Patient praises surgical team after life changing endometriosis treatment and long-awaited pregnancy | News

To mark Endometriosis Awareness Month, Sannah shares her remarkable journey from debilitating pain and years of fertility struggles to discovering she is pregnant, just months after specialist surgery at Pinderfields Hospital.

Sannah, 28, was diagnosed with endometriosis four years ago after suffering symptoms since her teenage years, including heavy bleeding, fainting episodes, chest pain, back and abdominal pain, and constant exhaustion. “When I first visited my doctor about it, I was dismissed, so I just got on with it,” she said. “But it eventually got to the point where I was curled up on the sofa in excruciating pain.”

A laparoscopy confirmed stage 4 deep infiltrating endometriosis, with her ovary stuck to her bowel. She underwent ablation surgery in 2022, but her symptoms returned with intensity. After two years on the NHS waiting list, her condition deteriorated so severely that she was placed on the emergency list.

“The pain was happening around the clock. I physically couldn’t get out of bed. I was 70% absent from work. It was financially really tough. I also couldn’t retain information, I couldn’t socialise – I just wasn’t myself.”

Sannah was scheduled for surgery in June last year, but an MRI scan raised concerns. The scan showed endometriosis close to the vagus nerve and extensive growth near the bowel, prompting surgeons to pause and consider presenting her case to a specialist panel to ensure it could be carried out safely. “I wasn’t upset,” she said. “It was safer to check. They had to involve a bowel surgeon too.”

Consultant Gynaecologists Mr Oboh and the now‑retired Mr Kremer reviewed her latest imaging and, noticing improvement, scheduled surgery for October.

Sannah said: “In the months leading up to the operation, I researched ways to manage my pain and I tried an anti inflammatory diet and drinking clove tea. One small cup every morning before my period made a difference, but I was still in excruciating pain.

“After the surgery, I noticed a difference as soon as I woke up. The impact was immediate. Before the operation, I had full body aches, chest pain, back pain - everything. When I woke up afterwards, I felt the post‑op pain, but nothing else. I felt better straight away. I had so much mental clarity. I finally felt like myself.”

Alongside her pain, Sannah and her husband had been trying to conceive for four years and were preparing to begin IVF due to dual‑factor fertility issues.

“Mr Oboh made sure my fallopian tubes were clear and did a dye test, which came back fine,” she said. “We were put on the IVF list and were told to try naturally in the first year.”

Just months later, Sannah discovered she was five weeks pregnant.

“I couldn’t believe the pregnancy strip test, so I bought a digital one. It’s my first child and the first positive test I’ve ever seen. I have my first midwife appointment this month at Pinderfields. We’re so grateful – I don’t think we would have managed to get pregnant without this surgery.”

Today, Sannah says she has no endometriosis symptoms. “I used to wake up in so much pain. Now it’s just gone. The chest pain, the exhaustion, everything. I just want to give profound thanks from me and my husband. We’re so, so grateful.”

Sannah hopes sharing her story will help others facing similar struggles. “Don’t lose hope and don’t feel like it’s all in your head – the pain is real. Keep doing your research and advocate for yourself. Keep trying to get help. Don’t give up – eventually you will get the help you need. A TENS machine really helped me, and so did the clove tea.”

She also urges employers and friends to understand the severity of the condition: “Endometriosis isn’t just painful periods – it takes over your whole life.”

Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust’s Consultant Gynaecologist and Head of Clinical Services, Mr Oboh, who performed Sannah’s surgery alongside Mr Kremer, said: “We are absolutely delighted for Sannah and thrilled to see the difference this surgery has made to her quality of life. Endometriosis can be devastating, both physically and emotionally, and our whole team is committed to providing safe, effective, and compassionate care. To see a patient regain their health - and go on to conceive after so many difficult years - is incredibly rewarding for all of us.”

He added: “Our recent reaccreditation by the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) for 2026 reflects the high standard of endometriosis care we provide and our commitment to delivering specialist, multidisciplinary treatment for complex cases.”