I’m 30 years old and I’ve lived nearly half my life in chronic pain.
From sickness and fainting when I had my period at 14 and having to take days off school, to having the wind taken out of me and falling helplessly to the side of the road after my regular swim at Coogee one afternoon.
Something has been growing inside of me, bit by bit, filling my insides for more than a decade, until eventually last year I just couldn’t function anymore.
My partner rushed me to emergency after it felt like somebody was cutting apart my stomach. Terrified, and with three shots of morphine failing to dampen the pain – I finally got a diagnosis of endometriosis.
Watch: The definition of Endometriosis and its symptoms. Post continues after video.
After a brief 'I knew it' moment, my heart was utterly crushed. I felt an overwhelming sadness. I’d seen my best friend debilitated by the same disease. Forced into isolation during COVID and unable to socialise or live her life.
The diagnosis felt like a pit in my stomach – knowing I’ll be dealing with this disease for the rest of my life.