Vicki is 39 years and has struggled with heavy periods and related pain since she was 10 years old. She was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis at 22 but continued to suffer with severe pain, heavy bleeding and UTIs, despite treatments and multiple surgical interventions. As a last attempt to be pain free, Vicki chose to have a hysterectomy when she was 35. Even though her ovaries were not removed, she realised she was entering menopause after the operation when she began having night sweats, insomnia, anxiety and very dry hair and skin. The ‘cure’ Vicki was hoping for didn’t materialise – another battle just began instead, as it took 18 months to access the treatment she now needed for her menopause.
Vicki shares some of the struggles younger women have when trying to get help for endometriosis and/or a surgical or early menopause, and reflects on the decision she made and the lack of information provided to her at the time. Dr Louise Newson advises women in this situation to speak with their doctor about the likelihood of surgery triggering menopause and to find out about the symptoms and benefits of HRT in advance, so you are prepared.
Vicki’s tips if you have, or think you have, endometriosis:
You can read more about Vicki’s experience here and follow her on Instagram
Vicki helped contribute to the booklet, ‘Endometriosis and You’
For more about endometriosis, visit Endometriosis UK
157 - Science based weight reduction that lasts with Dr Saira Hameed
156 - Educating women, improving access to treatment and influencing those in power with Dr Sharon Malone
155 - Weight loss, diabetes and menopause with Dr Clare Bailey and Dr Michael Mosley
154 - How pharmacists can improve menopause care in your GP practice and community with Rupa Lyall
153 - Learning how to prescribe HRT as a GP trainee with Dr Thulasi Naveenan
152 - Irritable bowel, bloating and digestive health with The Gut Experts
151 - Unpicking UTIs and the role of hormones with Dr Rajvinder Khasriya
150 - The effects of trauma, gender bias and the peri/menopause with Dr Jan Smith
149 - What I have learnt since falling in love with menopause care with Dr Abbie Laing
148 - Plant-based living with Happy Pear’s Dave and Steve Flynn
147 - Changing minds about food and diets with Dr Robert Lustig
146 - Helping others feel less alone with POI with Ava Vanderstarren
144 - ZOE’s co-founder, Jonathan Wolf, on the future of nutrition science
143 - Fertility, pregnancy and perimenopause with Rhona and Tanya
142 - Losing my wife: was her perimenopause a contributing factor? With Peter Smith
141 - Helping organisations change their culture around menopause with Sarah Davies, Talking Menopause
140 - Addressing the emotional challenges of perimenopause and menopause with Simona Stokes
139 - ‘How my life experience has influenced me as a doctor’ with Dr Naomi Jiagbogu
138 - Explaining what the evidence shows to offer choice to women after breast cancer, with Avrum Bluming
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Good Mood Revolution
The Relaxback UK Show
Your Sleep Guru Podcast
Anxiety Slayer™ with Shann and Ananga
Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep
The Gary Null Show