Leeds woman's life changing decision after rugby ball sized tumour removed

Former corporate career woman Pippa Rymill decided to change her life and chase her dreams after undergoing an operation to remove a rugby ball sized tumour.
Pippa Rymill

Photo: Steve RidingPippa Rymill

Photo: Steve Riding
Pippa Rymill Photo: Steve Riding

She was stressed out during lockdown and hit rock bottom while trying to keep up with a demanding job in corporate sales for a leading cleaning company.

Pippa, 29, of Whinmoor, Leeds said she had a good salary, drove a BMW X1 company car and got on well with her colleagues.

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But Pippa said the demands and stresses of the job got her down and she had anxiety problems while suffering from a non-cancerous tumour - known as a fibroid - in her womb

Pippa Rymill

Photo: Steve RidingPippa Rymill

Photo: Steve Riding
Pippa Rymill Photo: Steve Riding

She decided to study for a life coaching qualification while recovering from major surgery..

Pippa said she loved the course and has now left her job and launched her own life coaching and training business

"I just felt life is too short not to pursue your dreams," said Pippa. "It was worth taking the risk for."

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Pippa, who grew up in Boston Spa, said the fibroid was discovered during a routine medical check in January 2020.

Pippa Rymill

Photo: Steve RidingPippa Rymill

Photo: Steve Riding
Pippa Rymill Photo: Steve Riding

She said at that point it was the size of a cricket ball and keyhole surgery was planned at Harrogate District Hospital to remove it.

Pippa said a later MRI scan showed the tumour had continued to grow, but then Covid struck and the operation was cancelled.

The fibroid kept getting bigger and caused crippling pain.

Pippa was prescribed a form of chemotherapy called Zoladex in June 2020, which she said caused lengthy bouts of migraines.

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"This coincided with work being crazy busy during the pandemic," said Pippa. "Then it was this really difficult balance of being really unwell and trying to keep up at work, but everything was slipping because I wasn't in a good place. I didn't know when my surgery would be.

"Working towards a promotion was the only goal I’d known for the last few years of my life.

"I’d made so many sacrifices to get to this point: I didn’t have any hobbies. I de-prioritised my fitness as I couldn’t make time for it in the day.

"I’d turned down dinners with friends; even logged onto my laptop at weekends to make a head start on the following week. I felt like the only purpose I had in life was slipping away from me.

"I was so frustrated with myself for not being on form.

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"Just as I felt I was getting there, my fibroid would flare up again with a migraine, nausea or wave of anxiety.

"I couldn’t tell if my horrible moods were hormonal, frustration in my career or because my boyfriend hadn’t unloaded the dishwasher. I just kept on ploughing on.

"I looked about six months pregnant and there was a severe risk I would have to have a hysterectomy because the fibroid had taken over my entire womb.

"I developed really severe anxiety. I was anxious because I really want kids one day.

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"Every month that passed increased my risk of having to get a hysterectomy at 28 years old."

Pippa underwent surgery to remove the fibroid at the end of October 2020 at BMI The Duchy Hospital in Harrogate.

"My surgeon said it was the most complex that he had ever removed in his career," she said.

"I was so relieved. I was told straight away that he had saved my womb, which was so amazing. I was just so happy to have it (the fibroid ) out of me and not have to take medication any more.

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"I had two months at home recovering and that was my opportunity to think what I wanted to do with my life.

Pippa said she decided to study for a life coaching qualification while recovering to increase her skills.

"I absolutely loved it and I realised that this was what I wanted to do" she said.

"I’m now officially the director of my own company: Spark Finder.

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"I’m taking on new one to one coaching clients every week and am preparing to launch my workshop products to the world.

"The question I get asked a lot is 'aren’t you worried about how you’ll pay your mortgage?'

"Sure, it’s a concern as my business will take a while to build up.

"But before I felt lost, without a purpose and suffering from a whopping identity crisis that came from pursuing a career that wasn't right for me.

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"The fear of failure I have today pales in comparison to the overwhelmingly negative impact my 'stable' career had on my life.

"Now I’m committed to helping people unlock their potential, prioritise what’s important and live their most fulfilled lives.

"I'm so much happier now. It allows me to prioritise the things that are really important. I have time to prioritise my mental and physical health.

Pippa said she is launching a programme called Confidence Club which she hopes will be a community of Yorkshire women who meet once a month in Leeds and Harrogate areas.

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She said the meetings will consist of a workshop and a coaching exercise designed to build confidence.

"It will be a support group for people to talk about what makes them happy and how they can prioritise positive experiences."

To get in touch with Pippa, contact her on instagram: @Positive_Pip_ or email: [email protected]

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