I have always had painful periods but I honestly thought that was normal. As an adult these painful episodes began to affect me even outside of the time I was having my menses…so I would be in pain all the time.

It wasn’t until I had surgery to remove ovarian cysts that I was diagnosed with endo. At that time, the mid to late 1990s, there was hardly any information available about the disease, the doctors were clueless and so I had to start doing my own research. It got to the point that I had more information than the doctors. By this time my pain was almost unbearable, I could plan to be out from work at least two days out of every month and had to be be on painkillers at all times.

I was lucky enough after two years of trying to give birth to my son, who is now fourteen and the joy of my life, I call him my “miracle baby”. I never conceived again although it was my heart’s desire.

After several more years of suffering and two operations I finally met a doctor who understood my condition and was able to help me through surgery and recovery. I know that the disease cannot be ‘cured’ but I am now at the point where it is under control. For the most part I am pain free and doing well.

I try to talk to other women as much as possible about the disease and encourage them to do as much research as possible to educate themselves. I know that knowledge is power and that if you know what is happening to your body it is so much easier to make good decisions about your care.