30 year old Ruth Campbell Milton has spoken out about her battle with Endometriosis to raise awareness of the incurable condition.

Ruth, who grew up in Stogumber, has suffered from Endometriosis her entire life. The condition has spread to her lungs and now she is preparing to undergo a surgery with an estimated 20 per cent chance of survival.

Endometriosis is a condition that mainly affects women, in which tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other parts of the body, such as the ovaries and Fallopian tubes.

Women suffering from the disease may experience symptoms of sickness, constipation, diarrhoea, or blood in urine or poo during their period, in addition to difficulties becoming pregnant, pelvic pain and pain during and after sex.

While Endometriosis is not generally considered fatal, it can lead to lethal complications. Ruth suffers from 'stage four plus', characterised by WebMD Health Corp by "many deep implants and thick adhesions and large cysts on one or both ovaries." Ruth said: "It caused me to have pneumonia, to have sepsis, you can die from Endo."

Ruth's condition has spread to her lungs, and she is undergoing procedures to investigate whether it has also reached her throat. On some days the condition can be debilitating. Ruth said: "One day I'll be ok to do a few things, on another I'll be lying in bed, going to the loo and being sick.

"I'm being sick daily on my cycles, most of the time I'm sicking up blood and coughing up blood, I just have to dust myself off and carry on."

Ruth has experienced symptoms of Endometriosis since she was 13, and says doctors told her she was likely suffering from the condition from birth. However Ruth struggled to get the correct diagnosis until four years ago. She said: "They said I had growing pains, a bad period, they said 'it's because your family have bad cycles, it's nothing to worry about - here's some Nurofen Melts'.

"They kept giving me painkillers that would make me sick, they said my mum was an over fussy parent and I was a hypochondriac."

After being correctly diagnosed with Endometriosis four years ago, Ruth underwent her first surgery to remove the excess tissue. She said: "I had my first operation in Musgrove in Taunton. When I woke up the surgeons told me it was the worst case of Endo they had ever seen, they were shocked."

Ruth was then scheduled to undergo a second operation, which was delayed by the outbreak of Covid 19. It was rearranged and she underwent the procedure around 18 months ago. Ruth said: "I woke up after ten and a half hours - the surgery was expected to take three hours - on an end of life ward. Every time I moved it was agonising.

"They removed three quarters of my bowel, part of my stomach and bladder, and removed tissue from my womb. I was in the hospital for almost a month, I was on morphine, I had fluid drips, and was put on a strict diet of mainly fluids and soft foods as I didn't really have a bowel.

"They took my appendix out as well, the surgeon said it was like a shrivelled up pig's tail because the Endo had killed it. I had a catheter for a week and a tube attached to my back passage for a week."

Ruth has now been referred to a consultant from St Bart's Royal Hospital in London after tissue was discovered growing on her lungs and is hoping to have a date for her next operation confirmed by May. Ruth says the chances of surviving the operation are 20 per cent. Ruth said: "There is an 80 per cent chance I may not make it because of complications.

"They have to shave Endo off of my lungs and burn the nodes. Specialists are now thinking it may be on my throat. If I don't take the surgery there's a strong chance I won't survive past 50. I thought if I don't take the surgery, I won't miss much, because even though I might last 20 years they won't be good ones."

However Ruth remains optimistic, and has expressed confidence in her surgeons. She said: "I one hundred percent trust the surgeons with my life, I will happily take the chance."

Even after her previous surgery Ruth continues to suffer symptoms as the tissue regrows. She said: "I spend £50 or more on sanitary products and other things that I need. I live my life day to day, somedays I can get up and make myself a cup of tea, sometimes I feel wiped from doing normal everyday things.

"I bloat out for no reason, it's hard to look at myself in the mirror. When I do have an ok day and go out I know I'll be paying for it the next day.

Despite all the challenges Ruth is still fighting to realise her life long ambition to become a mother. She is currently undergoing investigate procedures to see if IVF will be viable. She also hopes to travel to see the Northern Lights, and the Sea of Stars in the Maldives as well as to pass a medical exam to be able to drive a car.

Ruth had a message to other women suffering from Endometriosis. She said: "Be strong, keep carrying on and never go a day without being heard. If someone doesn't believe you go to the next person and the next person, that's what I did. Believe in yourself, you know your body better than anyone.

"I couldn't live without my partner, he's my rock, he does everything for me, literally. From carrying me out of the bath to learning how to put my ear from watching YouTube."

Ruth is hoping to set up a blog to raise awareness of the condition. "Endowarriors, that's what all these women who have this condition are."