Reaching out to Government: "...girls really need to know if they're off school for a week in severe pain they need to see a Doctor as it’s not normal..."

June 30, 2008

"...girls really need to know if they're off school for a week in severe pain they need to see a Doctor as it’s not normal..."

My name is Michelle (this isn't a photo of me!). I was diagnosed with endometriosis in October 2006. I began my periods in December 2005 and had chronic pain from day one. My health before I was diagnosed was not good either. I have had numerous admissions to hospital for bladder, kidney and bowel related problems after being diagnosed with endometriosis one of the Doctors wondered if all my other problems could have being related to it.

At times I fell very alone stuck in my room and bed with my pain living on strong pain relief. My mum does what she can to help but it’s not like having someone who knows what its like to have this disease.

Elaena at Endometriosis New Zealand was fantastic and after asking if she could put me in touch with someone of a similar age, I meet Alice. We hit it off immediately sharing our stories and realising I wasn’t alone in how I was feeling. It helped me to talk to someone of my own age, not another adult.

I really hope the me program makes it to the North Island as girls really need to know if they're off school for a week in severe pain they need to see a Doctor as it’s not normal. They also need to know there are a lot of girls out there with endometriosis and they are not alone. If the ‘me’ program had been in Wellington when I was diagnosed, I would have really felt heaps better knowing what endometriosis was and that a lot of girls have it in my age group.

Jun 30, 2008 4:34:37 PM