‘Endometriosis has taken over my life – my body’s attacking itself’
A Wicklow mum who uses a walking stick due to endometriosis pain is spending €65 a week on GP visits.
Amie Berns (29), from Kilmacanogue in north Wicklow, was diagnosed with endometriosis when she was 19.
The mother of one could not afford surgery last year, which led to her creating a GoFundMe appeal to raise the money she needed.
“It has taken over my life. It has got to the stage where I use a walking stick when I’m due a period because I’m in so much pain,” Ms Berns said. “I had surgery last June, which took 10 years because it was so expensive. I couldn’t afford to get it, so I had to do a GoFundMe to get the procedure done.
“I probably have to see my GP every week and it costs me €65 every single time. I was going to my doctor so much last year that I had to ask if I could pay it off in instalments, because I could not afford to pay €65 every single week.
“I have been refused a medical card because I don’t meet the criteria. I’ve probably applied six or seven times, and every time they come back with the same answer.
“I have applied for disability allowance because with my endometriosis, I can’t work due to the amount of pain that I’m in. I’m constantly turned down.
“I’ve tried to apply for health insurance and I was told that I had too much wrong with me. I suffer from PMDD, which is premenstrual dysphoric disorder, it’s basically severe PMS.
“I am on a serotonin booster which is an antidepressant. Every month I’ve to take that for two weeks out of my cycle so that my mental health doesn’t plummet. If I’ve to get a new script, it costs €60. I’m in a vicious circle, it is constant.”
Ms Berns said the pain endometriosis causes her has had a significant impact on her life. Some medical professionals struggle to believe her, which causes the help she needs to be put off.
“It is a never-ending battle. I can get a lot of infections in my body due to endometriosis. My immune system is awful. I could be on two antibiotics a month. Since I’ve had my surgery, I’ve ended up in A&E four times,” she said.
“It comes to the point where I have to sit, and think, ‘ Is my pain bad enough that I can afford to pay €100 to go to A&E, or do I just sit tight and pray that this pain goes away?’.
“My illness is so unpredictable. I could be waiting 45 minutes before I see anyone, and I’m in excruciating pain, where I’m doubled over. I can’t stand, I can’t walk properly, I could be vomiting from the pain.
“I’ve gone to many doctors and many gynaecologists who told me that this is in my head to go and see a therapist. It took me 10 years to find a gynaecologist who believed and listened to me.
“I don’t have a choice, my body is attacking itself inside, so I don’t have that choice. I have to look after my son on top of it too.”