Help me get endometriosis treatment

Hi I'm Ash and I'm hoping to get some help to pay for treatment for my endometriosis.

I was diagnosed when I was 21 after having issues since my periods started as a 13year old and at 39 I continue to struggle and have reached a point of desperation after sitting at the bottom of NHS waiting lists since COVID hit. Unfortunately I moved health boards and had to start from scratch, currently surgical treatment isn't on the radar. Endometriosis impacts every aspect of my life, my friendships, relationships, career and fun. I've lost so much because of endo. I'm not able to predict how I will feel on any given day and I can have bouts of fatigue, bloating, severe pain, bleeding and mixtures of everything meaning I need to cancel things, leave early, or change clothes half way through. I've missed weddings, lost friends, changed careers, been off work and all that affects how I feel about myself. I have tried most treatments, unfortunately they're limited and a number have affected my mental health or left me with physical health issues. I won't let it beat me though, I'm too stubborn!

I went for a private consultation at Rosshall in Glasgow last month and I have the option of hormonal treatment plus either a laparoscopy to remove the lesions or a hysterectomy and removal of the lesions. The cost of the surgeries is just over £5000 for the laparoscopy and a little over £9000 for the hysterectomy. I have some savings and am trying to build on these with extra shifts at work but a number of friends have suggested crowdfunding so here I am...

I have been unsuccessful having a child and it is unlikely to happen now yet every month I get a bloated belly and pain like you wouldn't believe. I've lost track of how many times I've been asked if I'm pregnant! The picture above is what I get like. I go up 2 or 3 dress sizes and put on half a stone in a matter of hours, the pain can mean I'm in bed for days, taking very strong pain relief or need to go to hospital. I'm at the stage that I would do anything to get rid of the pain so a hysterectomy despite not being a definite cure would certainly help in my situation even though it brings a number of negatives along with it. I am working on living with my childless status which is difficult in itself despite there still being a very faint glimmer of hope. I have started hormone treatment to keep things under a bit of control until I can get money saved up but I'm already worried about the side effects and long term impact on my physical and mental health.

The problem is I can't afford the treatment and the NHS wait is far too long, I haven't even been offered treatment on the NHS yet as my consultant doesn't seem to believe my issues and even suggested I did not have lesions. My private specialist consultant is the first professional who has listened and validated me since I was first diagnosed, I actually feel like I trust him.

I'll try to keep everyone updated with progress and I'm going to research some other options in case they are more affordable, but I need to start somewhere!

Thanks for reading and if you are able to help please know you're going to make massive difference to my life, I also appreciate how difficult life is just now.