Lucy's journey from surviving to thriving with Endo45™

How have you been since beginning your Endo45 journey?

I’ve been really good. When I look back at where I was when I first started using the app, it’s almost like I don’t recognise myself.

It has been a pretty incredible experience. I’m proud of the journey I’ve been on and grateful that I had the opportunity to use the app, because it has helped me so much.

What has been the biggest change in how you feel?

Probably my confidence.

I feel better in myself when I wake up each day. I feel able to exercise, I’m happier with the way I’m eating, and I finally feel like I have some answers.

Most importantly, I’m confident in my ability to do normal, everyday things again. I feel empowered.

What was life with endometriosis like before?

It was a struggle to do everyday things. I felt as though I wasn’t getting anywhere and was trapped in a cycle of exhaustion and pain.

Nothing seemed to be helping. I was spending money, time and energy trying to find solutions, and it was horrible. It affected my physical health, my mental health and my ability to work. It also affected the time I could spend with my friends and family.

Looking back now, it’s hard to believe how much it took away from me.

Endo45 helped me take the steps I needed to take. It gave me information in a simple, accessible form and helped me put everything into place.

Before that, I had information coming from doctors, specialists and different sources online. It was difficult to work out what I actually needed to do or where I should start. Breaking it all down made the biggest difference.

What does living with endometriosis look like for you now?

I’m living better with endometriosis than I ever have.

I feel confident that I’m taking positive steps and doing what I can to support myself. I’m able to socialise, spend time with my friends and family, go to work, study and work towards becoming a teacher.

There was a time when life felt far too difficult. I wondered whether I would have the energy to achieve what I wanted or become the person I wanted to be.

Now I’m doing the things that matter to me. I feel good, and I’m really proud of how far I’ve come.

What was your biggest fear — and how do you feel about it now?

My biggest fear was that my life would always look the way it did then.

I thought I would always be tired, always struggle to attend events and always find it difficult to show up for work. I remember thinking, “This can’t be my life forever.”

I don’t carry that same fear anymore. I’m excited to discover what I can do.

I know there may still be challenges, but now I feel like I have a toolkit that can help me navigate them.

Is endometriosis still at the front of your mind?

Not in my day-to-day life.

The biggest mindset shift has been realising that I’m not my disease. I don’t automatically think of myself as someone defined by endometriosis — I think of myself as me.

There are still things I may need to navigate in the future. But knowing that I’m supporting myself now gives me peace of mind. I feel confident that I’m doing what I can for my future health.

What are the most useful tools in your toolkit?

It’s often the small, everyday things.

If I experience pain, I respond to it rather than ignoring it. I make sure I get proper rest and eat in a way that works for my body. I’ve also significantly reduced the amount of coffee I drink — which was a big change because I used to run on it!

I use the app each day to record my symptoms, look back at patterns and understand where I am in my cycle. Tracking has helped me become more aware of my body and more proactive about managing my symptoms.

I’ve also explored options such as acupuncture after learning about them through Endo45. It has become another supportive tool I can turn to when I’m experiencing discomfort or bloating.

Which symptom affected you the most?

The pain was the most debilitating part.

I could wake up in pain, go to sleep in pain or sit at work in pain. It often felt nonstop. I was also frequently bloated and didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin. Over time, that takes a significant toll.

Changing the way I ate, reducing coffee and using the app to turn those changes into small, achievable goals helped me understand what worked for my body.

I’ve learned that this isn’t about following one perfect diet. It’s about observing how my individual body responds. I’ve been able to reintroduce some foods successfully, while recognising that others don’t work well for me.

Has this journey changed the medical support you need?

My visits to doctors and specialists have reduced significantly.

Previously, when I was struggling to manage my symptoms, appointments often seemed to lead back to medication. At the time, I didn’t feel as though I had the energy to explore other ways of supporting myself. I wanted somebody else to fix it because I felt completely depleted.

I’ve had three or four surgeries for endometriosis, previously about a year to a year and a half apart. My most recent surgery was around two years ago, and another procedure isn’t currently on my radar.

I know medical treatment remains an important option when it’s needed. The difference is that I no longer feel as though I’m waiting helplessly for the next intervention. The daily things I do have helped me feel much more involved in my own care.

What was your biggest “aha” moment?

Realising that change had to be manageable.

Deep down, I knew consistency mattered, but I didn’t believe the effort would be worthwhile. With the app, everything was broken down. I could add something to my goals, work on it day by day and tick off what I had achieved.

Suddenly, it felt possible.

I deliberately avoided trying to do everything at once. I chose one change, worked on it and then moved to the next. If I wanted the changes to last, I had to make them easy enough to fit into my life.

What are you most excited about now?

Everything!

I enjoy going to work and feeling good. I enjoy waking up and feeling good. I can look forward to events because I’m confident I’ll be able to attend.

Even something like eating out feels easier because I better understand how to choose food that works for me.

Endometriosis didn’t necessarily take one particular hobby away — it took my motivation and drive. I’ve always been ambitious, but I reached a point where I wanted to achieve things and simply felt that I couldn’t.

Now I have my spark back.

What advice would you give someone beginning this journey?

Stick with it and break things into small, manageable pieces.

I used to believe nothing worked for me. In reality, I often hadn’t given things enough time or consistent effort to know whether they worked.

Set aside whatever time and energy you can and make the process fit you. Give yourself grace, love and patience. Feeling exhausted and unwell can have a huge effect on your confidence and self-worth, so don’t expect yourself to change everything overnight.

Use the tools and recommendations available to you, try them thoughtfully and pay attention to what works for your body.

It can be especially difficult when you feel as though you’re at rock bottom. I felt like I was running on nothing. The turning point was deciding that, regardless of how bad I felt at that moment, I could feel better — and I was going to find my way there.