At the age of 14 (1989), I had severe menstrual pain and began to seek for diagnosis since I ended up in hospital every month. I couldn’t understand what was happening to me and felt weird. All my friends go through their menstrual cycle with no hassle yet I was in so much agony. Period pains was normal, I was told, and if I seemed to suffer more than most, it must be because I had a “low pain threshold”.
My mother (the late Comfort Berkoh) would panic when the time of the month got closer because of the pain I had to go through. At the time she was frustrated because all we were told was menstrual pain is supposed to hurt and it was normal. I went through series of x-rays and scans and was told I had cysts over the years. I was diagnosed with dysmenorrhea (painful periods) and put on pills, but I was still in pain. I dreaded going to the hospital every month because the nurses would insult me and say my mother was pampering me. My pulse would always go up the minute we go there. It was a real struggle.
The mystery of this strange disease as a 0teen affected my studies immensely. I had always wanted to go to a boarding school but I could never have that privilege since most of the days in the month I was in so much pain (unexplained). My parents had to send me to a school that will be close to home. In 2000, I went on a holiday to visit my family. I had to be go into A & E (Accident and Emergency) since I was in excruciating pain. Upon arrival, the nurses asked a few questions and then as usual since it was ‘menstrual pain’, I was put on the lowest level of emergency and asked to wait. I was rolling all over with pain; at this point my brother in-law was furious. He approached them and asked that they attend to me as soon as possible. He also asked them to investigate for ENDOMETRIOSIS; since his ex-girlfriend had similar symptoms.
Bill Dates's
Bringing plants to urban, underserved environments.
Bill Dates's
Giving cancer research a much-needed push through donations.
The Plant School
Cancer Cures
“Many things in life inspire philanthropy, such as your faith in humanity and your belief in the human spirit to overcome.”
Wanda Winfrey
Wanda Winfrey’s
Encouraging exercise in children across all public and private schools in the US.
Wanda Winfrey’s
Tools, methods, and therapists to chat anytime about anything.
Little Big Moves
Heart to Heart