PERSONAL STORY: TIFFANCY COURTENAY-LUCK

I am 26 years of age. I was diagnosed with Endometriosis about 2 years ago by a very kind and understanding consultant based in Bishops Wood Hospital. Although my endometriosis was in the lower part of my womb and was not too severe, it still causes me much pain during and after my period and also during intercourse.

However, once diagnosed, the consultant suggested that I went on the pill for approximately 6 months without a break, explaining that by stopping a bleed (period) it will shrink the endometriosis until it finally fades away. Whilst telling me this there were two problems, one was that he said the endometriosis could return and secondly, my body does not agree with the pill.

When I was a young girl I suffered tremendously with my glands coming up and causing a fever almost once a month. This obviously caused an infection and the current doctor prescribed me antibiotics every time. After about 3 years of living off antibiotics my mother said that enough was enough and insisted I see a specialist, who immediately took my tonsils out, after which I asked if I could keep them (as you do when you're about 12) and he just laughed quoting that they were the most mangled up tonsils he had ever seen due to all the infections. Anyway, later on in life (about 17years), I became very ill with stomach pains, tiredness, bloating etc. and the doctors told me I had IBS.

By this time my mother was quite into her alternative medicine and took me to a Chinese doctor who diagnosed me with candida which was more than likely to have been caused through all my antibiotics (therefore the pill was a definite No No!). I had colonic irrigation and after that went on a very strict diet, cutting out sugar, dairy products, yeast, alcohol etc. and I eventually regained my health again. However, all of this took its toll on my immune system and 7 years later and chronic period pains (with a bruising sensation in my abdomen) I was diagnosed with endometriosis. Therefore, because of the above, my Chinese doctor has told me never to tough the pill as it can cause of sorts of other problems, this may or may not be true but in my case he gave me my life back again and made me well, whereas the doctors just prescribed me with something for my IBS.

Since being diagnosed with endometriosis, I have refused to take the pill but taken up a healthier life-style with regards to food which seems to have helped, however, my periods are still bad and I know I still have endometriosis, although perhaps not quite so bad.

My Symptoms: PMT; Small blood clots occasionally; Pain and bruising in the lower abdomen; Shooting pains up my back passage; Inflammation internally; Irregular periods; Bloating; Painful and swollen breasts.

Funny enough I seem to only have light to medium periods.

Tiffany Courtenay-Luck