I always longed to share similarities with a star like Marilyn Monroe. I never thought it would be Endometriosis…some of you know that I suffer from this rather unglamorous disease that causes rather a lot of pain, discomfort and fatigue. Unfortunately things have gotten so bad that no amount of rhinestones or shoe shopping can take my mind off of it, so it is time for more surgery.
Last time I had the op, I was lucky enough to have private health insurance and my hospital day pass was more like a trip to a hotel. This time Im on the NHS and although I don’t doubt the skills of the surgeons – the hospital operating rooms are under ‘urgent renovations’, conjurring up images of pre-fabs, doctors working with kitchen utensils and flickering tube lighting. Thank goodness for general anaesthetic…
The last time I had this surgery was around 8 or 9 years ago and the recovery time was long and uncomfortable. They inflate around your organs and unfortunately some air stays trapped when they close you up, with no where to go. So for a while I was shiny skinned, inflated and could not wear bras for a while as I couldn’t do them up! I moan now, but golly! What relief when I had healed! My pains had all but gone and other than having to take hormone tablets every day as medication, I felt fine for alteast 6 years after the proceedure.
So many women suffer with Endometriosis and don’t even realise they have it. Heck, I was going back and forth to the doctors for 4 years complaining and was fobbed off time and time again with IBS etc. It was only when I went to a specialist that I found out the likely cause of my pain.
If you suffer from incredibly painful, heavy and uncomfortable periods – To the extent that you have to take sick days or know that it isn’t normal, if you have constant dull aches in your tummy and possibly legs and lower back, if you suffer from fatigue…Go get checked out.
1940's Pin-Up Entertainer Kitten von Mew 
Thank you so much for posting this. I was wondering if they can detect it with a pelvic ultrasound. I had to have one of these about four months ago and the doctor said it was all clear. However the hypochondriac in me is on high alert – I won’t bore you with the details but I have all the symptoms but they’ve been attributed to other things (IBS, sciatica, ME, poor diet etc)
I hope you get this sorted out soon with as little pain as possible.
Claudia Atlantis xxxx
I didn’t realise the full extent of this illness and just want to thank you for enlightening me and to wish you all the very best for a speedy recovery!
X
Thank you Ange. I decided I mustn’t be prude about these things. When on stage, no matter how I’m feeling, you would never know that I was suffering and it brings to light the problems performers face in general with illness and having to carry on. Unfortunately migraines and Endometriosis are the bains of my life, but you just have to push through as best you can and hope that you are well enough to go ahead! x