A DEVASTATED woman claims having her disease dismissed by doctors as “bad periods” for 15 years left her childless – after suffering eight miscarriages.
Sophie Bunton says she began to experience painful, heavy periods from her first menstrual cycle aged 13.
When she was left bedbound each month and forced to miss school Sophie booked an appointment with her GP, who prescribed her the combined pill aged 15.
But after spending two years struggling with the physical and mental health side effects of the pill she stopped taking it.
The semi-permanent makeup artist claims she spent the next decade being passed from doctor to doctor who would put it down to simply “bad periods“.
During this time, Sophie’s pain worsened and she suffered her first miscarriage aged 19.
The 30-year-old then lost another baby aged 21 and went on to have a devastating six further miscarriages while trying for a baby.
In October this year, Sophie was finally diagnosed with stage four endometriosis after undergoing surgery to further investigate her symptoms.
Sophie said she felt neglected after it took doctors so long to diagnose her and believes her eight miscarriages were triggered by the gynaecological disease.
She’s now speaking out about having her agony dismissed for 15 years to help other suffering women and urges them to keep pushing doctors for a diagnosis.
Sophie, from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, said: “I’ve had really bad pain and I was having really heavy periods from the start.
“Over the years, they continued to be heavy and painful and I couldn’t go to school sometimes so it affected my school work.
“It also went on to affect my mental health and rolled all into one until it started affecting everything. I was bed bound with my period even at 14 or 15.
“At 19 I fell pregnant and this was my first miscarriage. It’s not easy to talk about but I feel like being more open [means] I’ve helped a lot of girls.
“This miscarriage was down to my undiagnosed endometriosis at this point.
“[Following this], I just waited around. It was phone calls after phone calls and lots of appointments.
I felt like I was getting stabbed in the stomach over and over and sometimes pain relief wouldn’t work. I was bed bound every month with my period
Sophie Bunton
“I didn’t feel listened to and everything was being put down to bad periods and [doctors] saying it was very common to have miscarriages.
“I then had a second miscarriage when I was 21. I think I was six weeks at this one and looking back I 100 per cent put it down to my endometriosis.
“I felt not listened to by the doctors and it was very difficult and had a big effect on my mental health.
“I returned to the doctors but it was just the same constant cycle of waiting for referrals. The pain had gotten a lot worse, it was excruciating.
“I felt like I was getting stabbed in the stomach over and over and sometimes pain relief wouldn’t work. I was bed bound every month with my period.
“I’ve had eight miscarriages in total. I think it’s hard because I’ve grown up with friends and family around me having children. I’m happy for them but it’s quite difficult.”
Endometriosis is where cells similar to those in the lining of the uterus grow in other parts of the body and can affect organs such as the bladder and bowel.
Symptoms happen when patches of endometriosis break down and bleed during your period but can’t leave your body.
They include heavy periods and severe period pains, with studies showing that people with this disease have an increased risk of suffering miscarriages.
After undergoing surgery, Sophie claims doctors found these cells growing on all her organs and she has further been diagnosed with adenomyosis.
Adenomyosis is a condition where the lining of the womb starts growing into the muscle in the wall of the womb.
It can cause pain and heavy bleeding during periods, as well as bloating, pelvic pain and soreness during sex.
Sophie claims that since starting her period, her endometriosis symptoms have “ruined” her life affecting both her mental and physical health.
Though relieved by her diagnosis, Sophie says it upset her as she feels she has been “neglected” for so many years.
Sophie said: “It’s been going on for about 15 years and it’s affecting my business, it’s affected friendships and affected relationships. It affects me physically and mentally.
“Endometriosis is an invisible disease. I’ve had to put up with people over the years asking why my stomach is so big and what clothes I wear. I’ve had to watch what I eat.
Endometriosis is the name given to the condition where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body.
Each month these cells react in the same way to those in the womb, building up and then breaking down and bleeding.
Unlike the cells in the womb that leave the body as a period, this blood has no way to escape.
This can cause inflammation, pain and the formation of scar tissue.
In the UK, around 1.5 million women and people assigned female at birth are currently living with the condition.
Not everyone with endometriosis experiences symptoms.
Symptoms can vary in intensity and the amount of endometriosis does not always correspond to the amount of pain and discomfort people have.
The classic endometriosis symptoms include:
Source: Endometriosis UK
“I’ve been asked quite a few times if I’m pregnant as my stomach is so big. Sometimes my stomach might be huge even not at my time of the month.
“[When I was diagnosed], I felt neglected and quite upset and relieved at the same time. It’s not how I thought I’d feel.
“I felt like I hadn’t been listened to, as this could have been prevented years and years ago.
“It’s the endometriosis, which is attached to all my organs. I had adenomyosis as well on my uterus. I have problems with my bowels too and this is all linked to endometriosis.
“At the moment, they are still doing more investigations. My stomach is very large at the moment. It’s really bloated and painful.”
Keep pushing, even if you don’t think you’re being listened to.
Sophie Bunton
Following her diagnosis, Sophie is now sharing her story to help other women suffering with similar symptoms and urges them to push for medical help.
Sophie said: “I would say to keep pushing, even if you don’t think you’re being listened to because I think I’ve left it too late.
“I’ve finally been referred to the mental health team as I never received any help despite having eight miscarriages.
“I guess it’s good that I am now being referred for all of this.
“I’ve been seen by a psychiatrist and all this is coming to light, but I’ve had to go through so many years of torture and pain – mentally, physically and emotionally just to be here.
“I feel let down by the system. I don’t think there’s enough help for it.
“Unless you have endometriosis I don’t think people know how bad it is, it’s ruined my life.
“Doctors said the endometriosis could be the reason for all my miscarriages but I 100 per cent believe this is the cause of them all.
“I like to think that I’m in the right hands now but I’m still going to do what I can to help other people. There definitely needs to be more awareness about endometriosis.”
A spokesperson for York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are sorry to hear that Miss Bunton has concerns about the care she has received.
“We are more than happy to follow this up with Miss Bunton if she is able to get in touch with us directly by contacting our Patient Experience Team.”
