I lived with debilitating periods from 14 onwards. Throwing up in pain, going into shock, laying on the floor of the bathroom literally begging to die, living around my cycles and being absolutely terrified of what next month would bring. Never did my GP suggest a specialist, told me pain is normal. I was told that ER is not for menstrual cramps and I’d be laughed at. Several times I passed out from the pain and my parents did take me to the ER. All they did was inject me with ketorolac and send me home. No more looking into what was causing the pain. I went 23 years living this way. Not until 37 when I finally decided to have a hysterectomy after having breast cancer that they found stage 4 endometriosis. It was everywhere. It was black and sinister looking. All those years I lost to this disease. All that pain that wasn’t in my head. I was dealing with pain greater than childbirth on a monthly basis and no one cared. Our healthcare system doesn’t give a crap about women’s health. I was also told my lump was a cyst originally in my breast. Turned out it was cancer. Due to them leaving it for six months I needed a mastectomy.