PERSONAL STORY: SARAH CHITTENDEN

My name is Sarah, I am 32, married and have four children. I live in Torbay, South Devon.

I had my 1st daughter in 1985 at 18, I then had a miscarriage in 1986 and my 2nd daughter in 1987. I had all the usual problem periods but I didn't really have a problem until I had my 3rd daughter who was born in 1995. I had placenta praevia and had to have a Caesarean Section this is when I believe I got Endo.

My 3rd daughter was 8 months old when I got pregnant with my 4th daughter. It was after I had her that the problem really started. I started getting pain in the middle of my cycle and clicked on that this was around ovulation time, something I'd never had before. So I went to my doctor who said they couldn't really do anything until two years had passed after having my last child as it may just be my periods settling in after giving birth. When I stopped breastfeeding (when she was 13 months old) I was still getting alot of pain so they tried me on the pill (Cileste). It had no effect and eventually they took me in for a Laparoscopy and Endoscopy.

I was more terrified of them finding nothing as I was beginning to think it was all in my head. However they did find Endo and they put me back on the pill for 6 months. After three months I was having 14 days period, 10 days off, 15 days on 10 days off - I went back to the doctor and they then put me on to Provera for 6 months and I have been off treatment since Jan this year. I go back to hospital in April when they will decide on what treatment next. They did say that they would give me tablets that would produce symptoms like the menopause and I would have to take them for 6 months. From everything I've read they need to give you the tablets for a minimum of 12 months for them to have any real effect.

I have serious concerns about the future, so far the tablets I've been on have ruined any sex drive I had and I felt so "flat" and basically dead with the side-effects that the thought of more tablets is daunting. I do have a wonderful supportive husband who is very understanding, even with the depression that this condition brings on. I dread the thought of maybe having to have a hysterectomy in the future. I am very lucky though as I've at least had more than my fair quota of children so any infertility problems associated with Endo are not an issue for me. I've also not heard about many women actually being cured of this either which gives me cause for concern.

I watched a TV programme on Endo and they gave one woman a hysterectomy but then when they gave her HRT 6 months later the pain recurred and the doctor would take no convincing that it was the Endo back. From the few books that I've read on the subject removing the womb only takes away the source of the problem and they need to get rid of the Endo left in and around the cavity as well.

As you can tell this is all pretty recent for me but I'm already fed up of the strains that it puts on my marriage. I'd love to hear from anyone who can associate with me or even just give me more info on this.

Bye for now,

Sarah Chittenden