When I was 10/11, I had extremely painful periods. Of course, it was written off by my GP as worms and he also continued to prescribe me gastro soothe pills (they help with painful bowel movements). I was then later diagnosed with appendicitis (an ovarian cyst had burst and my appendix absorbed the fluid from it) and was taken in for surgery. The doctors discovered that I had endometriosis. All of the previous male doctors had told my mother that I was “too young” to have such pains and that it was impossible for someone so young to have endo (even though you can be born with it). Later that same year, I had a second surgery to remove the endo. My gynaecologist didn’t give a damn after being told many times that I was too young and she shouldn’t be operating. She had asked me “Do you want this surgery?” I said “Yes.” Anything to stop the pain.
She operated. She got barred from working at that hospital ever again. She didn’t care. She had a stroke a few years later, stopping her work but she changed my life in so many ways. I owe my life now to her. On average it takes six years for women to be diagnosed with endo. It’s enraging.
