A WOMAN who suffered with endometriosis for 20 years before finally being diagnosed, pushed herself to run a half-marathon after surgery to ease the symptoms of the excruciating condition.

Natalie Morrow, of Station Road, Minety, suffered with unbearable pain every month due to the condition.

Endometriosis is a common condition where tissue that behaves like the lining of the womb is found in other parts of the body.

The 33-year-old, who works as an RAF VIP cabin crew member for the Royal Squadron in London, felt she had not been taken seriously by doctors for 20 years, dismissing her symptoms.

This year she saw a new doctor who referred her for surgery in May.

Mrs Morrow said: “Every month I would find I would wake up hallucinating in sweats on the floor and I didn’t know where I was.

“I’d wake up on the bathroom floor not knowing I had been there.

“I could be bed-bound for two days, needing pain relief, hot water bottles and warm baths. My whole family hadn’t understood it.

“I was relieved I was diagnosed and they could deal with it because surgery doesn’t always work.

“At least they could deal with it and know I hadn’t been making it up.”

After undergoing surgery to hopefully relieve the symptoms, Mrs Morrow decided she needed to do something big to get herself fit after the operation.

“I thought I could set myself a target to get fit and set myself up for it, so I thought, half-marathon it is then,” she said.

Training began only a few weeks after surgery for the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London on Sunday,

October 8 which she completed in 1.54.22.

Mrs Morrow said: “Once I crossed the finish line I wanted to cry, collapse and just drink water!”

To be notified when entries for 2018 open, please visit the website www.royalparkshalf.com