I have now suffered with endometriosis for 12 years, since I was 14, although I was only officially diagnosed 5 years ago when I was 21. I have now had an emergency appendicectomy for suspected appendicitis and 4 laparoscopies, 2 with diathermy followed by zoladex, 1 with excision, followed with the mirena and zoladex and more recently an emergency laparoscopy for a burst endometrioma/chocolate cyst. I am now currently a week into a 6 month course of cyproterone acetate (12.5mg a day) and if this doesn't help me I will be having a full hysterectomy with removal of both ovaries next year (with no HRT afterwards)..... I have been lucky enough to have a beautiful little girl who is now 4yrs old.

I also run an support group for endometriosis sufferers (and their family & friends) on behalf of Endometriosis UK (who are responsible for our annual training). The group is based between Oswestry & Wrexham and everybody is welcome to attend.....for more information check out Endometriosis UK's website (look under support).

I enjoy fundraising for various charities. In the past I have done a 10,000 foot tandem skydive, raising £500 for the Stroke Association, a 120-foot abseil down Devil's Gorge in Wrexham, raising £400 for The Arthritis Research Campaign, a 5km race for Cancer Research UK, a Glitter Picnic, raising £250 for Endometriosis UK and most recently a 5km Adidas Women's Challenge in Hyde Park, raising over £400 for Endometriosis UK.

The next fundraising event, which I am involved in organising, is the JailBreak 2009. It promises to be a huge event raising lots of money for Endometriosis UK. Basically participants (teams of 2-4 people) will be locked in a jail and released at 12 noon, they then have 36 hours with no money (or help from friends or family) to get as far away as possible. There will be prizes for the team who travel the furthest, the team who raise the most sponsorship and others too, if you are interested in helping out or registering a team either check out our website (www.jailbreak2009.co.uk) or send us an email (subject information) to jailbreak2009@yahoo.co.uk

I am currently in the final year of my PhD, studying inflammatory molecules involved in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Once qualified I will be a doctor of philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (basically anything to do with joints).

Once I am qualified I hope to stay in the research field for the time being, I will be spending 3 years doing further work with rheumatoid arthritis then once I have more post-doctoral experience behind me I am hoping to go and join the research team at The Birmingham Women's Hospital (under the supervision of Prof Gupta) and start researching areas of endometriosis that as yet are unknown.....

Writing poetry (currently had 21 published with an aim eventually of having a book published)
Playing Keyboard/piano (and trying to play guitar)
Volunteering for Endometriosis UK as a Group Leader for the Oswestry/Wrexham area
Fundraising for 3 charities, Endometriosis UK, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and The Stroke Association