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Health: Understanding endometriosis's cycle of pain
Endometriosis is a crippling condition that affects nearly two million women across the country. Laura Bowyer examines the illness that has no cure and its exact cause is a mystery
ONE year after her son's birth in 2006 Michelle Middleton noticed that she was beginning to have problems.
The 32-year-old had been on the contraceptive pill most of her life but had stopped taking it.
She began to suffer from fatigue, her periods started to become heavy and painful, and sex was also painful.
"It was the fatigue that got me," said Michelle, who has two children – Leo, four, and Alana, five.
"I had been to see my GP and had different blood tests. I knew that there was just something wrong.
"I had really painful sex and bled for days afterwards and the doctor just fobbed me off.
"I went back to see another one and was booked for a scan straight away. He believed me and that is when the diagnosis started really."
Endometriosis is a common gynaecological condition where cells like the ones in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body.
Each month, these cells react in the same way to those in the womb, and build up then break down and bleed.
Unlike the cells in the womb that leave the body as a period, this blood has no way to escape.
"Endometriosis was never mentioned to me and I didn't know what it was," said Michelle, who heads the Endometriosis UK support group for Leeds, Bradford and Skipton.
In order to get a full diagnosis Michelle had to have a laparoscopy, which is a procedure performed under general anaesthetic where a camera is inserted into the body through a cut in the abdomen.
"Following my operation I had no contact with my consultant but the nurses showed me a picture of what my insides looked like," said Michelle, who lives in Silsden.
"It didn't mean anything to me. When you come round from general anaesthetic you just don't take it all in. I didn't know anything about it."
When Michelle went to see the doctor she was told that she had the condition and that she would need to take medication to put her body into an artificial menopausal state.
Endometriosis responds and grows when it is exposed to oestrogen. By controlling the levels of hormones in the body the endometriosis will not be able to feed off the oestrogen that causes it to keep bleeding and growing.
"I was given no information about what endometriosis was so that is when I decided to set up the group. There was no support and it was so vague," Michelle continued.
"When you are in pain you get this fight or flight reflex. I am a single mum and I have got to get on with things. That is what keeps me going.
"On the good days you think to yourself that you are doing well but it can be a slap in the face when you see the bad days.
"There are no management clinics and nowhere to really go because people don't talk about infertility.
"I am fortunate that I have had children. It breaks my heart for some of the people that come to the group because there is very little you can say about infertility.
"It is a significant symptom of endometriosis and there is a lack of information about it."
At the regular group meetings Michelle talks to other sufferers about different ways they can manage the condition through different methods of nutrition, reflexology and exercise.
"It is all about managing and taking control of endometriosis. It is about providing correct information because knowledge is power and having the knowledge to understand it," she said.
"Just seeing other women that are the same as you I think is just a big lift because you think I am not on my own."
She added: "When I am on my period I can't do anything social. I can't even stay up late because I am exhausted.
"As a mum it takes all my energy just to be level for my children."
l Endometriosis Awareness Week, which aims to give people a higher awareness of the condition, runs from March 8.
For more information and to find support visit www.endometriosis-uk.org.
Read about health issues in the Yorkshire Evening Post every Wednesday
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