THE very first endometriosis awareness and support charity has launched for people who are affected either directly or indirectly and living in the South of Scotland.
Endo SOS is run entirely by volunteers, including some from Dumfries and Galloway.
It provides informal counselling and peer-to-peer support on their Facebook page with regular online support sessions too.
There are also online webinars with professional experts and a webpage where individuals can access a wide range of reliable, relevant and up-to-date information as well as a variety of practical endometriosis resources such, as symptoms diary and ‘questions to ask a doctor’.
Erin Martin from Dumfries is a trustee, having lived with endometriosis herself for many years.
She said: “Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body. This can cause chronic pains, infertility, bowel and bladder problems, to name a few. Endometriosis has been found in every organ in the body. Not forgetting people’s mental health can be affected too.
“Around 1.5 million women (or assigned female at birth) in the UK are currently living with the condition. That equates to 250,000 individuals who are affected in Scotland.”
Sharing her story, Erin added: “This charity is close to my heart because after years of suffering with debilitating symptoms I was finally diagnosed with endometriosis in 2020. Since then I have been dealing with chronic pain and symptoms that have really taken over my life.
“Like many others, it’s not only the physical symptoms that I struggle with on a daily basis. I also struggle with the mental health aspect from living with a chronic condition that currently has no cure.
“The charity’s online support group has been a lifeline for me. It has allowed me to find others that are going through something similar and has helped me feel less alone with my diagnosis. With the free online webinars as well as the relevant signposted information, it has allowed me to feel confident to advocate for not only myself but for others living with this awful condition.”
Endo SOS originally started as a Facebook page, set up by Tao McCready in 2019.
Four years on it is a fully fledged charity providing services for people suffering from endometriosis and raising awareness of what is a relatively unknown, distinct and potentially severe medical condition.
The organisation also aims to support more research into the condition (its diagnosis, treatment and management) through fundraising activities and partnership with the EXPPECT research team at Edinburgh University.
Follow them on Facebook at @endosos or go to www.endosos.org
