So Ovary It: Living with Endometriosis, Adenomysis, and PCOS

If you're here for an inspirational story about living with multiple chronic illnesses, you've come to the wrong place. I've spoken about grief before, but in a very delicate and separate way. Ironically that was in January last year, it's obvious my go-to time for reflectiom. But I think it's important to expand on that grief for what it is. Messy, frustrating, upsetting... And i want to write in an honest way - because I'm constantly fucking angry. I'm not here to spread false narratives about how I am 'smashing it' despite my disabilities. I'm not hear to pedal inspirational crap I don't really believe. Let's take a break from the toxic positivity we are supposed to embrace. Let's be real for just one moment about how fucking miserable it can be to live in pain every single second of every single day. I'm not here to lie and say 'we should all make the best of it'. CAN WE STOP TRYING TO FIND MEANING AMD LESSONS IN EVERY...

This is what happens when female pain is dismissed as standard care. I t’s taken me 9 months to be able to write this. And even now, I flinch at the memories. My eyes fill with tears when I revisit my experience. This might not be everyone’s experience, but it was my experience. I have had my pain dismissed or neglected in the past, but never have I been so exposed to the gender pain gap until I walked into that procedure room to have my hysteroscopy, drowning in false pretences, inaccurate information, and medical gaslighting.  They told me it would be simple. A “routine procedure,” they said. I read up on it. The material all described it as a simple, quick hysteroscopy. I should expect some mild discomfort, nothing to worry about. I was told I’d be in and out in no time and that I would be able to go straight back to work. That reassurance was meant to soothe me, but now, looking back, I realise how profoundly misleading it was. I wish I’d have read content from real patients a...

 It’s okay to not find meaning in every moment of suffering. Living with a chronic illness is a lesson in adaptation, resilience, and recalibration. It forces you to rewrite the rules of your life, sometimes daily. But amidst all the effort to keep going—finding ways to cope, adjusting expectations, and navigating a world that often doesn’t understand—there’s a quieter, heavier truth that isn’t often acknowledged: chronic illness is a series of losses. And it’s okay to grieve them. Grief isn’t just about losing someone you love; it’s also about the slow erosion of parts of yourself, your dreams, and what you wanted your future to look like. Chronic illness has a way of taking—your energy, your freedom, your spontaneity, and sometimes even your sense of identity. Sometimes I feel like it's engulfed my identity, all of me. And there’s no neat closure, no clear end point where you can say, “I’ve moved on from this.” Instead, there’s an ongoing need to mourn and adapt as th...

Women's health is a multifaceted domain that encompasses various conditions and challenges. Among the many complex conditions affecting women, three often misunderstood and frequently misdiagnosed disorders stand out: endometriosis, adenomyosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). These conditions can significantly impact a woman's quality of life and reproductive health, yet they often go unnoticed or are mistakenly attributed to other causes, taking up to, and sometimes over, 7-8 years to even diagnose. In this blog, I want to try and shed light on these enigmatic trio, exploring their symptoms, causes, and available treatment options. Whilst I am no doctor, this is very much a cathartic exercise for me to share my own experiences, and some of the things I wish I had known sooner. Only by talking more and connecting can we really look to destigmatise these common conditions, that effect so many women globally. Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a chronic condition that occurs ...

  Ah, the holiday season – a time of joy, festivities, and the occasional stress-induced meltdown. I've never been a huge fan of Christmas, even before chronic pain took over my life. While everyone else is busy decking the halls, drinking too much Baileys (because it's Christmas after all!), or fighting Susan for the last Turkey Crown in Tesco, those of us with chronic illnesses know that the season comes with its own set of challenges and can be a serious drain on our metaphorical spoons. Normally, I like to get dressed up over the holidays but last year, I was bloated, exhausted, in fluctuating amounts of pain. So out of the window went the high heeled boots and glittery jumpsuit and in came the fluffy teddy bear onesie and cuddles with my dog, Jess. And it was the best decision I made. Whilst suffering with chronic pain, I had found some level of comfort. Everyone will have their own ways to manage their health over the holidays, because everyone's needs are entirely d...