Turns out it wasn’t just ‘normal’. It was endometriosis.

I’d already been diagnosed with endometriosis at 27. Two tiny chocolate cysts. They were treated, I recovered, and life moved on. Or so I thought.

Fast forward to last week.

Some of you already know that I ended up in hospital needing emergency surgery. Surgeons removed part of an ovary, cysts, extensive endometriosis and my appendix. What they discovered was far worse than anyone expected.

One ovarian cyst had engulfed my appendix. Endometriosis had spread across my bowel, bladder, liver, abdominal wall and other organs throughout my pelvis and abdomen. My appendix itself was healthy, but the surrounding inflammation meant it had to be removed too.

They removed what they safely could, but because this was emergency surgery, there weren’t the specialist colorectal teams available to tackle the disease affecting my bowel. I have an MRI in a couple of weeks and will almost certainly need further surgery.

I’m only four weeks into a new job.

Instead of settling into a new role, I’m facing medical leave, more investigations and more operations. I know how fortunate I am that my employer has been compassionate and understanding.

But not everyone is that lucky.

My life has become about supporting people through infertility, pregnancy loss and the devastating moments when your body doesn’t do what you hoped it would. Losing Felix changed the course of my life. It led to The Worst Girl Gang Ever and to fighting every day so others feel less alone.

What I didn’t fully appreciate was that another condition had been quietly shaping my life too.

Endometriosis affects around 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth. It can take years, sometimes close to a decade, to diagnose. It can cause chronic pain, infertility, pregnancy complications, bowel and bladder disease, organ damage, repeated surgery and profound exhaustion. Yet so many are told their pain is “just periods”, “stress”, “IBS” or “part of being a woman.”

It isn’t.

No one should have to become critically unwell before they’re finally believed.

That’s why I’m asking for your help.

Please sign this petition calling for endometriosis to be recognised as a disability, so those living with this disease have stronger workplace protections and better access to the support they need.

Because no one should have to choose between their health and their career.

No one should have to spend years wondering if the pain is all in their head.

And no one should have to fight this battle alone.

If you’ve experienced endometriosis, infertility, pregnancy loss or simply know what it’s feels like not to be believed, I’d be so grateful if you could sign and share.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/761186

Together, we’ve changed conversations before.

Let’s change this one too.

❤️