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My endometriosis began as a teenager, though I didn't know it at the time. Throughout secondary school, I would have one day off a month because of cramps. I went to the doctor, but was told I was just one of those young women who happened to get bad cramps, and that it was manageable with over-the-counter treatments.

As the years went on, I can remember feeling as though I was some kind of hypochondriac. Having one day off a month meant I used up all my sick days every year, and would have to take unpaid or annual leave when I was 'really' sick. I lied about why I couldn't come to work - no one would believe my period pain was bad enough to warrant a sick day. But the truth was that I was doubled over in severe pain. The pain would radiate down my thighs and up my back, and I had diarrhoea and bowel problems.

After hearing the same response to my period pain from several doctors, I was resigned to the fact that pain was something I just had to live with. But as the years went by, the pain became worse and the over-the-counter treatments weren't working anymore. The pain lasted longer than one day, and the bowel troubles extended throughout the month.

The bowel problems brought me back to the doctor, and after much investigation, my new GP suggested I could have endometriosis. Finally I had something to explain all this! She referred me to a gynaecologist, who put me on the waiting list for a laparoscopy.

The surgery revealed extensive lesions, particularly on my left side. The reason I had bowel problems was because the endo had 'fused' my uterus to my bowel. No wonder I had been in so much pain! The removal of the lesions led to some pain relief, and within a few months I was able to work on the first day of my period! 

My advice to all women who experience debilitating period pain is to insist on further investigation. I wish I hadn't accepted the lack of investigation from GPs over the years and I wish I'd realised earlier that it's NOT NORMAL to be in that much pain. I am not a hypochondriac, and I don't just have a 'lower pain threshold' than other women. I have endometriosis. It is serious, and it's real.

Content Updated April 18, 2008