A LOCAL woman has shared her journey of years of pain, frustration and resilience, shining a light on the urgent need for change in women’s healthcare.
Endometriosis is a painful condition affecting hundreds of millions of women worldwide, yet it is believed to be significantly under-researched and under-diagnosed.
Fermanagh woman Nadia Stenson is one of an estimated 1.5 million sufferers in the UK, and she is on a mission to raise awareness about the everyday impact of this painful condition on women’s lives.
“Living with endometriosis has impacted almost every part of my life. It’s a condition that often goes unseen, which can make it incredibly isolating,” Nadia told the ‘Herald.
“People can’t see the pain, the fatigue, or the emotional toll, and that lack of visibility makes it harder for others to fully understand what it’s like to live with.
“Physically, the symptoms are relentless. Chronic pelvic pain, extreme fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues have become a regular part of my daily life. I’ve had to rely on strong medications just to get through the day, and even then, I’m often managing my energy hour by hour.”
Nadia has had excision surgery in the past which gave her a short period of relief, but like a volcano lying dormant, the disease came back, and worse than before.
“Mentally and emotionally, it’s been exhausting. Endometriosis doesn’t just affect your body; it affects your mind. The unpredictability, the lack of control, and the long waits for treatment have all taken a toll,” she said.
“It’s also had a huge effect on my work and social life. I’ve had to plan everything, even the smallest tasks, around my pain and medication schedule. On bad days, just getting out of bed is a struggle. There are times when I’ve had to cancel plans last minute, or push through pain just to appear “fine”.
“And emotionally, the constant fight to be heard and taken seriously by healthcare providers has been one of the hardest parts.”
In 2023, an MRI showed that the disease had progressed to deep bowel involvement.
“I’m now on the NHS waiting list for major surgery, which includes a bowel resection and removal of affected tissue, and in the meantime, my quality of life has significantly declined.
“Despite all of this, I’ve learned to be incredibly resilient. I’ve connected with others who live with endometriosis, and that sense of community has been a lifeline.”
Nadia will be traveling to Salerno, Italy on May 6 to seek an advanced and life changing surgery at the Endometriosis Surgical Specialist International.
To donate to Nadia’s fundraiser; https://www.gofundme.com/f/raising-funds-for-nadias-stage-4-endometriosis-surgery
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