Blogger visits A&E 200 times and feared she had an STI after endometriosis was mistaken for ‘period pains’
PLAGUED by agonising stomach pain, Sinead Smythe visited A&E more than 200 times, desperate for answers and told it was nothing more than "bad period pains".
As a last resort, the now 20-year-old visited a sexual health clinic, fearing an undiagnosed STI could be causing her symptoms.
In 2016 doctors eventually discovered the cause of Sinead's unbearable tummy cramps was, in fact, endometriosis.
She was just 11 years old when the first signs of the invisible illness began to show.
Sinead, from Brighton, was told repeatedly she suffered with bad periods, and claims for almost a decade her condition was misunderstood.
She has now set up a blog to raise awareness of the crippling condition, in the hope it will prompt more research.
"The pain can be so crippling, that I can't move from the same position," she explained.
"I can be rolled up in a ball for hours on end."
The 20-year-old claims she lost two jobs as a receptionist in 2015 and 2016 because she was in so much pain and became unreliable.
"My employers didn't understand, they looked at me as if I was lying because I didn't look unwell," she added.
"Anyone who doesn't understand calls it a 'bad period'.
"But it is so much worse than that and so misunderstood by those who aren't affected."
After getting fed up with doctors and A&E not finding an answer, Sinead took herself to a sexual health clinic, as a last resort.
At first, medics suspected she was suffering pelvic inflammatory disease, but despite being prescribed antibiotics showed no signs of improving.
WOMB WOES What is endometriosis, what are the signs and symptoms and how can it affect your fertility?
It wasn't until January 2016 that doctors finally diagnosed her with endometriosis.
"Finally, I was taken seriously," she said.
She underwent keyhole surgery, which revealed the condition - and surgeons were then able to remove as much of the endometriosis as possible.
But, Sinead said she had no idea it was a recurring illness, and three months later the pain returned.
The condition causes tissue that behaves like the lining of the womb to grow on the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, inside the stomach, as well as in or around the bladder and bowel.
Two million women across the UK suffer the condition, which can cause fertility problems causing damage to the Fallopian tubes and ovaries.
The pain can be so crippling, that I can’t move from the same position. I can be rolled up in a ball for hours on end
Sinead Smythe
Sinead has been told the only potential cure for her condition is to have a hysterectomy.
"I want to have a family one day, so having a hysterectomy isn't an option for me right now, and I don't think it ever will be," she said.
"It can cause infertility, which causes me huge amounts of anxiety, it's terrifying.
"Endometriosis doesn't just cause you tremendous pain, it's mentally draining and can cause depression and anxiety."
To help herself - and other sufferers - cope, Sinead set up a blog to share her experience and raise awareness.
Her first post on social media was shared more than 20,000 times, and she regularly receives messages from women all over the world.
Sinead said: "If we all stand together against this awful condition then we will help others understand and hopefully no other women will feel alone in this fight.
"It made me so emotional knowing there was so many women out there who feel exactly how I'm feeling."
AN AGONISING WOMB CONDITION AFFECTING MILLIONS
Endometriosis is a chronic condition which occurs when tissue which behaves like the lining of the womb is found outside of the womb – in areas of the body including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the abdomen and the bladder.
The exact cause of the condition isn’t known, but it’s thought it could be hereditary or due to environmental factors – namely the presence of dioxins in the environment.
Endometriosis can sometimes cause damage to the fallopian tubes or ovaries, leading to fertility problems.
Other complications can include painful ovarian cysts and adhesions – areas of tissue which can fuse organs together.
Symptoms:
- painful or heavy periods
- pain during and following sex
- bleeding between periods
- pain in the lower abdomen
- difficulty conceiving
- fatigue
- discomfort going to the toilet
How can it affect fertility?
In some cases, endometriosis can leave a woman infertile.
If the abnormal tissue is left untreated it can cause damage and scarring to the womb and other parts of the female reproductive system.
If the damage is severe enough, it may mean a woman will be unable to conceive.
Treatment:
There is no cure for endometriosis, but the symptoms can be managed.
Some women are prescribed pain medications that target inflammation.
Others are given hormonal treatments to limit the production of oestrogen, which encourages the abnormal tissue to grow.
However, some women opt to have a hysterectomy to completely rid them of the pain.
According to NHS guidelines, a hysterectomy – an operation to remove the womb – is rare, and usually only performed on women for whom other treatments haven’t work, and who have decided to not have any more children.
Sinead has continued to raise awareness across social media and is spreading her very own tips for living with the condition.
She said: "I now try and look at my situation with positivity.
"Living with a long term incurable invisible illness is hard but you cannot let endometriosis take over your life.
MORE ON ENDOMETRIOSIS
"You cannot let endometriosis win this battle because it has the power to destroy you and stop your dreams.
"You've got to find something in each day to reach, even if that's getting out of bed in the mornings when you're feeling drained and no emotion towards anything.
"One small positive thought in the morning can honestly change your whole day. A negative mind will never give you a positive life."
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