Help Harro get endometriosis surgery and their life back!

Heyo, I'm Harro, an artist, community gardener, university worker and tired of being in pain!

I'm raising £6k to go private and access surgery that will - fingers crossed - mean I actually have energy, pain free days, and my life back. I'll need funds to cover my time off work (I'm self employed and don't get any sick leave) and money for the surgery itself. I can partially fund it, with help from family, so this is me asking for help with the rest.

Now, sob story below:

I've struggled with really bad period pain since I was 18. Fast forward past many appointments where I cried at some frankly, bored, GPs, who just gave me painkillers or put me various forms of contraception.

After sobbing that I can't take it anymore in early 2023, a lovely, young GP registrar finally referred me for an ultrasound that showed large growths and a fibroid. "You must have been in so much pain," the tech said. Yes. I said, and had a little cry.

I got a better diagnosis in January 2024 last year after an MRI at a small clinic who, after telling me "it's probably not endo", then ate their words and said "oh this is too complex for us to treat, we've referred you on again."

Well, they dismissed me so long it's stage 4 endometriosis, which is 'deep infiltrating'. My ovaries are glued to my uterus and I have 3 large endometriomas (growths) and a large fibroid. (That only took 12 years to diagnose...) and while I'm in the system with the NHS, the waitlists and dismissals have made me lose hope. I can't even hope to get on the surgery waitlist for another 6 months, I've spoken to so many different consultants and had NO treatments, just been shunted on, which is insane considering my day to day quality of life. (Bad, it's bad.)

I need complex surgery - a myomectomy to remove a fibroid, excision of the endometriosis (which can only be done my skilled specialists) and honestly, I'm hoping someone will just listen and just give me a hysterectomy. (It's not a cure, but it would alleviate a LOT of symptoms.) We'll see though, all I know is basic excision surgery starts at, well - a lot. I'm waiting on a quote from my surgeon who is highly recommended but here are some example costs from other providers in the UK so you can see I'm not exaggerating:

(If you trust me and can't be bothered to click, we're talking from £7k up to £20k here, totally depends how messed up my insides are... yay.)

https://www.endometriosisclinic.co.uk/copy-of-what-is-endometriosis

https://endometriosisconsultant.co.uk/fees/

https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/ (general info on endo)

Or some news stories if that’s more your thing:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/endometriosis-private-healthcare-nhs-b2203048.html

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/12/pain-all-in-my-head-gynaecological-ordeals-shared-endometriosis

So anything you can spare is really appreciated. I've only been working part time for years now due to fatigue and pain and while I've saved what I can, I'm going into this without insurance and just, really thankfully, with my family's support. But they ain't exactly rich either (sorry mum!)

Thanks friends. I can’t wait to climb and dine and hike and enjoy life again with you all!

(I'll include an updated breakdown of costs when I have a better estimate for the surgery/care.)

Initial consult: £315 (covered - thank you so much!!!)

Follow up consult: £270 (also covered!)



Surgery Estimate: TBC - current plan is laparoscopic excision of the endometriosis and a myomectomy. Estimated time in hospital is 1-4 nights post surgery.