Endometriosis’ sufferer Holly Phelan recounts her experience with the incurable disease

Despite the pain of suffering through endometriosis, Holly Phelan has gone on to find her dream job. Read her story.

Despite the pain of suffering through endometriosis, Holly Phelan has gone on to find her dream job and shares her story.

What is the most challenging aspect of having endo?

I can describe endometriosis in one word: painful.

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There’s the obvious physical pain, ranging from general pelvic pain to awful cramping periods.

Then there’s the emotional pain. The pain and suffering that go along with having endo affects your life in many ways: isolating you from friends and family, inability to participate in sports or take part in day-to-day activities, having anxiety over work because of absences and, of course, infertility.

Holly and her dog Billy.

Holly Phelan graduates as a nurse after a seven-year battle with endometriosis.

How has having endo affected playing sport/going to work/social events?

Endometriosis affects your entire life. It affects your body, work, relationships, friendships, mobility, independence, self-confidence … everything. Right down to your money situation.

I don’t get any time off from endometriosis. Calling in sick to work was always the worst thing for me.

Employers just think you are making it up and that all women have periods so it can’t be as bad as I was making it out to be.

I have missed out on a lot of things but life must go on and you have to find things that you enjoy.

Can you describe what your journey has been like?

It’s definitely been a rollercoaster. Back when I was 19 when my pain was at its worst, I had doctors say things like: “Suck it up, that’s just how periods are” or “You need to have a baby now or there will be no hope for you.” It was terrible.

A couple of years ago the pain was at its worst. I had multiple admissions to the emergency department.

I was so numb from all the medication I began to feel depressed.

There were days where I didn’t want to go through with it anymore, didn’t want to get out of bed, didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

I would vomit every hour or two because the pain was so bad.

I ended up having to pay privately for urgent surgery with an endo specialist.

Since then my condition is better managed.

This year I started my dream job at The Alfred and have been on several holidays.

For more information visit Endometriosis Australia