A Personal Story: Diana

Hi I’m Diana and I'm from Melbourne. I live with Endometriosis, one kidney, and uterus didelphys (a rare condition where I have two uteruses a unicornuate in my case). My first period arrived when I was just 11 years old, and it changed the course of my life every cycle. 

Growing up in a Muslim community, conversations about periods—especially painful ones—was extremely difficult. Whenever I tried to explain what I was going through, I heard things like:“It’s normal,” “Bleeding a lot is how a period is meant to be,” “Just take Panadol or Nurofen and you’ll be fine.”

But with one kidney, I couldn’t safely take NSAIDs long term, despite being on stronger medications and the pain was far from normal. Period pain that stops you from living your life is not normal. Every cycle, for 1–3 days, I missed out on: School, University classes, Nursing placements, Events and social activities.
I spent those days vomiting, curled up with a heat pack, bleeding through my clothes, dizzy, exhausted, and unable to do the basic things I loved.

For years, I convinced myself this must be what periods are: heavy bleeding, vomiting for the first three days, headaches, diarrhoea, and no appetite. I started tracking and journalling my symptoms on and off menstruation for years. Not to forget ovulation pain of menstruation.menstruation

My first hospital admission was terrifying. I had: Severe pelvic pain, Continuous vomiting, shivers and sweating, fever and dizziness, Constipation and extremely fatigued. Doctors suspected appendicitis, but it wasn’t.

Heat packs, tea, pons-tan, and super/extra pads became my best friends. When I had pain even without a period, I knew something was still not right so I went back to my doctor. Which eventually led to an answer after a lengthy visit, she referred me to a gynaecologist in the hospital who then addressed the word ENDOMETRIOSIS and LAPAROSCOPY, I was shocked that I needed to be under for something I was thinking it could be ‘just a period’.

October 2018, at the Royal Women’s Hospital, I had a laparoscopy to remove Endometriosis and an endometrioma cyst off my ovary. Thankfully, the surgery went well.

After surgery, I was told I needed to be on contraceptive pills to slow the return of endometriosis, but my body didn’t tolerate them. I  eventually stopped them, then saw a private gynaecologist and started Visanne, which I took for a short period of time before meeting my now husband. For a while, I began pelvic physio and using a TENS machine, changed my diet and things improved, but symptoms slowly returned.

Later scans showed I have uterus didelphys—two uteruses and one cervix. Something radiologists usually read about in textbooks and whenever I got scanned they would comment on how they rarely see this and how unique it is.

After having my son (who's nearly 2 via emergency C-section, the pain became unbearable. Postpartum, whilst on my period, I struggled breastfeeding because of the pain I endured. With the support of my husband and close family, I got through the post partum menstruation, but deep down I knew something was wrong.

2025, I had a hysteroscopy and D&C, but it failed because it was presumed one uterine horn was non-communicating and filled with blood. I was referred to the Royal Women’s Hospital again for another laparoscopy. By Easter, my pain became unbearable—sharp and stabbing. I admitted myself to ED. An MRI showed 2 endometriomas had returned to my ovary, and one looked suspicious for cancer. I was devastated.

Professor Catarina Ang, Dr Guy, and Dr Cassi changed my life. They booked me for surgery to remove my left rudimentary horn and left tube. When I woke up, I learned that both ovaries were clear and they also excised more endometriosis. 

I am incredibly grateful for the care I received and proud of myself for seeking help when I knew something was wrong. Now I’m not just saying this because I am a nurse but I am a lady who lives with endometriosis. To every girl and woman who is struggling with menstrual pain/ pelvic pain; Your pain is real. Your voice deserves to be heard, Keep advocating for yourself.

Period pain that destroys your quality of life is not “just a period.”

I hope for a future where:

 Endometriosis has a cure,

 Period pain is taken seriously, and

 No one is told to “just deal with it.”

If you are going through this: You are not alone, and you are much stronger than you know.