A 21-year-old woman from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, endured severe bloating that made her appear ‘pregnant’ and was allegedly advised by doctors that having a baby might alleviate her pain. Grace Almey has faced painful and heavy periods since a young age, with some lasting up to three weeks. Despite seeking medical help and trying different contraceptives, her suffering persisted. Grace revealed her experience, stating, “From the get-go, I had really heavy periods and they were really painful. Sometimes they’d last for three weeks. My mum kept taking me to the doctors but at that age, they just said it would settle.” When she was around 15, doctors reportedly suggested that having a baby could be a solution, as one remarked, “Normally we’d tell women to have a baby.”
Further complications arose for Grace this year, including back pain, gastrointestinal issues, and hair loss. After undergoing a laparoscopy initially thought to detect endometriosis, she was diagnosed with adenomyosis, a condition where the inner lining of the womb grows into its muscular wall. The only definitive remedy to end her agony, as she was informed, is a hysterectomy – the removal of the womb. This procedure would stop her periods and eliminate the possibility of conceiving. Grace expressed, “It’s bittersweet to know there is something to help but it’s not possible at a young age. I’ve got to live with this until I’m willing to have a hysterectomy.”
Currently, Grace is focusing on managing each day as it comes and exploring holistic approaches like avoiding alcohol and highly processed foods. She has also been referred for pelvic floor physiotherapy to help alleviate some of the muscle tightness contributing to her pain. Grace acknowledged, “I’m trying to live day by day. It alters your whole life.”
The challenging journey faced by Grace highlights the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment for women’s health issues. Amidst her struggles, she continues to seek ways to improve her quality of life and cope with the debilitating symptoms of adenomyosis.