Doctors said ”There is no problem”: 5 organs were removed after 20 years

Laurene Agnew has struggled with debilitating menstrual pain since she was 13. Despite visiting doctors repeatedly, she was told her pain threshold was low and sent home. Her first laparoscopy was performed at 16, but medical professionals found no abnormality. At 22, she experienced similar issues, but her higher weight previously led doctors to overlook her symptoms.

It wasn’t until she experienced bleeding during sexual intercourse that doctors finally took action. Agnew criticized the system, saying, “It only mattered when it started affecting my relationship. That’s when I was taken seriously.” During surgery, it was discovered that her organs were covered with advanced endometriosis. She underwent numerous surgeries over 12 years, but her pain persisted.

After consulting a specialist, her endometriosis was re-diagnosed and another operation was performed. Despite the difficulties, Agnew successfully had two children. However, in 2020, after a hysterectomy, her pain did not subside. She continued to experience bleeding, and an MRI revealed an untreated endometriosis nodule, which was removed through another operation.

As a last resort, she sought help from surgeon Peter Barton Smith, who repaired damage caused by previous surgeries. However, her condition worsened again, with severe bloating, difficulties in bowel movements, and loss of appetite. In summer 2024, Agnew lost 10 kilos and had to be hospitalized with a nasal feeding tube.

Dr. Gabriel Mitroi diagnosed that her intestines, bladder, sexual function, and nerves controlling her right leg had sustained serious damage. Agnew explained, “Nerve death occurs in three stages, and I was in the third. If I had delayed treatment further, it would have been irreversible.” Following a successful surgery by Dr. Mitroi, her quality of life improved significantly. Now free from pain, the mother of two shared on Instagram, “My story isn’t much different from many other endometriosis sufferers. I’m just the one who can tell it, and I want people to listen.”