'I was told it was just stress. By the time I got the truth I was housebound'

A woman whose painful condition left her unable to leave her home has spoken about her ordeal. Siobhan Kennett spent years feeling “shattered and in despair” until she finally received a diagnosis for endometriosis.

The 32-year-old had been suffering from near constant agony since she was a teenager, the pain seeing her unemployed and isolated. She spent years having her painful symptoms ignored or dismissed until she finally got answers by paying for a private healthcare assessment.

The incurable condition, where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes, affects one in ten women and can be extremely painful and debilitating. Despite her diagnosis, Siobhan continued to suffer until she discovered Greater Manchester charity Endometriosis Awareness North when they publicised a sponsored walk.

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Reaching out to the charity, Siobhan, a former Metrolink ticket inspector, was able to receive the mental health support she so desperately needed. Siobhan now says connecting with the charity, which was co-created by Oldham GP Dr Anita Sharma, was one of the best things she ever did for herself.

“I guess you can say it was a brave step turning up at a walk where I didn’t know anybody, but it rates as one of the best days of my life,” Siobhan said.

“Receiving such a warm welcome and being able to get involved in telling my story in the hope it will help others is what gets me up in the morning.”

Sadly, like many others suffering from endometriosis, Siobhan saw her symptoms ignored or dismissed, resulting in years of unnecessary pain.

“My periods were never regular, and I