This week is Endometriosis Awareness Week
I am very aware of Endometriosis. I suffered from it myself but nowhere near as badly as my daughter is suffering right now. As this is Endometriosis Awareness Week I thought I'd do a bit of awareness raising myself so here goes:
A Pink Pants Challenge: If I was fitter and maybe a few years younger I would join these brave ladies. From 3rd to 5th May they are going to be climbing Wales' highest and most spectacular mountain, Snowdon, in the Snowdon Horseshoe Challenge. They're hoping to raise money for research into finding a cure for this painful and debilitating condition.You can read more about them here. I may not be fit enough to take part but I can and will be donating.
Endometriosis: If you are one of the lucky people who have never suffered from this condition then I'll explain. Endometriosis is when the lining of the womb spreads to other organs of the body. It creates sticky deposits causing pain and sticking organs together. The bowel is one of the common organs to be affected. We're not just talking about painful periods. This is an all month round, 24/7 kind of pain.
My Daughter: Last year my daughter was referred to the specialist Endometriosis Unit at London's University College Hospital. She has just had an exploratory laparoscopy to inform the surgeons in preparation for more major surgery sometime soon. We haven't got the date yet. Time feels as if it's standing still. She's been in pain for such a long time now.
Research: One of the problems for sufferers is the difficulty in successfully diagnosing the condition. While my daughter was in the hospital last week she agreed to donate tissues for research. They're hoping to develop a blood test to diagnose Endometriosis so that future sufferers won't have to wait until the Endometriosis is severe before a correct diagnosis can be made. They might even, one day, be able to dissolve it without painful and intrusive treatments. If you want to find out more about Endometriosis then please go and visit The Endometriosis UK site.
If you weren't aware before, then hopefully you're a bit more aware of Endometriosis now. Who'd be a woman!
Your daughter has suffered for so long and the thought of a blood test in the future could safe women years of being fobbed off by doctors. I just caught the end of a segment on This Morning and they were talking about it and telling people the signs to look for but as you said it takes a long time to diagnose it. I hope your Daughter gets her op soon to end her misery and I know you as a mum will be feeling her pain too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anne. It feels as if it's been going on for a life time.
DeleteA blood test certainly would be incredible for this difficult to diagnose issue. Best of luck to your daughter!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Andrea. If only there could have been one when my daughter was being diagnosed.
DeleteI do sympathise with you both, this must be such a worrying time. When I was pregnant with my first baby I met a woman with endometriosis, whose husband was sitting in the hospital corridor with his head in his hands, fearing she was having her 3rd miscarriage. Happily the pregnancy continued and they went on to have a healthy, strapping boy who walked at 9 months! Hoping all works out really well for your daughter.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great result for your friend. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteI know your daughter's pain. Surgery fixed it. But it could come back.
ReplyDeleteYou had it too? There are said to be one in five suffering.
DeleteI have a friend who suffered for a long time before she had a correct diagnosis and treatment. It's dreadful - and one can't help thinking that if men got it they'd have found a solution by now?
ReplyDeleteWish I were closer to Snowdon - might have to walk the Horseshoe in pink pants!
Why am I not surprised, Jo! Warn me before you do it and I'll be there with my camera!!
DeleteRos, How dreadful. For you, and for your daughter. I used to work in medical insurance, so I know only too well what you and now your daughter have suffered. I had a friend at work there too who had it. She had a hysterectomy. Radical, but it worked. I hope your daughter doesn't have to go that far, as I'm guessing she's still pretty young, but rather that than live with the pain. I wish I could walk up Snowdon too, but it's too far away and I don't even have a hill to train on, let alone a mountain! Give your daughter my best wishes and lots of sympathy! xx
ReplyDeleteI really hoe DD gets her operation soon. A worrying time. A very clear explanantion of the condition. I now understand it far better. xx
ReplyDeleteYou must be in pieces- sending hugs in your direction. My daughter suffers from this, and it's always so much harder, watching your children suffer.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry that your daughter has suffered so long with excruciating pain. Climbing Snowden is a wonderful idea, and I hope it raises much needed research funds. Wishing your daughter all the best on her surgery. Take good care of both of you, Rosalind.
ReplyDeleteJulie
Hi Ros .. I'll be donating ... and I've heard of endometreosis and knew vaguely what it was - but hadn't realised it was so appallingly painful. I certainly hope they can help your daughter ... and it's so good she's giving some of her tissue to help in the research.
ReplyDeleteAs for Snowdon - thank goodness I'm so far away ... that mountain nearly killed me when I was a Girl Guide - and I really do not like clambering up mountains even small ones! Congratulations to all who do and good luck to their fundraising ..
All the very best to you and the family, especially your daughter .. Hilary
wow - I was not aware of this condition. I wish your daughter all the best in preparing for surgery. Hope they can fix her up and take away the pain. Take care
ReplyDeleteHi Ros,
ReplyDeleteI'm having some womanly issues myself at the moment, half the battle is getting the correct diagnosis. You begin to doubt the experts. I feel for your daughter, and hope she hears soon regarding a date to sort things out.
I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter. This is a very painful and difficult condition. I had it myself back in the 1980s and ended up having a total hysterectomy, which cured that, but caused other issues. Back then, neither I nor my doctors knew as much as they and your daughter hopefully know by now. I will keep you both in my thoughts as I climb the hills around here.
ReplyDelete