'The pain was so bad, it was like being stabbed'

THERE were days Christine Mills couldn't walk because the pain was so bad. Every time she moved, it felt like someone was stabbing her in the stomach. There was nothing she could do but lie, curled up in a ball, waiting for the agony to pass.

Thousands of women suffer from painful periods but this was something different, far more intense. From the age of 17, Christine began to dread that time of the month, but it was more than 20 years before she was diagnosed with endometriosis, a chronic and debilitating condition that affects nearly two million British women. It can develop at any age, from early teens to the menopause, and there is no reliable research confirming the causes.

Endometrium is the tissue that lines the womb. During the menstrual cycle the thickness of the endometrium increases in readiness for the fertilised egg. When pregnancy does not occur, the lining is shed as a period.

In endometriosis sufferers, the cells that normally line the uterus grow outside. Each month the tissue outside the uterus breaks down and bleeds into the pelvis but, unlike a period, it has no way of leaving the body. This leads to inflammation, pain and the formation of scar tissue. It can also form in the ovaries as cysts.

Because endometriosis manifests itself in a variety of ways, diagnosis can be difficult and often takes years, leading to discomfort, distress and, in some cases, severe pain. It can also cause infertility.

Christine, who lives in Darlington, says: "As soon as my period started, I used to feel really sick, an overwhelming sickness and tiredness. I literally couldn't walk straight with the pain.

"I remember one morning I woke up at 4am in absolute agony. It was so bad, my husband wanted to call the doctor but I knew there was no point. The worst thing was that I really needed to go to the toilet but I just knew it would be agony. I lay in bed and cried for ages before I finally managed to move."

As she grew older, the condition got worse, dominating Christine's life.

"I have quite a high pain threshold but that was something else. It's the worst pain I've ever experienced. People talk about period pain or 'women's problems' but this isn't something you can brush under the carpet. It affects everything.

"Even making love, it was very painful afterwards, sometimes during, and I had to ask my husband to stop. John was very understanding but I felt like we didn't have a normal relationship and that used to upset me."

For years, Christine went back and forwards to her GP but it was only following a laparoscopy three years ago that she was diagnosed with endometriosis.

"I didn't really know anything about it but the doctors said it was like a vine that was growing round my womb and pelvis."

Christine was prescribed drugs for six months to shut down her ovaries, and that brought her some relief, but she was told the only way to stop the pain permanently was for her to have a hysterectomy.

"Because I was still relatively young, they wanted to make sure I was absolutely positive about it, but I was. If someone had said to me 15 or 20 years ago that a hysterectomy would have got rid of the condition, I wouldn't have hestitated, even thinking about children. That's how terrible the pain was."

Fortunately, children were not an issue. John already had three and the couple had no plans to start a family together.

Now, at the age of 43, Christine says she has absolutely no regrets about her hysterectomy and says she feels better than ever. She's tanned and healthy looking and, for the first time, she's able to really enjoy life.

"I feel healthier now. Just getting up in the morning and looking forward to the day. It's like I've found a new me and I'm happy with this one. I just wish that it had been diagnosed earlier and saved me 20-odd years of misery, because misery is exactly what it was."

Christine's endometriosis was severe but symptoms can vary in intensity. Some patients experience severe pain while others have no pain but have difficulty in conceiving. Some have both pain and fertility problems.

Pain can occur during periods, at ovulation, during and after intercourse and even with bowel movement. It can also cause fatigue and depression.

At present, the only way to diagnose the condition is through laparascopic surgery, in which a small opening is usually made in the navel and a tube with a tiny camera is inserted into the pelvic area.

There is no cure but it can be treated with drug therapy, in which hormones are used to prevent the growth of endometrium.

The other option is surgery, which aims to remove endometrium and relieve symptoms. Many surgeons offer keyhole surgery but open surgery may be necessary. Usually the surgeon will try to avoid removing major organs, such as the womb, ovaries and Fallopian tubes, but sometimes this is unavoidable.

Some women choose to alleviate their symptoms with complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, reflexology and reiki.

Next Wednesday is National Endometriosis Awareness Day, organised by the National Endometriosis Society. The charity was formed in 1981 and offers information and support for sufferers. It has support groups around the UK, a range of publications and fact sheets and raises funds for research and parliamentary lobbying.

Christine says: "It's absolutely essential that we raise awareness about endometriosis. I'm sure there are hundreds of women out there who have the condition but haven't had it diagnosed. They've probably been in agony for years but don't know why."

* The National Endometriosis Society runs a free confidential national helpline, available 365 days a year on 0808 808 2227 and staffed by trained volunteers who are all sufferers. You can also visit the website at www.endo.org.uk