK – London, Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow – to help raise awareness and understanding of the illness.

Endometriosis can affect all women and girls of a childbearing age, regardless of race or ethnicity, so you or someone you know, is probably affected. If you would like to get involved and support the FREE Endometriosis March, gather your friends, family or colleagues and wear something yellow and show your support on 25 March 2017! (see below for details of how you can get involved).

Read about how endometriosis has affected Dorette’s everyday life and how she manages the condition.

My experience
I started getting problems from my first period aged 13. However, I wasn’t diagnosed until aged 19. My endometriosis resurged about 18 months ago. How many ways can you say ‘Ouch?’ The main symptom is pain. I have chronic pain in the pelvic area, painful menstruation, pain when my bladder is full and pain when I empty. I also have referred pain in my back, thighs, hips and knees. I have been treated with an injection in my stomach, the rest of my treatments have been surgical and tablets, liquids, patches – all to treat the pain. I have a series of different types of painkillers and dependent on the severity of the pain and the area of the pain, I use different ones. Sometimes, a combination of them. It’s become quite a skill determining what works.

I have Stage 4 endometriosis so I had a bowel resection in August 2013. I think one of the things I’ve struggled with is that people mistakenly believe because you’ve had surgery, you should be fine now. I still have a lot of pain. Also, putting on a brave face can be hard. It’s seven steps from my bedroom to my bathroom. I know this because I’ve counted them, because on a regular basis I steel myself to make the walk.

Endometriosis and a ‘normal’ life
Life hasn’t felt “normal” for quite sometime. As a trained nurse, I know and have been taught the value of talking therapy. Endometriosis does not only affect you: it affects your family, your partner, your children, often your siblings – in fact, I have a close relative with endometriosis, too. Dependent on how we may feel, the affects can be transferred without intention onto other people in the family. No area of my life is untouched, even intimacy.

If you experience pain during sex it can be difficult for your partner too, men don’t want to cause you pain, so lots of talking about it together helps – it’s just making sure you take the little steps to help make your situation that little bit lighter. My family help out a lot with tasks which I am unable to do at the moment and this helps to alleviate some of the strain on me. I try to remain as active as I can and to just take one day at a time.

Endomarch UK 2017

London
Book you place – London
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EndoMarchLondonUK/

Manchester
Book your place – Manchester
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/endomarch.manchester/

Cardiff
Book your place – Cardiff
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EndomarchWales/

Glasgow
Book your place – Glasgow
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/endomarchglasgow/