In Her Head is a Herald campaign for better women's health services. Health reporter Emma Russell investigates what's wrong with our system and talks to wāhine who have been made to feel their serious illness is a figment of their imagination or "just part of being a woman".
In Her Head: Women's health - Paris' endometriosis diagnosis and surgery agonising wait
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Paris McNeilage, 20, remembers feeling like she couldn't go on after eight months of non-stop agonising pain. Photo / Michael Craig
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In March last year, her GP referred her to see a gynaecologist at Counties Manukau DHB after experiencing painful periods since the age of 14.
She was told the wait would be four months and she would get a letter in the mail confirming her appointment.
However, by the time June rolled around her referral was declined because of a lack of capacity, a letter seen by the Herald showed.
"The pain was getting worse every week and I felt like I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel," she said.
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Desperate for answers, her mother paid about $300 for her to see a private specialist, who suggested she change her address so she could be seen at Auckland DHB.
The private specialist, who suspected she had endometriosis, wrote a referral to the DHB and she was seen by another gynaecologist at the hospital that month. However, she then had to go on a waiting list for surgery.
"Because of lockdown, they said they couldn't do the surgery until we reached level 2. It had already been months and we had no idea how much longer it would last," she said.
After multiple attempts of contacting the hospital telling them how severe her pain was, only to be told there was nothing they could do, she called her GP in tears saying she couldn't go on like this.
Her doctor made an urgent referral to the hospital and she was seen almost immediately.
The surgery revealed she did have endometriosis, which to McNeilage came as a huge relief as it meant she wasn't crazy.
Her pain disappeared for a month but still flares up every now and again. She is grateful she can go for runs, work and socialise again.
She counts herself lucky she only had to wait eight months as she knows of others who have waited much longer.
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"I don't know if I could have waited three years."
A Counties Manukau DHB spokesman said they were very sorry for McNeilage's experience with endometriosis and the severe impact it had on her daily life.
"The level of demand for public health services in the CM Health district is significant with gynaecology care, in particular, being in high demand," he said.
The spokesman said currently they only had capacity to see priority 1 or 2 referrals, which were for potentially life-threatening conditions such as cancer or emergency cases.
"We currently do not accept referrals for pelvic pain."
He said the DHB was very pleased that McNeilage had had treatment through Auckland DHB.
Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youth services: (06) 3555 906
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• Helpline: 1737
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Follow women's personal stories of poor healthcare in our interactive grid below. Click on a face to go to the full story.
