By Nicola Grant
I’ve lived with endometriosis for most of my life — and I wouldn’t wish the journey on anyone. It started when I was young, with extremely heavy periods and agonising pain that no one seemed to understand. I was told over and over again it was “just bad periods.” It wasn’t. Eventually, I had to undergo both a laparoscopy and a laparotomy. When I was admitted to Daisy Hill Hospital, one doctor in particular made me feel completely dismissed — like I was exaggerating or wasting their time.
Thankfully, I was later seen by Mr. Simms, a more experienced doctor who actually listened. That saved me. What they found was a growth the size of a golf ball, tangled and attaching itself to multiple organs. It was too large to remove via keyhole surgery, so they had to open me up. It gave me temporary relief, but that’s all it was — temporary. Endometriosis doesn’t just go away. Since then, it’s been a rollercoaster of hormones, operations, pain, and sheer frustration. I’ve gone through menopause twice due to Zoladex injections. I’ve been blessed with two beautiful children — six years apart and 14 years apart — and I know how lucky I am. But that doesn’t erase the suffering. After my second child, I was diagnosed with another 4cm endometriosis growth. Back on Zoladex again in January 2023 — and again, it worked briefly.
When I told my gynecologist it had helped, she took me off the surgical waiting list — as if the problem was solved. No follow-up. No ongoing support. Just taken off the list. Now, at 46, I’m still waiting. I was told it will be over two years before I’m seen again. Two years in pain. Two years of trying to get on with my life while something inside me continues to grow and cause harm. Endometriosis is not “just a bad period.” It’s a life-altering condition. Getting a diagnosis is hard enough — but even once you have one, the battle doesn’t stop. We’re left to manage chronic pain, hormone chaos, and the mental toll, often with no proper support. I share this for every girl and woman out there silently suffering.
For every person being told “it’s normal” or “it’s just part of being a woman.” It’s not. We need faster diagnosis. We need better treatment options. We need more awareness. And we deserve to be heard. If you’re raising awareness about endometriosis, thank you. I see you. I’ve lived this, and I’m still living it. This isn’t just a personal issue — it’s a political one too. Under a capitalist healthcare system, women’s pain is often deprioritised, especially when it’s invisible or long-term. Endometriosis doesn’t make profit, so it’s ignored. We’re left waiting years for treatment while private clinics thrive. It’s working-class women who suffer most — pushed to the back of the queue, dismissed, and expected to just “get on with it.” That’s why I support the values of the Workers’ Party, which fights for a truly public, fully funded healthcare system based on human need — not profit. Socialism means dignity, fairness, and a healthcare system that doesn’t leave women in pain for years on end. It means putting people before private interests — and that’s what endometriosis sufferers deserve.
Nicola Grant Workers Party
CLANRYE NEWS 