Edinburgh mum 'loses job and friends' as rib pain turns to nightmare diagnosis

A brave Edinburgh mum has opened up on her experience of being diagnosed with endometriosis after suffering from symptoms for years.

Former cleaning operator, Angelika Blaszczykiewicz, 33, from Edinburgh was going about her business as she left work one day during October 2019 when she suddenly started to experience a "sharp stabbing pain" under her left rib. The pain then started to escalate and moved to her lower back before she started to experience severe vomiting.

In 2020, she was sent for an ultrasound after she fainted from pain while she was on her way to work but the results came back with nothing. In 2023, Angelika was finally diagnosed with endometriosis. She is now hoping there could be a "light at the end of the tunnel" if she is able to secure an appointment for the relevant surgery.

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Speaking to Edinburgh Live, she claimed the waiting time is around two and a half years and it will cost her around £7000 to have the surgery done privately.

She said: "I am in pain every single day. I can't sleep most nights and I wake up and I am instantly in agonising pain. Some days I can't even leave my bed or my house because my body is too sore.

"It just gets worse every single day. When I first started my symptoms, it was so scary because I didn't know what was wrong with me - I was so worried.

"I have even lost so many of my friends because I have been unable to meet them because of the pain I am under. I just stopped answering the phone because I would get sad when people would ask me how I was because I never felt good.

"My daughter is also 13-years-old and always worries about me and asks me how I am feeling because I am not able to go on walks with her because I am too tired and too sore".

She added that she struggles the most with her abdominal pain and nausea and says she just feels "awful" every single day. She is hoping that if she raises the funds, she will be able to remove the endometriosis tissue, adhesions and possible hysterectomy so that the endometriosis will not grow back.

As written within her GoFundMe, Angelika said: "I lost my job and most of my friends. Most days, I am unable to function normally or leave the house. The pain has spread to the entire surface of my abdomen and around my ovaries. I have been taking codeine, tramadol, and morphine every day for a year now.

"Every day I wake up and fall asleep in pain. I take over 300 painkillers pills every month. My body is sore and tired, making it hard for me to focus my thoughts.

"My stomach is completely burned from constantly using the hot water bottle and tens machine. I don't have the strength to go on, but I am still trying to fight for my daughter.

"My light at the end of the tunnel to regain at least some of my former life is laparoscopic removal of endometriosis infiltrates. Unfortunately, the waiting time for such an operation on the NHS is 2-2.5 years, and the private cost is approximately £7,000. Due to my current condition, I am unable to collect this amount, so I decided it is a time to put my pride aside and ask for help here".

You can access the GoFundMe page here.