Thread by @NationalWorld

🗣 “Why am I in so much pain? Why is no one listening to me?”

It took nearly two decades for Chetna Mistry to be diagnosed with #endometriosis. Charities are calling for more research into women’s health so others don’t suffer a similar experience.

nationalworld.com/health/woman-1…

When Chetna Mistry was in her early 20s, she started suffering from extremely painful periods.

She visited her GP, who told her it was normal. But the pain was so bad that she couldn’t go out with friends, struggled to survive a day at work, and frequently ended up bed-bound.

“I just wanted to know what was happening to me,” Chetna told @NationalWorld. “Why am I in so much pain? Why is no one else experiencing this? Why is no one listening to me?”

Chetna returned to her GP, and the solution was to trial her on contraceptive pills and painkillers.

Switching GPs didn’t help either. No matter how many times she pleaded, each GP refused to refer her to a specialist.

When Chetna reached her mid 30s, she was at breaking point: “I couldn’t take it anymore. You’re begging for help. I would've done anything to cure the pain.”

In 2019, Chetna was diagnosed with #endometriosis - nearly two decades after she first sought help. But the battle didn't end there. She found that hospital consultants didn't explain the condition to her, nor tell her where to get help. She also had no idea it was incurable.

Now 43, Chetna is still awaiting more treatment - with her next surgery delayed as a result of the pandemic backlog. She can no longer work in her job as a preschool leader, and has been housebound since January 2021, relying on family members to help do even the simplest tasks.

She explained: “It affects everything. I have to change what I eat, what I drink, how I sleep. I use a wheelchair. I can’t maintain relationships with friends or work colleagues as I can’t see them. I am dependent on my family for everything - even going to the loo.”

Chetna said joining a support group run by @EndometriosisUK has been a lifeline, helping her feel less isolated and more understood. “It’s been life-changing - meeting people who have experienced similar things to me. I realised I should have been taken seriously all this time.”

Emma Cox, of @EndometriosisUK, said many problems are due to lack of research and investment in #womenshealth: “There’s historically been very little research into women’s health, particularly endometriosis. I'd find it difficult to believe gender bias doesn’t play a part in it"

"Currently, we don’t know what causes the condition, so we can’t find a cure. We need better research, investment, and testing for diagnosis”

Approximately 10% of women suffer from endometriosis - a figure which campaigners compare to the 10% of people who suffer from diabetes.

Despite the issues, there are some changes being made. @EndometriosisUK successfully campaigned to include education around menstrual health in the school curriculum, something Ms Cox said was a “step in the right direction” towards raising awareness for women’s health.

But for Chetna, change is not happening quick enough. She said: “Those who suffer from endometriosis still have to fight for our voices to be heard. I can only hope more women are listened to soon.”

nationalworld.com/health/woman-1…