Which health or social care professional has been most use
to you?
The gynaecologist who diagnosed my endometriosis after six
years of symptoms, courses of antibiotics, trips to casualty with
suspected appendicitis and even questions over whether the pain was
imaginary.
If you ran care services in your area what would you do
differently?
Ensure that every GP is fully aware of endometriosis and
its symptoms to prevent the suffering caused by delay in diagnosis.
The current average diagnosis time for endometriosis is nine
years.
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What event most changed your life?
Having endometriosis. I've realised what wonderfully
supportive family and friends I have, discovered new life-long
friends, met amazing people and had opportunities I would never
have imagined.
Has any government policy ever benefited you
personally?
Yes, the policy to provide anyone with a long-term illness
access to the expert patients programme by asking his or her GP.
The programme has helped me tackle day-to-day hurdles that life
with a long-term illness presents and therefore improve my quality
of life.
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What is your greatest achievement?
Becoming a trustee of the National Endometriosis Society
and giving a talk on the expert patients programme to the Royal
College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians.
What makes you happy?
Helping other people. As a tutor I've been given the
opportunity to pass on the benefits of this amazing course and
enjoy seeing more people benefit from it.
What is the most important lesson you have learned?
That learning is wasted unless it is passed on.
