Teenager struggles with suspected Endometriosis | Waterloo Road - BBC

[@Retrom0ne]

"I don't understand how I'm supposed to manage when nobody believes I'm even ill" I felt that so deeply. I don't have endometriosis, but I suffer from other undiagnoised invisible illnesses. Having doctors and even parents not believing you when you say you're ill or in pain is such a slap in the face and is so isolating.

[@Jewelz622]

I’ve suffered with Endo for 30+ years. Stage 4 if u want to look it up. A lot of drs will tell u “it’s all in ur head” or “ur making it up” or blame it on drug abuse. They label us as drug seekers when suffering worse than labor pains. It’s sad. Now they won’t diagnosis till after 25 yrs of age. It’s insane. I am very very lucky and have a mom would fought for me hard to get a diagnosis. I was young when I got mine. But many family members told me all the time I am making it up and it’s all in my head. Still am now after 30 + yrs. Now my daughter who is now an adult has Endometriosis symptoms and is almost 19. They won’t even look into getting her help till she older. Yet I have it. Crazy how an invisible illness is treated. One day hope for a cure.

[@ianmcclellan7695]

Hopefully this will encourage more people to support women who suffer from Endometriosis. It’s a terrible condition and many women suffer from prejudice and ignorance about it.

[@judgejulie7869]

Suffered with this since age 14, no mom. Living with dad and two brothers. Diagnosed at 38 and had total hysterectomy. Best thing I ever did .

[@judgejulie7869]

@seooh_ ❤

[@fainafaina1940]

My mom did as well, I believe it saved her. She was literally bleeding profusely.

[@zenagray4847]

Me too agony so bad id cry after the pain subsided.

[@zenagray4847]

​@@fainafaina1940me too. Huge clots as well.

[@byronandramonapark6473]

I had a very severe case probably since I was 12. It was horrendous!! My dr said it was a miracle we had our boy! I had a hysterectomy at 39. Best word in the dictionary!!

[@hmpd5997]

As someone with Endometriosis, this brought me to tears. What a lovely supportive mum ❤

[@LifeWithRupy]

I just found out 3 weeks ago and I’m 35. Pretty certain I’ve had it since I started menstruating at the age of 12 but thanks to the medical systems gaslighting me, I normalized the pain for myself. And now as I’m struggling with infertility is finally when I get to learn I have Stage 4 endometriosis… it’s gut wrenching. 💔

[@AllieDog]

yup and because you're forced to normalize your pain so does the rest of the world 😩 im also in the 35 club struggling with fertility… I was in this same position in my 20s where they discharged me and left me feeling like a hypochondriac

[@georgia3045]

Hey me too! 31 and been told it was normal for years and finally just got diagnosis

[@LifeWithRupy]

@@AllieDog seriously!!!! 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ the infertility part is the hardest. I think I’ll be starting IVF soon with a suppression cycle to calm down the endo and if it works then we’ll plan for a lap excision later. I’m so infuriated about the medical professionals that turned me away with “this is normal”

[@LifeWithRupy]

@@georgia3045 I’m so sorry to hear that. It was a real stinger getting that diagnosis because I knew there was something off about my cramps being that bad!!!

[@georgia3045]

@@LifeWithRupy Thankyou! yes, but also is a bit of a relief to finally get it acknowledged. Sending you lots of positive vibes for your TTC journey, praying you conceive after your surgery if you are having it. Its not unheard of and miracles do happen ❤️

[@sophieirwin3497]

I’m grateful for my mum also being a nurse. She sensed my monthly coming on when I was a teenager and stocked up on all of the supplies because my periods were heavy. Even when I went to the medicine cupboard she’d ask ‘head or stomach?’ just in case I needed a hot water bottle for the cramps. I hate that periods still aren’t taken seriously even nowadays by a lot of doctors

[@spiceupyourafterlife]

I have endometriosis, too, and it sucks! What's really frustrating about it is that there's still a lot about it that doctors are still trying to figure out, which is partially why it's so misunderstood, so doctors aren't always as helpful as they should be.

[@karinaramirez-rattan4140]

This poor girl!!! I know exactly how she feels!!! I was her... Having babies didn't make the pain easier as these stupid docs say it will...

[@BarryBobbins]

She’s an actor.. this is a show. But yeah, I get the situation depicts a scenario that does happen in real life.

[@DaegSteorra513]

Too young?! Endometriosis is not age related even if symptoms are often more noticeable at a later stage in life.

[@LucyLane07]

I had that for years when I was a teenager. Agonizing and embarrassing.

[@witchywoman2008]

I was her at secondary school. I was even her in my last year of primary school. Thank you Waterloo Road for raising awareness ❤

[@miabieber4910]

I got diagnosed with PCOS when I was a teenager but also think it could be endometriosis as my cramps and pains are excruciating and unbearable but doctors and the nhs don’t take periods seriously and this needs to change

[@fii1897]

Literally same

[@cheetobuzz]

I've known since I was a teenager and had a friend with PCOS, but it was assumed I couldn't have it and things will get easier after I had my first kid? I also have an overactive thyroid I never 'outgrew' so I don't have the weight issues my friend and her sister (and now my cousin) have. At 38 I had an ultrasound and found to have PCOS and endometriosis. For once, it's a good thing I don't want kids,because it's not very likely to happen, but ectopic pregnancies are at a higher risk. Why did it take so long of bleeding through everything at the drop of a hat before I could get a proper diagnosis?

[@AnnieChisholm-hs2ju]

As a teen with endo THIS HIT HARD

[@theresacurran4012]

I got my period at 16 and by the time I was 20 my endometriosis was so severe it involved my bladder and bowel uterus ovaries and tubes and the wall of my back and vagina , years of treatment and a hysterectomy at 26 years of age . I have a lot of nerve damage and a bowel and bladder disease . Hormone therapy until I was 50 . I am now 66. Don’t put off getting help .

[@pollys2142]

Struggled since I was 13 with this, it’s incredibly difficult. Ended up having multiple laparoscopies, I did have 2 kids, but it ended up coming back worse. Tried multiple progesterone tablets, the pills, absolutely nothing worked. Spent years on really strong pain killers to get me through. Ended up having a total hysterectomy at 38. Thankfully now I’m ok, but it took a long time. Endometriosis is really difficult and very real

[@laurafabianmarrero]

I'm so sorry Glad You áre doing ok

[@JoeyLaison]

All my doctors have been telling me that a hysterectomy wont help me at all with my endometriosis, but I feel like I'm dying here. :( I'll probably have to wait for menopause before they'll do anything surgical

[@pollys2142]

@ I had my hysterectomy 6 years ago. Im 44 now. I have had no pain, cramps, bleeding, anything at all since my recovery period for that surgery ended. I have my life back Now Prior to my surgery, I felt like I was dying in agony every day. I pray you make the right decision for yourself xx

[@JoeyLaison]

@@pollys2142 I've developed a hell of a high pain tolerance since my first period at 11, to the point I didn't register a kidney infection as anything unusual until I suddenly went pale as death and crumpled while camping. I tried to keep my painkiller use to a minimum because I grew up surrounded by addicts, and thanks to the redhead gene, it takes a ton of painkillers to even touch me. So painkillers felt too risky for too little reward. My biggest problem with the endometriosis is that it partners up with my pcos and pmdd to form an unholy trinity of hormonal mental chaos, and its gotten so bad that I've lost most of my friends, almost alienated my family permanently, and feel so out of control of myself its like watching a lunatic spiral beyond depression and into madness. My gryno tried me on progesterone for 2 months, and I tried (and was denied) to get admitted into a psych ward because of how the hormones were effin me up, but still Im told that a hysterectomy wouldnt fix that. Did it help you with hormonal mental health?

[@TheColorHopeIsBlue]

I know the usual SOP for emergency room visits is to discharge people as soon as possible, but jeez, that doc was just itching to get Tonya and her family out even though she was in visible pain and she nearly fainted at school. If I was her doctor I’d be asking a lot of in-depth questions about her cycle and how she copes with her periods, then having her follow up with a specialist or gynecologist. To anyone in this thread who menstruates: it is not normal or acceptable to be in so much pain at any time during menstruation (or otherwise) that you collapse. It’s not normal or acceptable to be in pain so frequently besides when you’re “supposed” to be in pain. When-not if, when-you go to the doctor for this, make sure you talk about how often you’re in pain/bleeding, how intense the pain/flow is, and how it is affecting your ability to socialize/work/study/eat (in other words, how it is affecting your quality of life), because unfortunately when you don’t do that, most doctors will dismiss those symptoms as normal.

[@ZoeShears]

Sadly this story is all too real for many women and girls. If you have an issue that's women's health related your often overlooked and not believed it's so sad

[@Starjumper2000four]

I had to get a hysterectomy at 27 because of endometriosis. I was sick like this starting my teen years.

[@karinaramirez-rattan4140]

@@Starjumper2000four It was awful to mange as a teen... Rolling in pain and nothing worked to help... I was 27 when thy explored a bit... They found a cyst, polyps, and endometriosis was very apparent... What they lazered off grew back the following year... I'm in my early 50's waiting for menopause to take total control... Thanks for sharing...

[@CurlsandThings]

No solutions and more pain meds? Unfortunately, very common medical approach.

[@BarryBobbins]

This is a tv show…

[@CurlsandThings]

@ I don’t care.

[@BarryBobbins]

@@CurlsandThings You can’t depict reality from a Tv show? Now that’s embarrassing.

[@CurlsandThings]

@ I still don’t care.

[@Sunnipoo]

Doctors love dismissing women’s and girls pain. The normal amount of pain on ur period is no pain !

[@HeidiSholl]

"It's unlikely due to your age". He could not be more wrong. I first passed out from Endo at 15, once my periods had started to "settle" a bit more and were coming regularly. It was unbearable pain even then and it got worse and worse until I went on the pill at 21. The school nurse at the time told me I was just feeling faint from the sight of the blood, she ignored me when I told her how much it hurt. I didn't hear the word endometriosis for another 6 years, so I had no idea what was wrong and thought that maybe I just wasn't coping with something everyone else seemed to manage fine with. No one told me that you're not actually supposed to be in so much pain that you can't see, just that this was all a normal part of growing up and not to worry about it. If you're experiencing a lot of pain from your periods, worry about it! See doctors, get second opinions, don't let people tell you you just need to learn to live with it.

[@MissKatieJaneRigglar]

Poor Tonya 😭💔

[@BarryBobbins]

I can’t believe some of think this is ‘real’ and not a TV show.

[@petfan2948]

The pain is horrific. I used to scream every month and end up in hospital.

[@torilove4868]

They need to talk with a different doctor. The two men were talking over her mum and just decided it was a little pain. They should have asked for a woman doctor.

[@micellaragua]

They went to a GP earlier in the episode who was a woman. She offered the morning after pill and said it was normal

[@BarryBobbins]

Are you honestly normal?! This is a TV SHOW! How can think this is actually happening?! Were the cameras, actors and sets not a giveaway?’

[@micellaragua]

@@BarryBobbins there’s nothing wrong with being invested in the show. That’s the point of tv boss

[@BarryBobbins]

@micellaragua It’s the fact they it’s real which is the ISSUE.

[@torilove4868]

@barrybobbins Barry. Sounds very male. I reacted like that because it rings too true to real life. It's gotten better even during my lifetime, but doctors dismiss women, little pat on the head and you're overexaggerating. The first time I ever felt seen by a doctor, she was a woman doctor. Not that I would expect you to understand, Barry.

[@JadeRuri-ko1cj]

I love this show

[@user_sophie-lanchester]

What's it called?

[@micellaragua]

@@user_sophie-lanchesterWaterloo Road season 14

[@user_sophie-lanchester]

@@micellaragua ty

[@Rachel-g3h5q]

Yes that’s how painful it is!!!!

[@TheBucilla]

It took years for me to get my diagnosis and that was after being made to feel like i was making it all up or seeking drugs. It took a young locom doctoer to do a different blood test becaise she was a bit more clued up on the newer tests and they indicated it could be endo. One key hole laporoscapy later i was told id got stage 4 endometriosis and there only way to help was a total hysterectomy taking my ovaries and sending my into post menopause at 35 it is a horrible thing to live with and id imagine being so young it will be so much harder to deal with x

[@Victoria-_]

I feel so bad for her!

[@BarryBobbins]

This is a tv show, you do realise that?!

[@andreamccarron4448]

I had open abdominal surgery and suffered complications for the last 5 years since. Multiple more open abdominal surgeries after numerous wound breakdowns and my consultant is 100% it's due to endometriosis despite the gynaecologist ( 3pf them ruling it out) I don't have the symptoms those who suffer with it have. So pretty sure I don't have it. I can't believe in this day and age women are still ignored. You struggle for years to get a diagnosis when you have it but when they xant explain your real condition they are quick to say it's "womens issues". I feel such conditions need to he taken seriously. Many gynaecologist are also male so never even experience what we go through.

[@sophtbat]

Not entirely sure whether it's endometriosis or not - my periods are fairly regular and as long as I take Nurofen early enough, it's tolerable. But dang, I really relate to this so much. I had to be taken out of school several times because my period pain was so severe.

[@michellelanteri6897]

I am 56 I still get my period I was diagnosed with possible stage2 endometriosis with Adenomyosis in 2016 I am on a very strong androgen based progesterone levonorgestrel with 40 micrograms of estrogen . It controls painful cramps and with Advil reduces my blood flow but I still get attacks of vomiting and diarrhea and sometimes consipation

[@radbabs2000]

Been there...not fun. Had several surgeries to remove cysts. Developed an allergy to the anesthesic. Not fun.

[@haylene7521]

Im 36 and have only just found out i have adenomyosis and the pain i get is so bad i feel like passing out

[@brinicbri]

The ER scene was so triggering there should be a warning smh

[@matthewjamisonportee4990]

My big sister has it and I found out at my gynecologist appointment I’ve had since I was 11 I’m on birth control just to control it runs on my moms side of the family it’s hereditary

[@natashabolton2338]

My sis got she in pain so many doctors appointments and eating foods.. any advise 4 her

[@taylorross6674]

So they prescribe a teenage girl very stong possibly addictive painkillers instead of giving her some form of birth control. What the hell kind of doctor is this.

[@BarryBobbins]

You do understand that this is a tv show. How the hell can you think this is real?!

[@neoneve123]

Is this a new Waterloo road? I've never seen this

[@Louisyed]

Yes it started again a couple of years ago

[@SherSingh-qz8kk]

Ajay

[@f-ix1cf]

She might need medication all I had was brain parasites from my dog then I took anti parasite medication and my brain felt better I also have mild autism but I don't need any medication for that.

[@scarychewinggum]

are you sure they got rid of the brain parasites

[@laurafabianmarrero]

Her was not for parásites in the brain Is call endometriosis Is not the same at all

[@f-ix1cf]

@@scarychewinggum yes my brain felt a huge pain relief after I took it.

[@chamallow989]

@@f-ix1cfYeah but if you have a parasite, it’s something that’s technically alive in you so you can « kill » it with some meds. However for endometriosis, you have tissues from your uterus that grows outside of it. If it gets too severe the only way to try and solve it is to get surgery to remove that excess tissue. It’s not comparable to a parasite.

[@f-ix1cf]

@@scarychewinggum YESSSSSS