Welcome to this week’s edition of The Health Review!

Here’s what we’re covering this week:

Health News: 🧠 Experts voice concerns over AI therapy chatbots, a groundbreaking dual-action approach for Type 1 diabetes, and the rise of the 'mini pill' asthma risk.

Feature: 💛 Victoria Causley on the ten-year fight to get diagnosed with endometriosis – and what her recent laparoscopy revealed.

Podcast:  🥗 Plus, don’t miss this week’s podcast episode with Ruth Wood, where we dive into the world of functional nutrition.

Hope you enjoy this edition – and as always, I love hearing your thoughts.

Emily x

It took me ten years to get there, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous before it—nervous about the results, the possibility of no results, and, of course, the procedure itself. But one thing I did know was that I was one of thousands of women that had felt the exact same way.

Last week I had my first diagnostic laparoscopy for suspected endometriosis, or any other underlying cause of my ‘bad periods’. But before I get to that, I want to take you back to the beginning, because regardless of the diagnosis, this journey started a long time ago.

I was fifteen years old when I first went to the doctors for bad period pain. My periods were significantly heavy, and the cramps were unbearable. I was prescribed the contraceptive pill, like most people my age at the time. From fifteen to twenty-five, I can’t even begin to count how many doctor’s appointments I had for the same issue. Rejection after rejection, invalidation, a lack of research, and still—no diagnosis.

After trying multiple contraceptive methods with no relief, I decided to do my own research. That’s when I discovered endometriosis. I’m no doctor, but my symptoms matched. Finally, I felt like I had an answer—or at least a glimmer of light in what had become a very dark tunnel.

You’d think that bringing my thoughts to my doctor would be met with support. Instead, I was constantly told, “I don’t think you have endometriosis,” or, “You don’t need a laparoscopy.” But I kept pushing. Had I not been persistent, I wouldn’t have been given this procedure—I know that for certain.

Last week, I finally had my laparoscopy. You’d think after fighting so hard for a diagnosis, I’d feel confident they would find something. But instead, I was filled with doubt. Maybe it was because so many doctors had dismissed me before, or maybe I had started to lose sight of what I had believed for so long. For weeks leading up to surgery, my mind raced with questions— What if nothing comes back? What if everything looks fine? What should I do next? The fear of feeling invalidated again consumed me and I was so scared of this that I hadn’t even thought about the idea of them actually finding anything.

The night before my surgery I packed my bag. It was a day case surgery but I liked to be prepared for everything:

• Spare underwear – I also took period pants in case there was any spotting/bleeding

• Pads 

• A pillow for the car – I was advised to take this to pop underneath my seatbelt on the journey home 

• Pyjamas / dressing gown

• Slippers

• A book/headphones

• Bottle of water

• Wipes – (I used pH-balancing ones that wouldn’t irritate my skin after surgery)

These small preparations helped ease my nerves, but the whole process moved quickly once I arrived at the hospital. After speaking with the surgeon and nurses, I got changed into my hospital gown and walked over to the operating room. Before I knew it, I was waking up in the recovery room.

Around midday I woke up and slowly came around. I was pretty out of it, so the idea of finding any results had totally slipped my mind, until the surgeon came into the room. She told me that it went well. They had found endometriosis and removed it.

Her words echoed in my head: “We found endometriosis.”

If you haven’t experienced this yourself, it might sound dramatic, but I have never felt the way I did at that moment before. And I know so many women out there can relate.

Was I relieved? The surgeon had just confirmed I have an incurable chronic disease, and yet I felt relief? It wasn’t the reaction I expected, but she didn’t look surprised. I doubt I was the first person to feel this way. I burst into tears—and I don’t think I stopped crying for the rest of the day.

I hadn’t realised until that moment just how much this ten-year battle for a diagnosis had taken a toll on me—mentally and physically. The fact that I was relieved to finally have an answer speaks volumes about how painful living in the unknown can be.

Since receiving this diagnosis I have been recovering from the laparoscopy so I wanted to share some of my key takeaways so far: 

1. Everyone’s recovery is different. At first, I compared my recovery to others. Some people told me it took weeks before they could walk properly, yet I was up and moving within days – was I overdoing it? Take advice, but listen to your own body.

2. The pain comes in waves. One moment, I feel fine; the next, it feels like I’m walking through sand. Recovery isn’t linear—take it slow, and don’t rush yourself back to “normal”. Try and find peace in the slowness of your life for now!

3. Prepare to feel overwhelmed. No matter what my results had been, I knew I’d feel overwhelmed. I’ve never felt more emotionally drained and I still haven’t fully processed what this diagnosis means for me.

4. Your diagnosis doesn’t define you. While I will eventually read even more about endometriosis, I remind myself that this diagnosis is just a name for what I’ve already been living with. It doesn’t change who I am. The possibility of potential factors like infertility terrifies me, but I try to focus on the next step, not the entire staircase—because nothing is guaranteed.

5. Give yourself a break. It sounds simple, but seriously—rest. I’m still telling myself this because I struggle with it too. Think about how you’d treat your friend if they’d just gone through a physical surgery and then found out they had this new diagnosis or (arguably worst) found no answers to their pain. This journey is mentally AND physically exhausting and you need to give yourself time to process it.

6. Sleep hugging a pillow. Trust me—it’s a game-changer!

So, whether you’re just beginning your diagnosis journey, waiting for your laparoscopy, or reading this from a hospital bed—you’re on the right track. It shouldn’t take ten years of pain, dismissal, and self-advocacy to be heard. We shouldn’t have to fight this hard just to have our pain recognised. 

But at least for now, know that your answers are out there, and you’re not alone.

By Victoria Causley

The Health Review Podcast

Have You Checked Out The Podcast This Week?

In this episode of The Health Review, expert functional nutritionist Ruth Wood shares how functional nutrition can transform mental health, reduce stress, and support long-term wellbeing — starting with the gut.

With over 25 years of clinical experience, Ruth has worked with everyone from high-profile clients and CEOs to nurses, cabbies, and those in addiction recovery. She shares her unique approach to personalised nutrition and how she helps clients get to the root cause of symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, burnout, and digestive issues.

We also discuss:

Why “food intolerances” might actually be a sign of gut problems 

Practical nutrition tips to balance your mood and energy levels

The top foods Ruth recommends to feel your best every day

How food can support addiction recovery

Whether you're navigating high stress, looking to improve your gut health, or simply want to feel more balanced — this conversation is packed with practical insights you can start using today. 

If you love the episodes, please do subscribe and give the show a rating! 😊 

Thanks for reading!

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