Rachael Tyler
Jess Moultrie says her mum Rachael Tyler’s life has changed drastically after years without support, being listened to, or taken seriously.
In 1999, her Rachael’s symptoms of irregular periods and the discovery of a 3cm cyst on her ovaries were mistaken as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) due to her weight.
Concerns and complaints were ignored until 2006 when she collapsed in work. The cyst on her ovary had developed into a 9lbs cancerous tumour.
After quickly having children, Rachael underwent a hysterectomy, which had a significant impact on her overall health. She was initially refused HRT to alleviate her symptoms, due to misunderstandings around risks of blood clots. By the time a specialist advised she could have the treatment, “the damage was already done”.
“My mum is 46 and disabled because doctors ignored her and blamed her weight or said she was too young to take her seriously”, said Jess.
“She has no quality of life and very little chance of having any back any time soon due to waiting times. She has had spine problems due to her declining health which has led to numbness in her groin due to nerve damage, however that is not a concern to doctors. It’s like she doesn’t matter.
“The government has taken too long to listen, and the culture and attitudes of professionals need to change. It hurts my heart knowing that this is still going on and it could happen to me too.”
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