New data in the UK show that Women Diagnosed with endometriosis earn less after diagnosis Report Shows
https://her.ie/health/women-with-endometriosis-earn-less-study-finds-630580
I haven’t earned a full time wage in ten years because of not being able to access treatment in Ireland for endometriosis
I am diagnosed 20 years this year
In 2011 I had to leave my career in Estate Agency because I simply could not commit to work with the disease spreading through my body like wildfire
In 2015 after being told for 2 years straight my pain could not be identified due to “clear” scans I went and paid for a private scan that showed a tumor in my uterus the size of a watermellon
That tumor was seen in scans since 2007 but consultants had missed it
Consultants also missed the endometriosis lesions spreading through my body that it took 7 surgeries in 8 years until I finally had my first excision surgery in Ireland by an oncologist in Dublin in 2022 as Ireland currently do not have an Endometriosis Framework nor do we have any Endometriosis Specialists on the Island of Ireland
Since 2016 I have lost 6 organs
Since diagnosis in 2005 I have had 15 surgeries
Unfortunately the consultant left disease behind so since my surgery in 2022 I am now under 5 multidisciplinary medics, all private as I can not access treatment as a Public patient as the waiting times are too long
My recent scans show new endometriomas on my only ovary which is causing havoc to my natural hormone production, the disease was never fully excised from my bowel so I’ve been told I am currently too high risk for bowel surgery and I have 3 cysts on my brain but we do not have specialists in Ireland
Endometriosis outside of the pelvic region is not rare it is not recorded in Irish data because we do not have consultants who are specialists so up until recent times when tissue was removed during surgery it wasn’t sent to histology to be tested for endometriosis
This is why I campaign for immediate change in Ireland because women can not be expected to live like this
I went from having my own mortgage my own business and solo parent financially independent to being dependent on the state and unable to commit to work because of the damage to my body - what I have lost is monumental and at 46 years of age what I’ve experienced as an endometriosis patient in Ireland for 30 years is nothing less than medical misogyny and traumatic
Endometriosis can be managed when screened and treated early - for me i couldn’t access care and lost organs and my fertility by the time I was only 37
When the new promised framework is published it does not include Kerry in the framework
Currently in Ireland women are being forced to accept out dated treatment or leave Ireland for specialist care
Please join my awareness event March 7th to 9th in Ballygarry Tralee Co. Kerry
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/76437028823
And sign my petition to bring to the Minister of Health