Endometriosis - behind the uniform

A real story shared under a changed name – thank you to the storyteller.

Zara, Registered Nurse

I have been a midwife for over a decade. We’re trained to keep going despite fatigue, stress, or discomfort. But behind that resilience I have struggled with endometriosis.

I was diagnosed in my late teens and for years I managed the chronic pain, fatigue and unpredictable symptoms that come with it. At work it felt easier to push through than to speak up. I wanted to be seen as capable. I was trying to be strong, but it was affecting my health in ways I could no longer ignore.

Pain, low-energy - hiding symptoms while at work

I was in pain. My energy was constantly drained, and I often felt lightheaded and flat. On some shifts I would soak through my scrubs, slipping away quietly on breaks to change and reset before carrying on like nothing was wrong.

I remember one shift on new ward, I was eager to make a good impression. Less than an hour in, the familiar discomfort started to settle in. I kept going, quietly managing what I could. I eventually told my team leader I had a headache. It felt easier than explaining how much I was struggling; I didn’t want to be seen as someone who couldn’t keep up.

Pandemic and beyond

When COVID-19 hit everything got harder. Wearing PPE, short staffing, heightened anxiety – my workplace, like many, was stretched thin.

But chronic pain doesn’t wait for pandemics to pass. I was waking up exhausted, battling through each shift and feeling like I was falling apart. There were days when I struggled to focus. I’d press a heat pack to my abdomen under my scrubs, trying to keep going as the pain ebbed and flowed. It was relentless.

Speak up – asking for support and understanding

Eventually, I couldn’t stand it anymore. It wasn’t the job that was the problem - it was managing while quietly dealing with symptoms that people couldn’t see.

I told my manager that I wasn’t coping. I expected her to be blunt, or even disappointed. But, to my surprise, she understood. She shared that her niece also lived with endometriosis. My manager showed me that she got it. She saw me. Not just as a midwife — but as a person doing her best. Her very best.

Roster changes to make space

I worked with my manager to make practical changes to my roster. I avoided back-to-back night shifts and built in time for breaks whenever possible. She also checked in on me when she could, which made me feel seen and supported. Those small adjustments made a big difference. I finally had space to breathe.

Mindset shifts and small fixes

I’d spent so long tying my value to how much I could endure. Slowly I began to learn to listen to my body. I gave myself permission to step away when I needed to, even if just for a few minutes.

There wasn’t one big fix, just a series of changes that made my days more manageable. I started:

choosing uniforms that didn’t dig or add to my discomfort
keeping a spare change of clothes in my locker
wearing comfortable underwear
using heat patches discreetly when needed
snacking often to avoid dips in energy
taking a quiet moment in the tearoom to regroup.

On the hard days these fixes reminded me that I didn’t have to suffer in silence to do my job well.

You are not alone

Whether you’re a midwife, nurse, or student of the profession, your health matters. You don’t have to push through quietly just to be seen as strong. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to make space for yourself.

We spend our days caring for others. We deserve to care for ourselves, too.