Juggling Endometriosis, Motherhood & Running a Business
I’m Tanya, a busy mum of 2 who juggles motherhood with running my own business. If that’s not tricky enough, I also live with Endometriosis, a condition which affects up to 1 in 10 women in the UK. Like most, my symptoms started much earlier than my official diagnosis.
I was 14 when I felt I was unable to deal with the severe period pain that came around each month: it was so bad that I would faint in public and it massively affected my confidence. It got to the point that, as a teenager, I felt too embarrassed to go out in case I fainted suddenly there too!
It took me 7 years to get diagnosed, and I was told I had everything from epilepsy (due to pain) to migraines (due to the vomiting from pain), whilst given ECGs, ultrasound scans and brain scans to try to get to the bottom of my symptoms.
Eventually, I saw a doctor who managed to diagnose me with endometriosis via a laparoscopy. This is not uncommon: for most women, actually getting a diagnosis is half the battle. By this time I was in my 20s, had a managerial role for retail giant Marks and Spencers and felt a sense of relief, because it got to the point where I was made to feel I was heightening the pain. However, I was shocked when I was told I might need to have children sooner than I had planned because of my condition.
I had my first son Zak when I was 28 and, during pregnancy itself, I actually felt amazing. I love being pregnant as my endometriosis symptoms are not painful at all, due to not having periods. Unfortunately, it’s not a permanent solution as when I’m postpartum and breastfeeding my symptoms come back with a vengeance!
I would be lying if I said I didn’t worry that endometriosis would affect my career — I’ve fainted at award ceremonies and in the middle of the working day at busy shopping centres. When offered opportunities, endometriosis has always been in the back of my mind. However, the key is finding a supportive employer. I was lucky that mine saw my potential and let me have rest days or working from bed days, which massively helped and something I still do today!
After my son, I came up with the idea of creating fashionable but functional maternity and breastfeeding clothes — something that I found was massively lacking when I was pregnant! Lily and Ribbon was born, and now I run the business full-time.
I feel blessed that the team I employ knows I have endometriosis, so they understand when I’m having a bad few days. Some months are better than others, and I am still learning. I am looking into things like the implant, diet and trying to ensure I can work out a better balance between career and endometriosis.
For those in the same boat as me, I’d urge you to put yourself first when it comes to your options and treatments. If you need to have a few hours in bed due to a painful period, you should do this. Accepting the condition and putting self-care into place will also help support your mental wellbeing, which I’ve found can also be massively affected when the pain just gets too much. The charity Endometriosis UK helped me navigate the illness and is a great charity for those looking for support.
For more information on Endometriosis, visit Endometriosis UK: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/
Words: Tanya Patel. Tanya Patel is the founder of Lily and Ribbon, an online maternity and breastfeeding brand.