Wed. Nov 6th, 2024

Éire Emerald Collective hosts firsts Women’s Forum

ByAmy English

Tuesday, 15 October 2024, 17:58 , , ,
Éire Emerald Collective; picture by Amy English
Breaking Taboos: Limerick Collective Advocates for Endometriosis Awareness

The Éire Emerald Collective hosted its first women’s forum at the Castletroy Park Hotel on Saturday, October 12. The community aims to raise awareness and provide support for women suffering from endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting 10% of women, with over 150,000 diagnosed in Ireland alone. Commonly referred to as “Endo,” the condition occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside of it, often leading to painful periods, fatigue, and sometimes infertility. Women frequently endure long waiting times and multiple surgical procedures before receiving a diagnosis.

The forum was initiated by Limerick native Lisa-Claire Walsh, who is also affected by the disease.

A way full of pain to the diagnosis
Ciara Beirne & Lisa-Claire Walsh; picture by Kate Hawkins

Lisa-Claire had always experienced painful periods, but in 2015 she began suffering from pain in her right shoulder, IBS-like symptoms, and food sensitivities. In 2021, she was referred to a gynaecologist, who told her she was too young to have endometriosis.

Two years later, she was hospitalized with pain in her right side. Dr. Sucheta Johnson performed a diagnostic laparoscopy, confirming that Lisa-Claire had stage 4 endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Creating an Online Support Community

Following her diagnosis, Lisa-Claire founded the Éire Emerald Collective, an online community for women suffering from endometriosis and PCOS to find emotional support. Lisa-Claire said her goal was to break the taboos surrounding women’s health in Ireland, discuss a wide range of women’s health issues, and help women feel less isolated.

The forum´s first meeting

The roundtable on Saturday featured contributions from Doireann Barrett of the Gluten Free Kitchen Company, Dr. Sucheta Johnson, and Dr. Conor Kerley.

Danilly Carvalho from Talamh Natural shared insights into natural methods for easing pain associated with various women’s health conditions.

Dietitian Dr. Conor Kerley, from Phytaphix, spoke about the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to managing endometriosis. He emphasized how nutrition and dietary changes can help manage inflammation caused by endometriosis and other chronic conditions.

Doireann Barrett, Cneasú & Lisa-Claire Walsh; picture by Kate Hawkins

Doireann Barrett, who was diagnosed with endometriosis nearly 20 years ago, expressed frustration at the lack of improvement in the Irish healthcare system. She highlighted the Women’s Health Action Plan announced by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly in 2021.

An update earlier this year introduced five new regional endometriosis hubs for Dublin, Limerick, and Galway. The Limerick clinic operates at University Hospital Limerick twice a month.

Dr. Johnson, a consulting gynaecologist at Bon Secours Limerick, answered questions from attendees and emphasized the importance of destigmatizing discussions around periods and women’s health issues in Ireland.

She also outlined key symptoms of endometriosis to be aware of, including cramps that begin before and continue after periods, lower back and pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, and discomfort with bowel movements or urination.

Ciara Beirne from the Endometriosis Association of Ireland (EAI) was also in attendance. She notes, “We are working to build a community from the ground up, with a major focus on lobbying since early 2024.” Ciara encouraged those affected by endometriosis to reach out, adding that membership to the EAI has been free since this year.

More events planned for the future

Lisa-Claire and Doireann also revealed their plans to host similar events across Ireland as part of their “Endo Express.” The next event is scheduled to take place in Limerick on January 11. The collective can be found on Instagram @eire.emerald.collective, and there is a WhatsApp group for those affected to join and share their experiences.