Tehyana Johnson, 22, says she was ‘fobbed off’ for more than a decade before finally receiving her diagnosis

A young woman who claims her endometriosis symptoms were “ignored” for a decade, with her weight or periods blamed as the reason for her crippling pain, has expressed she wishes “someone would have just listened”.

Tehyana Johnson, 22, said her symptoms, which included painful periods and severe bleeding, blood in her urine, widespread body pain and vomiting, were repeatedly disregarded by doctors.

From 2014 onwards, she claims she was “fobbed off” and told her symptoms were down to her weight or “just a bad period”, and she reckons she has attended more than 250 consultations in the past three years alone.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

Tehyana, who lives in Norwich, Norfolk, said she self-diagnosed herself with endometriosis – when cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb are discovered elsewhere in the body – prior to receiving her official diagnosis in July 2025.

This came following a laparoscopy, a form of keyhole surgery, which uncovered her endometriosis had been found extensively, with lesions and scar tissue present on numerous organs, including her bowels.

Although she felt “vindicated” by the diagnosis, Tehyana believes much of this could have been prevented and she is now campaigning for earlier diagnosis for this “invisible” and currently incurable condition.

“I’d been fobbed off for so long and told that this isn’t what’s wrong with me, so when I was diagnosed, I almost felt vindicated because I was right – but I was angry,” Tehyana told PA Real Life.

“I was doing the research into what’s wrong with me and I was right every single time. But this is something I’m going to have to live with for the rest of my life because everything we have tried so far hasn’t worked. I wish someone would have just listened to me in the first place.”

According to the charity Endometriosis UK, on average, it takes more than eight years from the first GP visit to get a diagnosis for endometriosis – a condition which affects 176 million women worldwide.

Symptoms of endometriosis vary but can include pelvic pain, painful periods that interfere with everyday life, heavy menstrual bleeding, and pain during or after sex or when urinating.

Tehyana said it took around a decade to receive her official diagnosis, and, along the way, she was consistently dismissed by doctors and healthcare professionals.

She said she started her period aged nine, experienced heavy bleeding and was diagnosed with an iron deficiency, and this was managed by taking iron tablets and eating iron-rich foods.

However, from the age of 12, her symptoms worsened to include nausea, vomiting and such severe cramping that she would be “off school, in bed for days”.

“I couldn’t move and I’d just curl up into the foetal position,” said Tehyana, who works as a regional assistant for a social care company.

“That would go on for days… but when we went to see the doctors when I was about 14, there was no investigation and they just stuck me on the pill.”

Tehyana said the pill stopped her periods, although she still experienced “phantom pain” and occasional light bleeding, and she required physiotherapy for back pain but was told this was due to “growing pains”.

She said her symptoms continued to worsen, even leading to hospital admissions as the pain felt like her “body was on fire”, but still she was “ignored”.

“I would go to hospital, and they would say, ‘are you sure it’s not just a bad period?’,” she explained.

“They’d tell me to go back to my GP and, effectively, ignore me, and then my GP would say, ‘if your pain is that bad, you need to go to hospital’.”

‘Your weight is my ideal weight as a 6ft 5in man’

In 2023, Tehyana said she was finally referred to a gynaecologist, but she was stuck on the waiting list for a year and her symptoms affected her ability to sleep, walk and study.

During this time, she changed GP surgeries and was fortunate to see a locum doctor who recognised the extent of her pain, prescribed codeine for pain management and escalated her referral to urgent.

In 2024, she said she was seen by a male gynaecologist and had subsequent ultrasound and MRI scans, which came back clear, and she was again told she did not have endometriosis.

She said she was instead told her weight was the cause of her symptoms.

“He spent the whole (appointment), telling me it’s because of my weight… and he said to me: ‘Your weight is my ideal weight as a 6ft 5in man’,” she said.

“Trying to explain (my symptoms) to someone who has already decided what he thinks is the answer, he just wasn’t listening.”

However, with her “debilitating pain”, Tehyana knew something was wrong and started doing her own research, which led her to learn about endometriosis while at university.

She continued: “I wasn’t going into my lessons because I couldn’t get up, I didn’t have any support, so I started Googling my symptoms and looking at WebMD and I came across endometriosis.

“I just thought, wait a second, this is what’s been going on with me for the past 10 years.”

Later in 2024, Tehyana experienced an unplanned pregnancy that became a suspected ectopic pregnancy – when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb – but she said doctors dismissed this, too.

A week later during a private scan, clinicians identified what appeared to be a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, which can be life-threatening, and she was rushed to hospital for further investigations.

It was discovered she had suffered a partial rupture, but Tehyana said the pregnancy later “dissolved” on its own before surgery was needed.

After pushing for a laparoscopy, which she said is considered “the gold standard” for diagnosing endometriosis, she was placed on the waiting list.

During the year-long wait, however, her symptoms continued to worsen, including severe abdominal pain, nausea, bladder spasms, bowel dysfunction and debilitating sciatica.

“It’s traumatic. I’m on the floor, I’m screaming, crying, and the pain lasts for hours,” she said.

In July 2025, Tehyana finally underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy and, when she woke from surgery, she was informed that endometriosis had been found extensively.

Although some of the tissue was removed, she was told not all of it could be excised safely due to the extent and location of it.

“They said there are lesions which look like they’ve been there for about 15 years, and I’ve got massive scarring on basically everything,” she said.

“At this point, I’m thinking, you’ve left it so long that now there’s not a chance that (treatment) will work.”

Tehyana said she still experiences “flare ups”, but she is pushing for more referrals and says using her TENS machine, which passes a weak electrical current to the nerves, helps ease her pain.

She may need further surgery in future as part of her treatment or, in a more severe case, a hysterectomy to remove her womb, but in the meantime, she is determined to raise more awareness and campaign for more education and support.

“Always advocate for yourself and fight for yourself… but you’re not alone as there are millions of us with this condition and there are support groups,” she said.

“I’d say to GPs, think about if this was your child or your wife or your partner, you’d want them to be heard.

“Medical professionals need to educate themselves and be willing to be educated again.”

This Endometriosis Awareness Month, intimate wellness brand Intimina is urging women to speak up and raise awareness of endometriosis, which takes an average of eight years and 10 months to diagnose.

Dr Susanna Unsworth, women’s health expert for Intimina, said: “Too many women are still told that severe period pain is ‘just something they have to live with’.

“But pain that stops you going about your normal daily life is not normal and should always be assessed.

“If your periods are affecting your quality of life, trust your instincts, seek medical advice and keep advocating for yourself.

“Women deserve to be listened to when they say something isn’t right.”

To find out more information, visit www.intimina.com.

Police are still searching for 18-year-old Declan Berry

A vehicle has been recovered from a river in Wisbech after a car containing five teenagers entered the water. Cambridgeshire Police recovered a blue Volkswagen Polo, with the support from specialist dive teams, from the River Nene in Wisbech St Mary on Sunday (March 22).

Police have confirmed that no further people have been found inside the car. They are still searching for Declan Berry, 18, who was believed to have been driving the car.

Detective Inspector Craig Wheeler, from the Road Policing Unit said: “We are still actively searching for Declan along the River Nene. We continue to support his family, who were present today when the vehicle was recovered. My thoughts remain with the families and friends of Eden Bunn and Declan Berry during this awful time.”

Emergency services were called to North Brink following reports that a car containing five people had entered the water in the evening of Tuesday (March 17). The body of 16-year-old Eden Bunn, from Sutton Bridge, was recovered from the water on Wednesday (March 18). Three other people, two girls aged 16 and an 18-year-old boy got out of the vehicle.

Cambridgeshire Police is appealing for witnesses or anyone with dash cam footage to get in touch quoting incident 517 of 17 March.

National Rail said blocked lines are affecting Grand Central and TransPennine Express services through the city station until the end today (Monday, March 23).

Grand Central Services between Sunderland and London Kings Cross are affected, along with TransPennine Express routes between the North East and Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Airport and Manchester Victoria.

Recommended reading:

Services are now likely to be revised.

⚠️ Due to earlier engineering works not being finished on time between #Northallerton and #York some lines are blocked.

🕒 Train services running through these stations may be revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

ℹ️ Live journey updates:… pic.twitter.com/GDVpGrDeZA

— TPE Customer Assist (@TPEassist) March 23, 2026

Advertisement

A National Rail spokesperson offered advice to TransPennine Express passengers, saying: “You should continue to travel as planned, however services departing from Northallerton may depart slightly earlier than advertised.

“If you are travelling towards York from this station, please check before you travel.

“If you are travelling from Redcar Central / Middlesbrough / Thornaby / Eaglescliffe to Northallerton you are advised to catch the next available Northern service to Darlington where you can change onto LNER and TransPennine Express services.

“If you are at Yarm travelling to Northallerton you are advised to use the station help point where road transport will be booked as required.

“If you are travelling from Northallerton to Thirsk you are advised to catch a TransPennine Express service to York for alternative services from York to Thirsk.”

Passengers are urged to use National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner , it said.

The Press will update this story as we receive more information.

Issuing a team news update ahead of facing Nottingham Forest, he said: “[Mohammed Kudus will return for] probably some part of things with the squad, maybe in ten days? I’m not sure, we need to check, but he is progressing very well, already with the ball. Rodrigo [Bentancur]as well.”

Lord Lebedev, the Standard’s owner, said the 2025 awards recognised a vintage year in the capital. “It’s a real honour and a privilege to be the torch bearer not only for The London Standard but also for the great Standard Theatre Awards and their distinguished, vibrant history, while the West End – and beyond – remains the city’s beating heart. This has been yet another exceptional year – the shortlist and the winners stand as testament to the remarkable talent gracing our stages.”

KPMG, one of the “Big Four” accountancy firms, is telling clients affected by the war: “Whilst there has been no indication as yet, HMRC may issue updated guidance on how they expect the exceptional circumstances rules to operate in this context, as they did during the COVID‑19 pandemic.”

The public are facing potential restrictions if the Iran war and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz cause severe supply shortages

Advertisement

There are fears that fuel rationing could become a reality in the UK if escalating tensions in the Middle East continue to squeeze global oil supplies, with ministers now openly acknowledging the risk as prices surge.

A Labour Treasury minister this week stopped short of ruling out the possibility, as tensions surrounding Iran and disruption at the Strait of Hormuz begin to ripple through global energy markets. The impact is already being felt in the UK, with fuel prices climbing sharply and some forecourts reporting shortages.

Government contingency plans held by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero under its National Emergency Plan for Fuel outline precisely how rationing would operate in reality if introduced and which groups would receive initial priority.

Forecourt prices have risen sharply of late, with the RAC confirming the average price of unleaded petrol now stands at 141.5p and diesel at 160.3p, both representing 18-month peaks for fuel.

The National Emergency Plan for Fuel establishes who receives priority access to fuel, reports the Express. It states that emergency services and ‘critical service vehicles’ would receive first priority ahead of all other motorists.

Subsequently, utilities including gas and electricity providers and water companies would gain next priority, followed by public transport, including buses and diesel trains. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.

Commercial vehicles would follow, including lorries transporting food to and from supermarkets, and health-related deliveries. Finally, ordinary motorists could be subjected to limits on the quantity of petrol they can purchase at once, and may also encounter reduced operating hours at petrol stations.

The document elaborates: “The majority of potential fuel supply disruptions can be addressed by measures to help industry maintain fuel supply; these would be deployed by DESNZ in co-ordination with industry and other government departments.

“However, the government does have emergency powers under the Energy Act 1976, which it can use to control supply and demand of petroleum products. It should be noted that use of these emergency powers is reserved for the most severe of disruptions.

“These measures would only be activated in the event of a severe national fuel supply shortage.”

When questioned if the Government was preparing to implement such plans, Dan Tomlinson informed Times Radio: “At the moment, it is too early to tell what the impact of this crisis will be in the coming months.

“What we have seen in the last two weeks is that there has been sharp increase in the cost of oil used to heat people’s homes, and the Government has stepped in and said we’re going to provide £50 million of support for people across the UK who are reliant on heating oil.”

When asked again whether the Government was formulating contingency plans to ration petrol, Mr Tomlinson stated: “We will monitor the situation, and we’ll monitor it carefully.”

Louisa James, political correspondent for ITV’s Good Morning Britain, warned on Tuesday morning: “There are experts warning that a severe shortage of oil and gas is now just weeks away. As you would expect the government has emergency plans in place which will be activated in the event of a severe disruption.

“These are published online and they include measures such as petrol rationing, prioritising fuel for emergency services and public transport. There’s also talk of a temporary 50mph speed limit to reduce demand for fuel.

“A government source reassured us that the UK has ‘a diverse and resilient’ supply of fuel, that petrol stations are well stocked, and that imports are arriving.”

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI – prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

Fashion and function aren’t always the closest of bedfellows, and it’s so easy to overlook one in favour of the other. But that needn’t always be the case.

When you’re looking for a new staple piece for your wardrobe, something that you’ll happily be able to wear again and again, these are two elements that you need to prioritise.

And while it makes shopping harder, it’s far from impossible.

If you’re looking for a coat that’s extra wearable, these are some of the best buys on the high street right now.

Treats Tea Room & Cafe on Silver Street in Durham ran by the Gergin family, says it’s the “number one” visited tea room and cafe in the heart of the historic city, according to its website.

It adds: “Our mission is to offer you ‘good food at good prices’. 

“We offer a wide selection of award-winning sweet treats and desserts for all ages, from cakes, scones, and our traditional British afternoon teas, there is something for everyone.

“Our cafe and kitchen serve you in comfortable surroundings with a friendly and buzzing ambiance.”

Cream tea at Treats in County Durham that customers are raving about

The cream tea at Treats is priced at £5.95 and consists of a choice of fruit, plain or cheese scone, served with butter, clotted cream and strawberry preserve, along with a hot drink from the cafe’s “wide selection” of tea, chosen from its beverage and juice menu.

Just some options include peppermint, camomile and green tea, as well as Earl Grey and breakfast tea.

Take a look at Treats’ full menu via its website.

Over on Tripadvisor, the tea room’s 4.5/5 “very good” rating includes 645 “excellent” reviews out of a possible 905.

This guest shared: “Omg this was amazing! The cream tea was such a good price and filled 2 adults plus children.

“The super milkshake was great too. Great service. So glad they could squeeze us in.”

Someone else wrote after enjoying their cream tea at Treats: “We stumbled on this little Tea Room on our first visit to Durham and I don’t think we would look anywhere else on our next trip there.”

Praising the scones and teapots, a visitor posted: “Really friendly service, clean and comfortable surroundings and yummy scones. Particularly loved the teapots.

“A great find on our first trip to Durham.”

Meanwhile, another happy customer who decided to return within two days, commented: “We popped in for a cup of tea…I couldn’t resist the cakes, which were gorgeous and whilst there we browsed the menu for breakfast.

“Needless to say we returned the following day and had a delicious breakfast that really set us up for the day.

Customers have said they ‘couldn’t resist the cakes’ at Treats (Image: Tripadvisor)

“A very popular Tea room with locals and visitors alike – all made very welcome by the friendly and attentive staff.

“Treats is clean and fresh inside, clearly those who own and work there are justifiably proud.”

For those who fancy indulging even more, Treats also offers afternoon tea for two people that comes with a selection of freshly made dainty finger sandwiches, as well as a cream tea for two, a selection of sweet treats and any hot drink from the beverage and juice menu.

Cakes, scones, cream and afternoon teas are not all the cafe is known for, as Treats reveals: “Our full English breakfast are served all day long, as well as traditional pies, quiches, salads, vegan and vegetarian menus and daily specials which are all made fresh in our kitchens daily.

“Our team are here to take care of you, and give you the best experience of northern hospitality.”

Do you think Treats does the best cream tea in County Durham? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken about Iran

Advertisement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran has “everyone in their sights” – and that the regime can hit ‘deep into Europe’.

The Israeli military began what it called “a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian terror regime infrastructure” early on Monday. As US President Donald Trump’s deadline on opening the Strait of Hormuz approaches, Iran on Monday threatened to attack Middle East electrical plants powering American military bases.

Tehran warned it could attack US and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets if Israel or the US attempted to follow through on President Trump’s threat that the US would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if it did not fully open the Strait of Hormuz.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

Mr Trump — who is facing increasing pressure at home to secure the strait as oil prices soar — issued the ultimatum in a social media post while he spent the weekend at his Florida home.

A statement from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, read out on state television on Monday morning, marks the latest attempt by Tehran to try to explain its attacks on the Gulf Arab countries.

“What we have done is to announce our decision that if the power plants are attacked, Iran will retaliate by targeting the power plants of the occupying regime and the power plants of regional countries that supply electricity to US bases, as well as the economic, industrial and energy infrastructures in which Americans have shares,” the statement said, referring to Israel as an “occupying regime.”

“Do not doubt that we will do this.”

The US president wrote on his Truth Social website early on Monday: “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, TO PUT IT MILDLY!!!”

Earlier, Israel’s military said it detected missiles launched from Iran toward central Israel and parts of the occupied West Bank.

And the latest escalation in conflict comes after it was revealed Iran had launched missile attacks on the UK-US base of Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands, 3,800km away.

Government ministers have said the UK will not be dragged into a wider war in the Middle East, but Iran’s missile attack on the joint US-UK base has demonstrated that Europe could now be within reach.

And at the weekend, Mr Netanyahu told reporters: “I’ve been warning all the time. They have now the capacity to reach deep into Europe.

“They already have fired on a European country, Cyprus. They are putting everyone in their sights.”

One of the Iranian missiles was shot down by a US warship while the other failed in flight, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) declined to comment on when the attack was launched. It is not clear exactly when the two intermediate-range ballistic missiles were fired.

But the news emerged after the Government gave the US permission to strike missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.

And following Sir Keir Starmer’s decision, an Iranian minister warned British lives are now ‘in danger’. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reacted angrily on social media, claiming that the Prime Minister is putting British lives at risk by allowing UK territory to be used for “aggression.”

He insisted that Iran would exercise its right to self-defence, a sentiment that follows a previous Iranian drone strike on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus earlier this month.

And on X on Saturday evening, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), who are leading Israel’s attacks on Iran, claimed the state had missiles ‘that threatened Europe’.

In a post on X, the IDF said: “The Iranian terrorist regime launched a long-range missile for the first time since the start of Operation Roaring Lion that could reach a distance of ~4,000 km.

“During Operation Rising Lion in June 2025, the IDF revealed that the Iranian regime has intentions to develop missiles with a range of 4,000 km, which pose a danger to dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. The Iranian regime denied this. We have been saying it: The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat.

“Now, with missiles that can reach London, Paris or Berlin. The Iranian terror regime has carried out attacks against 12 countries in the region and is developing a capability that poses a much broader threat.”