National: Cork woman suffering with endometriosis to travel to Romania for ‘life-changing’ surgery

A Cork woman suffering from endometriosis and adenomyosis will travel to Romania to get a ‘life-changing’ surgery.

Amy O’Riordan was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2015 and with adenomyosis in 2023, two conditions that cause her “debilitating pain” and impact her day-to-day life.

A chronic condition as common as diabetes, endometriosis affects at least one in 10 women. The condition is caused when tissue similar to the one found in the lining of the uterus or the womb grows outside of it - where it does not belong.

Adenomyiosis occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows into its muscular wall.

Speaking of her experience with endometriosis, Amy explained: “I remember going to my GP at the age of 14 with crippling pelvic pain and being told it was normal and that I should start my family young - it would help. Fast-forward to 2015 when I was diagnosed with Endometriosis and then diagnosed with Adenomyosis in 2023 after enduring years of pain. These conditions are all body conditions causing debilitating pain, fertility issues and impact my day-to-day life.”

Despite having had multiple surgeries in Ireland, Amy’s pain has been returning.

“It would return within months, often worse than before,” she said.  “I tried all the hormonal treatment recommended, but nothing helped. Between 2015 and 2022 I have faced major complications from surgery which even saw me in intensive care. This condition has impacted my life, in so many ways.”

With the help of the HSE cross boarder scheme, Amy will be travelling to Bucharest in Romania with her husband in March to undergo what she hopes to be a ‘life-changing’ surgery - an excision surgery.

"Living in Ireland, there is no specialist that does excision surgery only. After careful thought & consideration I have decided I need to travel abroad to an endometriosis centre of excellence to be treated by an endometriosis specialist,” she said on her GoFundMe page. 

To help with the cost, she set up a GoFundMe.

"Setting up a GoFundMe wasn't something I had planned. However, the encouragement from fellow Endometriosis warriors has led me to seek help in easing our financial burden,” she said. “I'm determined to reclaim my life and embrace the next chapter.”