‘Reborn’: Athlone woman's relief after diagnosis

Rebekah O'Reilly

An Athlone woman who spent years struggling with debilitating pain has said she feels “reborn” after finally being diagnosed with endometriosis following surgery last December

Leah Moloney (29) is sharing her story during Endometriosis Awareness Month this March in the hope that other women experiencing similar symptoms will seek specialist care and not give up searching for answers.

For one in ten women in Ireland, chronic, undiagnosed pain caused by endometriosis is a harsh and often hidden reality.

Endometriosis causes tissue, similar to the lining of the uterus, to grow in places where it doesn’t belong. It can lead to pelvic pain, heavy periods, and fertility issues. Treatment may involve medication, surgery, or a combination of both.

For years, Leah says she was told that tests showed nothing wrong despite experiencing severe pain that disrupted her daily life.

“When I woke up from surgery, the first thing I asked was: ‘Did they find endometriosis?’” she said.

“When they said yes, I was just so relieved. After years of suffering and being told nothing was wrong, it meant everything to know it wasn’t in my head.”

Leah says she has experienced extremely painful periods since she first began menstruating at the age of 12.

“I’ve always had extremely painful periods and extremely heavy bleeding,” she said.

While those symptoms were initially confined to her monthly cycle, things began to change several years ago when she developed persistent pain in her pelvis and abdomen.

“In addition to the period pain, I started having constant pain,” she said.

She also began experiencing symptoms similar to urinary tract infections, including a constant urge to urinate and painful pressure in her bladder.

“I ended up in the out-of-hours doctor many times thinking it was a UTI,” she said. “Sometimes there would be slight infection markers, sometimes nothing at all.”

It was only after her surgery that doctors discovered endometriosis lesions on her bladder, explaining the symptoms she had been experiencing.

Before finally finding the right specialist, Leah says she felt repeatedly dismissed within the medical system.

“I saw a gynaecologist who didn’t really know anything about endometriosis and wasn’t helpful,” she said.

“I felt so let down by the medical system that I didn’t trust doctors anymore, which is not like me at all because I’m a very scientifically minded person.”

Determined to find answers, she began researching specialists herself and came across recommendations shared by other women online for Dr Hugh Dónal O'Connor.

“I just wanted a personal recommendation, even if it was from strangers on the internet,” she said.

Her GP referred her to Dr O'Connor in The Coombe in Dublin last July. She had her first appointment in November and underwent surgery the following month.

“I had brought a pain diary with me because I expected to have to fight for treatment,” she said. “But Dr O'Connor just listened to me and recognised the symptoms straight away.

Leah underwent a laparoscopy, a keyhole surgical procedure which is currently the only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis.

During the operation she was diagnosed with stage two endometriosis, with the condition found in several areas of her pelvis.

“It was found on both sides of my pelvis, on my bladder, on my bowel and in the pouch of Douglas,” she said.

Most of the tissue was removed during the surgery through excision, a procedure which involves cutting out the endometriosis.

“The gold standard treatment is excision,” Leah said. “Burning it off, which is called ablation, is considered outdated and not as effective.”

A small amount of tissue on her bowel could not be removed as it would require major bowel surgery, something she and her doctors have decided to monitor for now.

Leah says the difference since the surgery has been life-changing.

“Now I have pretty much no pain,” she said. “The constant bladder symptoms are gone and the severe pain I used to have is gone.”

Although recovery from the surgery took several weeks, she says the improvement has transformed her quality of life.

“I genuinely feel like I’ve been reborn,” she said.

“When you’re that ill and in that much pain, it feels like you’re half dead. Your dreams and plans are on hold because you’re just trying to survive the pain.”

She said the condition affected every part of her life, including work and social plans.

“I had to cancel plans with friends all the time. Work was extremely difficult.”

There is currently no cure for endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside the uterus.

As Endometriosis Awareness Month continues, Leah hopes her experience will encourage other women to advocate for themselves if they believe something is wrong.

“It’s really important to research the gynaecologist you’re going to,” she said.

“Make sure they specialise in excision surgery for endometriosis. Otherwise you’re just going to waste your time.”

While Leah considers herself fortunate to have received treatment in Ireland, she believes many women continue to struggle to access specialist care.

“There are only a handful of gynaecologists in Ireland who specialise in treating endometriosis,” she said.

“Many women end up having to travel abroad for surgery.”

Leah is now using a hormonal coil, the Mirena coil, to help slow the growth of any further endometrial tissue and says she may require additional surgeries in the future.

“I finally have my life back,” she said.