March is Endometriosis Action Month, which aims to raise awareness of the debilitating disease which affects one in ten women. It’s when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

It can cause severe pain and affects fertility, yet many people are unaware of the condition or its impact.

Our Trust has a nationally accredited (by the British Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy) Endometriosis Centre where, in 2021 we began providing more complex robotic surgery for women with endometriosis.

The benefits of robotic surgery; where a surgeon sits at a computer console to control the robot, which uses small incisions, surgical instruments and a camera; include more precision, less invasive surgery for patients leading to quicker recoveries, and a greater range of movement which means the surgeon does not tire as easily.

To help raise awareness of the condition, three women who have benefited from robotic surgery at our centre have shared their experiences.

Philippa Linane:

My life has transformed enormously.

Philippa (above), 52, had a hysterectomy and bowel resection in October 2023. She’d been dealing with endometriosis since she was 14, when it was even lesser known than it is now.

She said: “No one talked about it back then. I was put on the pill to help with my periods and it masked everything, until I came off it.”

Some of the hurdles Philippa, of Romford, experienced included being told by a female GP she needed to be treated psychologically for the pain rather than physically, and an operation in a private hospital which ended up with only her uterus being removed and she lost four pints of blood. She was so traumatised afterwards she had to receive therapy before she could even consider being operated on at our hospital.

She said: “I was such a mess and had three months off work to recover. When I went to the specialist Endometriosis Centre I realised I should have been sent there all along and the previous surgery should never have gone ahead.

“The Endometriosis team at Queen’s Hospital were brilliant. They sent me to a great therapist and were in touch the whole time. I was out of hospital within four days of my operation, where I had a full pelvic clearance and bowel resection, it was incredible. I was back at work as a massage therapist, a physical job, with a month.

“I’d had four previous surgeries over the years, but it was always a short-term fix. It’s a progressive disease and it kept coming back. I wish I’d had a hysterectomy years ago. Suffering had become a way of life, and no one knew. Life has been brilliant since and I’m completely pain free.”

“Its massively important to raise awareness by having conversations, not just among women affected but health professionals like GPs too. I think endometriosis should be talked about in schools and there should be more support in the workplace. Women’s health still has a long way to go.” 

Lauren Pinkney:

It’s always good not to have to remove an organ.

Complex robotic surgery to remove an endometriosis mass, ureteric obstruction, an ovary and ovarian cyst in December meant surgeons were able to save Lauren’s kidney, which was severely affected by endometriosis.

Lauren (above), 28, of Elm Park, had symptoms since she was 13, however, she wasn’t diagnosed until she was 26, when it was also found one of her kidneys had been blocked for years.

She said: “I’d always had bad periods and mum took me to the GP and I was put on the pill. I didn’t really know about endometriosis and it seems a lot of women who have abdominal pain are told they’re fine and to take some painkillers.

“When I started getting random pain and noticed a lump in my stomach I went back, but they said it was constipation and gave me pills for irritable bowel syndrome. Nothing was helping and I gave up as no one was listening.

“I went again at the start of 2022 and was referred to hospital as the doctor could see something wasn’t right and even suspected cancer, which was an ‘oh god’ moment.

“My kidney had to be drained when they found it was blocked – I never knew endometriosis could cause this. When I went into surgery, they planned to remove my kidney. I didn’t know until I woke up that they’d been able to do a reconstruction and put a tube into my bladder so hadn’t had to. It’s always good not to remove an organ!”

Now Lauren’s pain has improved and she continues to see our Endometriosis team to monitor the condition, while her kidney function is also regularly checked.

Laura Page:

I’m 100% a new woman.

Laura, 38, had a hysterectomy in November after endometriosis scarring kept recurring.

She said: “I was having an operation every year and I couldn’t keep putting my body through that. Sometimes the pain was so unbearable I thought I was going to die, and I had heavy periods. It was hard to live a normal life.”

For Laura, of Rainham, the decision to have a hysterectomy was a big one as it meant she could no longer have children and would start the menopause in her 30s.

She added: “I didn’t want to have a hysterectomy at first as I’m still young, but in your situation you have to chose the best outcome for you. I’ve got a son, Zack who’s 12, and it’s a blessing I have one child.

“I started the menopause straight away and it took time to adjust my hormones. I accepted it as I just wanted to be out of pain and live normally.

“My surgeon was amazing and all the team were very caring and put me at ease. Now I’m 100% a new woman and can enjoy life. I’d encourage anyone going through it not to overthink it. For me, it was the best thing ever.”