Calgary woman travelling to Romania to seek treatment for endometriosis

In a few weeks, Erin Hayzelden will make an 8,700-kilometre journey to Bucharest, Romania.

It’s not a vacation for the Calgary woman — she’s seeking treatment for endometriosis.

According to Endometriosis Network Canada, an estimated one in 10 people born with a uterus will develop the medical condition in their lifetime.

Endometriosis can cause painful lesions, cysts, nodules, and other growths outside of the uterus.

Abnormal pain

Hayzelden says she got her period at a young age and always experienced very bad cramps.

She thought it was normal, especially when she would seek medical or emergency treatment only to be told to take pain medication and use a heat pad.

“It wasn’t until I was older and I started to talk more about it with my friends and those around me and realizing this is probably not normal,” Hayzelden says, adding she would often consume an entire bottle of ibuprofen during her period.

Hayzelden’s pain only got worse over the years, and by 2016 it was chronic.

She began advocating for herself and talked to several doctors and specialists, undergoing tests to rule out possible conditions such as Crohn’s disease.

Seeking a diagnosis

Finally, in 2019 Hayzelden underwent a laparoscopy — a procedure that allows a surgeon to see inside the abdomen and pelvic area and she was diagnosed with endometriosis after lesions were discovered.

Some were excised. However, the ones that were left continued to grow and Hayzelden’s pain worsened.

“I experience pain every day,” she says, adding the severity is cyclical and any kind of physical activity is especially painful.

As someone who loves the outdoors and things like biking, hiking, and swimming, Hayzelden’s diagnosis has been devastating.

“I used to do half marathons, I used to run a lot, and I can’t do that now,” she says.

“Some days I can’t get out of bed. Some days it’s even hard to put clothes on or even think about having a shower. Little things that I think sometimes people maybe take for granted.”

No cure

There is no cure for endometriosis, but Hayzelden has tried numerous treatments and medications, including Lupron, which put her in a state of medicated menopause.

She’s tried acupuncture, massage therapy, and pelvic physiotherapy, and has eliminated some foods from her diet, but the pain persists.

Endometriosis has also triggered migraines, and she fears the condition has affected her fertility.

“Where the tissue can grow can really affect the ability to get pregnant, but also to carry full term,” Hayzelden explains, adding she and her husband have been trying to have a baby for the past year to no avail.

Surgery is the gold standard

Hayzelden says excision surgery is considered the gold standard when it comes to endometriosis treatment, and while there are specialists in Alberta that conduct the procedure, wait times are long and were exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.

“It’s anywhere from a year to two years waiting for surgery. And that doesn’t include the time to see the specialist and then get that referral and go from there,” Hayzelden says.

“The other challenge is that you need to find a surgeon that specializes in the actual cutting out and removing of the tissue and not just burning it. So, it’s excision versus just using a heat source, which can actually make endometriosis worse.”

At 33 years old, Hayzelden knows her fertility years are dwindling.

“I do not have two years to wait.”

Searching for help

Hayzelden found endometriosis support groups on social media and began researching overseas specialists.

One name was continually recommended: Dr. Gabriel Mitroi, who founded the Bucharest Endometriosis Center in Romania.

“Dr. Mitroi is world-class,” Hayzelden says, adding he’s spoken at global endometriosis events and has other specialists on staff.

“So if they find endometriosis on your bladder or bowels, there’s specialists there that know how to remove that. Here, if that was the case, you might be referred to another surgeon and then you would have to wait your time to see that person, depending on the severity of it.”

Making the decision

Hayzelden looked into other options for treatment in the US, but they were significantly more expensive, so she ultimately decided to reach out to Dr. Mitroi.

She booked an appointment for Aug. 18.

Upon arrival in Bucharest, Hayzelden will have an MRI to find out exactly what needs to be done in surgery.

She understands the procedure will be similar to the laparoscopy she had previously, which is minimally invasive with a quick recovery time.

Hayzelden estimates the trip and surgery will cost $14,000, but it’s a price she is willing to pay for a chance at a better quality of life.

Support and awareness

She started a GoFundMe page to help with costs and share her story.

“I think it’s important that more people learn about this and understand the significance it has on many people’s lives, not just me,” Hayzelden says.

“Just how common this is and how much more attention it really needs within our community.”

Hayzelden says she appreciates the care available in Canada, but more needs to be done when it comes to endometriosis and gynecological care in general.

“Better education, awareness, and advocacy are needed.”

You can follow Hayzelden’s journey on her Instagram page @mindover_endo.