Andrea’s PowerPoint presentation
Andrea is a staff nurse, endometriosis sufferer, and Pat Gatherum’s daughter.
Throughout her teens and early twenties she was in debilitating pain during her periods, although amazingly, continued to work as she was constantly told it was only ‘period pain’.
She was 26 years old before a doctor actually examined her for first time to ascertain the problem. She was immediately referred to a gynaecologist who performed a basic exam and diagnosed severe endometriosis. To her dismay Andrea had to come to terms with the news that she was unlikely to give birth to her own children without the aid of IVF and that then the problem might be solved. Andrea began a course of injections that induced menopausal symptoms and reduced pain but side effects would probably involve problems affecting the bladder or bowel.
Andrea’s career progressed despite her illness but she developed chest pains which she realised were cyclical and led to a diagnosis of endometriosis on her diaphragm. By this time Andrea had married a man who reassured her that he wasn’t worried about having his own children. She had 221 days off sick in three years, couldn’t live without hot water bottles and eventually underwent a hysterectomy. Since then Andrea has only lost one day’s work in two years.
Andrea concluded with a surprise photograph of her two adopted children and emphasised that at least if her daughter gets endometriosis she knows that she won’t have inherited it from her.
Her hope is that SIGBI conference delegates feel able to help raise the profile of endometriosis with the health service and general public.
Original blog by Penny Bartlett – SI Southern England Region