A burden for my daughter

Living and parenting in chronic pain

I was a young woman in chronic pain - pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks - managing severe endometriosis and the symptoms it brings, including abdominal and pelvic pain, heavy periods, painful sex, difficulty conceiving, sciatica, nausea, fatigue and bloating…

Then, after three rounds of IVF at the the amazing CRGH clinic in London, I had a baby. Now, my daughter is four and my pain continues.

In this article for the Metro, I explore what my pain might mean for my daughter. Will my chronic illness become a burden for my child? Statistically, children of parents in chronic pain are more likely to grow up and have chronic pain themselves.

I really hope that won’t be the case for my daughter, and my chronic pain, which is a disability, will go away in the longer term.

I am working really hard holistically, being mindful of the three pronged biopsychosocial model for pain to attack my endometriosis on all sides, including surgery, diet, medical treatment, exercise, and CBT. I might not ever be pain free, but I hope to lead a more mobile, active life, able to cope within the confines of my pain and increase the quality of my life..

To learn more about endometriosis, which affects 1 in 10 women, and takes an average of 7.5 years to diagnose in the UK, visit Endometriosis UK.