Young Limerick woman forced to go to Spain to access surgery for agonising chronic condition
Endometriosis sufferer Erica O’Donoghue said she had no choice but to opt for foreign treatment after scheduled surgery here was delayed for at least another year
Erica O’Donoghue, from Garryowen, explained that she has suffered severe pain since her early teenage years.“From the age of 13 I’ve suffered from severe pains with my periods which lead to a condition called endometriosis and adenomyosis,” she said.“I’ve been to multiple specialists where I was told for five years straight it was all in my head.”Endometriosis and adenomyosis are chronic conditions where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere, causing severe pain and often fertility issues.Erica described the impact the condition has had on her life. “I missed out on months of school when I was in secondary school. I remember at one time my pain was so bad the school had to ring an ambulance for me to go to A&E, where I was told I was too young to have a condition like this.”She added: “I was sent to counselling at the age of 17 where they told me it was all due to anxiety.”Despite repeated tests and visits to multiple specialists, Erica said she has been unable to get relief from the agonising effects of her conditions.“I’ve seen three specialists in the last six months who sent me home with opioid painkillers.“I [would] barely know what day it is and what is happening around me in a total haze and still [get] no relief from my pains.”Erica recently learned that her surgery in Ireland would be delayed indefinitely.“I rang to see what the update was, only to be told that all elective surgeries have been ‘cancelled’ and that I’d be waiting another year,” she said.“How do they expect me to last another year in constant pain, no life, constantly sick, and losing the will to live almost every day?”Through the HSE cross-border scheme, Erica has now been approved for surgery in Madrid.
She will travel to Spain on March 15 and is expected to remain there for 14 days for her surgery.“I can go to Madrid in Spain for my surgery in March that I need, but for this I would need €15,000 to pay for the surgery and they would reimburse me in 4 to 6 months after.“Where do they expect me to get this from, and another €5,000 to €6,000 for flights, accommodation, and food for the days I’m over there?”She expressed frustration with the Irish health system.“They really need to sort themselves out. So many women have killed themselves over this condition,” Erica claimed.Describing the physical and emotional toll of living with the condition, she said: “I’ve spent many days crying in pain, unable to move from the bed, barely able to wash myself because the pain is so bad I could collapse.“I just want a normal life without being in pain, being able to enjoy myself, go out, have a meal, celebrate special occasions, but due to this condition I can’t do any of that.”
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