A young woman from Manchester faced a life-threatening sepsis crisis after years of agonising symptoms were repeatedly misdiagnosed by doctors as simply "bad periods."
Years of Dismissed Pain
Paige Hughes, now 33, endured most of her adult life battling debilitating cramps, extreme fatigue, and sharp stabbing pains. Medical professionals consistently dismissed her concerns, attributing them to menstrual issues rather than investigating the root cause.
The situation reached a critical point when her appendix ruptured, leading to a hospitalisation where doctors feared she might have cancer. This devastating health scare occurred against a backdrop of years of unexplained suffering that profoundly impacted her quality of life.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
In November 2018, when Paige was just 27, hospital scans finally revealed the truth: stage four endometriosis. This severe condition, affecting approximately one in ten women of reproductive age in the UK, involves tissue similar to the womb's lining growing elsewhere in the body.
"I feel like somebody has stuck a pin in me and sucked the life out of me," Paige revealed. "It sounds dramatic, but it's true. I become fatigued very quickly, sometimes within the space of 30 minutes."
The undiagnosed endometriosis had caused her appendix to become inflamed and rupture, necessitating weeks of hospital treatment and recovery.
Transformation Through Holistic Healing
Rather than opting for immediate surgery or hormone therapy, Paige embarked on a journey of natural and holistic methods. She integrated cycle-based exercise, specialised nutrition, reflexology, meditation, and nervous system regulation into her daily routine.
The results were transformative. "My symptoms improved within weeks," Paige shared. "No journey is perfect and you need to stack it, some things take longer, but I do think it works."
Her energy levels significantly improved, flare-ups became less frequent and severe, and subsequent medical scans showed visible improvement in her condition.
This remarkable recovery inspired a complete career change. In late 2024, Paige left her job in the charity sector and retrained as a menstrual health coach and personal trainer. She now runs The Alternative, an inclusive health and fitness studio, alongside her business partner Rae.
"I have gained so much more insight into myself, the natural world and what works for me," Paige explained. "So I actually feel richer as a result, not at a deficit."
Paige is now dedicated to helping others navigate similar challenges with menstrual health, emphasising that "you deserve to be listened to, always" and encouraging people to "trust your body, it knows what you need better than anyone."
