This week, we’re loving the inspiring story of Lydia Eccleston, 27, from Brighton. She said…
Presenting at the front of the room, Iwas on a mission to help spread the word.
‘Symptoms can include heavy periods and pain in your tummy or back,’ I said.
After liaising with my workplace, amarketing agency in Brighton, to become an endometriosis-friendly employer, Iwas delivering a series of talks to my colleagues.
Because as an endo ambassador, Iwanted people to better understand endometriosis, not just for me but for other women in our workplace, too.
‘I’d never heard of endo before,’ one male colleague said. ‘Thank you for telling us.’
And for me, just one more person who knew about endo, the better.
Iwanted to normalise talking about it, especially as when Iwas first diagnosed, I felt like Ihad no one to turn to.
Struggling with excruciating period pain, sickness and heavy bleeding since Iwas a teenager, Iwas back and forth to the doctors for years. ‘My period is nothing like yours, Lydia,’ my friends said.
I had no one to talk to about it
Only, the doctors kept telling me it was ‘part of being agirl’. Instead of my symptoms being investigated, Idosed up on paracetamol and hugged ahot water bottle to get by.
But as years passed, my symptoms made life so challenging.
It took until Iwas 22 to be referred to a gynaecologist after spending years on the NHS waiting lists. Being diagnosed with endo was adouble-edged sword. While it’s something I expected, the fact that there was no permanent solution haunted me –I’d have to have surgery ev
