Co Down woman, 35, left in chronic pain and forced to use rollator due to severe endometriosis

Дата публикации: 06-08-2026 18:04:05

She had two surgeries to treat the condition before undergoing a hysterectomy in June 2021 at the age of 30

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She had two surgeries to treat the condition before undergoing a hysterectomy in June 2021 at the age of 30

A Co Down woman diagnosed with recurring endometritis says she now relies on a rollator to help her walk due to chronic pain.

Samantha Campbell, 35, from Kilkeel was first diagnosed with endometritis when she was only 24 after suffering pain for a number of years. She had two surgeries to treat the condition before undergoing a hysterectomy in June 2021 at the age of 30 when she had stage 4 endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a long-term condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes, affecting one in 10 women worldwide. The symptoms of endometriosis can vary. Some women are badly affected, while others might not have any noticeable symptoms.

The main symptoms are pelvic pain, period pain that stops you doing normal activities, pain during or after sex, feeling sick, constipation, diarrhoea, or blood in your pee during your period, and difficulty getting pregnant. Despite the seriousness of the disease, it takes an average of eight years just to get a diagnosis.

Samantha was plagued with the physical symptoms of heavy periods, fainting and dizzy spells that also started to impact her mental health. After becoming desperate "for it all to stop," she chose to have the radical surgery.

Sadly she was diagnosed with recurring endometriosis in September 2024 and is now almost two years on the waiting list for complex urgent surgery at Belfast City Hospital.

According to the Belfast Trust, the current waiting time is approximately two years and 10 months. There was an improvement in 25/26 with all gynaecology inpatients being reduced to below three years (from over five for complex endometriosis) and with additional investment in 26/27, the Trust expects to see these times reducing further.

Endometriosis recurrence means that tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows back or symptoms return after treatment.

Samantha says her organs are at risk the longer she waits for a place to become available on the surgery wait list. Due to severe bowel and bladder pain, she is struggling with mobility in her legs and needs to use a rollator or walking stick full-time.

According to the Belfast Trust, the current waiting time is approximately two years and 10 months. There was an improvement in 25/26 with all gynaecology inpatients being reduced to below three years (from over five for complex endometriosis) and with additional investment in 26/27, the Trust expects to see these times reducing further.

Samantha told Belfast Live: "When I was diagnosed with stage 4 reoccurring endometriosis after I started feeling unwell again I felt shocked and sad and scared because I knew that I had to fight all over again and not just for treatment. I knew in that moment I would face years of waiting for an operation and to receive proper healthcare.

"It took them around 6 months for a multi-disciplinary meeting to discuss my case and then just over 6 months again to get me on the wait list for an operation. I was promised several times that it would be in 12 months but now here we are almost two years down the line.

"I was told in May it would be likely another 12 months but it could be up to 3 years before you get an operation, maybe more. I have amazing doctors on my side but even they agree that urgent on my status doesn't always mean urgent to the NHS."

She added: "Women's health especially endometriosis never seems to matter or be recognised in the same way as time sensitive issues. The longer I wait for a place to become available on the surgery wait list, the more at risk I am of my bowel and bladder being damaged permanently.

"Even though I've had the hysterectomy the symptoms this time are very much worse. Last time was a breeze compared to this time, so it is, we're not going to be realistic.

"I use a rollator when I have to go out of the house, the pain's not bad in my pelvic, back and legs. The fatigue is also so draining; it's just hell on earth trying to get out of bed. The pain was so bad at one point recently that I passed out on my bathroom floor and my mum had to call an ambulance.

"I feel really lazy and guilty all the time that I should be doing more and out and about more living a full life when I can't. I feel so utterly let down by the system. I just feel very neglected at the minute by the system. I don't feel like anybody listens or cares."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said it recognises that many women are waiting an unacceptable time for diagnosis and treatment for conditions such as endometriosis and this is one of the reasons why women’s health, including services for those suffering from conditions such as endometriosis, is a key area of focus for the Health Minister.

The DoH spokesperson added: “Work is ongoing across the health and care system to reduce waiting times and improve pathways for gynaecology specific conditions, including endometriosis. In 2025, the Minister announced a package of initiatives in the Elective Care Framework Implementation and Funding Plan to tackle waiting lists, including funding of £3.5m to provide over 4,000 additional assessments and 900 treatments within gynaecology.

“The overall aim is to deliver a reduction in gynaecology waiting lists of 40% by March 2027, 65% by March 2028 and 90% by March 2029 relative to the 2024/25 baseline position. The Department has also developed a regional pathway for endometriosis and investment is being planned, according to funding available, to implement this pathway.“This work forms part of the implementation of the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Report for Gynaecology which identified recommendations for each Trust and for the Health and Social Care system to improve services through coordinated regional action in this area. A Regional Health and Social Care Gynaecology Services Forum has been established to oversee ongoing service improvement and implementation at a local and regional level.”

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