My Story Born in Sweden; I left school at fifteen. I had a difficult time through school because I was obese and struggled with heavy periods from the age of nine. I found it challenging to concentrate, and it wasn’t easy when my teacher told me that there was no point to continue teaching me, he said it was a waste of time and I believed him. For the rest of the school years, I felt trapped and misunderstood, and with my low confidence, school became more and more unbearable. In June 1989, I said goodbye to school, and I started to work in a retail shop. I tried different jobs, but I was restless and moved to Copenhagen in Denmark. I loved living in Copenhagen, and I even enjoyed my full-time job as a shop manager at a big retail company. In my spare time, I did tarot readings and photography, and at one point, I wanted to start a music booking agency. I contacted places in Europe, and I flew out to Iceland and pitched my idea to a venue. The deal fell through, but I learned so much, and I also realised that the music industry was not for me. In 2007 my health declined. I had felt unwell for a few months, it started in the summer, and I was in excruciating pain almost every day, couldn’t sleep at night and I took painkillers to be able to cope with my job. One morning in November, I woke up in so much pain, and I began to vomit and almost fainted, so I called the ambulance. With a ruptured 9 cm cyst on my left ovary, I stayed in the hospital for four days.I didn’t understand what was happening to me and ignored the symptoms, and in February 2008, I collapsed at work and was admitted to the hospital again. This time they had to remove my left ovary as well as an 8 cm cyst. Diagnosed with Endometriosis and never being able to have any children, I did not understand what Endometriosis was. Still, I began to research and could finally connect the missing dots and why I had been feeling the way I had. There is no cure for Endometriosis, and despite the myths and stigma, it spreads in your body and damages your organs. It can be found in different parts of a woman’s body – The ovaries, cervix, bladder, uterus, lungs, kidneys, inside the bowel, rectum, heart, brain and even your eyes. Little did I know, but this was not the end of my endometriosis story.On the 24th of April 2009, I had a lifesaving colostomy operation, and the same day the unthinkable happened; my mother was found dead. From that moment, everything changed, and the person I used to be was no longer present. At the hospital, they told me that my tumour might be cancerous, and I had to wait for the biopsy. It was an anxious wait; however, after four days, I discovered that my tumour was benign; Endometriosis had caused my twisted bowel. It was not cancer, but it was difficult to celebrate because how could I be filled with joy when my mother was no longer here? Forced to be still, I was sad, devastated and angry, but I did a lot of soul-searching because there was nothing else I could do. I had to focus on my recovery and learn my new routines with my colostomy.Slowly, I began to listen within and trust in Spirit. It was a blessing to hear guidance from my soul and my guides. They tried to whisper and get my attention earlier, but I never listened because I was too occupied. I had an “awakening”, and I told myself that I had to accept my situation because there was nothing I could do about it. I couldn’t go back in time and change it. Being angry and sad would only do me more harm and would not bring my mother back or remove my colostomy bag.All things considered, I realised how lucky I was. I was alive, and after six months with my colostomy bag, my colon had healed, and I had a colostomy reversal. After the second operation and my recovery, I found an enormous strength to carry on, and I wanted to be well again. I wanted to live my life to the fullest, write and move to the UK, and support and guide others.…and I did. During my thirteen years in the UK, I have lived in Wiltshire, South Yorkshire and Hertfordshire; I spent two years working for Premier Inn, and for the last three years, I have worked for the NHS at Lister Hospital in Stevenage. As an entrepreneur, I have understood that my regular work and employment have been vital for my growth and self-discovery. You learn so much as an employee, and you can use that knowledge when you decide to open your own business. In July 2022, my partner and I started a new adventure and took on a pub in Wiltshire. Living with Endometriosis is difficult, considering the illness affects everything – relationships, fertility, work and career and your social life; it is not easy holding onto a regular job or being sociable all the time when you are battling with ongoing pain, discomfort and fatigue, and your treatment’s side effects. I didn’t consider how challenging the pub trade would be, and my endometriosis flared up and caused a lot of pain. I have accepted that I live with an incurable chronic illness and am on long-term treatment at the hospital. But, I am determined that my illness will not stop me from living my life or building my own business. So, I had to step back from the long hours at the pub, focus only on the more manageable tasks, and let my body rest. I have also realised that I don’t love the pub trade and its lifestyle, saying that I am proud of everything I have accomplished and learned. I’d love to hear from you if you have any questions or feedback.With love and courage, Cath B Send me an email here