Dallas Bollmann was accused of being a drug seeker for repeatedly turning up to hospital in pain. Photo / George Heard
Dallas Bollmann was accused of being a drug seeker for repeatedly turning up to hospital in pain. Photo / George Heard
In Her Head is a Herald campaign for better women's health services. Health reporter Emma Russell investigates what's wrong with our system and talks to wāhine who have been made to feel their serious illness is a figment of their imagination or "just part of being a woman".
Dallas Bollmannwas accused of being a drug seeker for repeatedly turning up to hospital in pain and was advised by a doctor to "get pregnant, that'll fix your problems" at the age of 15. And that's only the start of her story.
The 31-year-old mum from Christchurch spoke to the Herald as part of its In Her Head campaign because for years she felt ignored by our health system.
"We need more understanding of women's health in general. We are not just complaining, these are real concerns," Bollmann said.
Since the age of 10, Bollmann battled with unbearable cramps, intense migraines and heavy bleeding every month for about 10 days.
"I remember begging my mum to stay home from school because I couldn't even walk to the bus stop."
She would visit doctors only to be told her symptoms were "just part of being a woman" and that she needed to find a way to live with the pain, she said.
"I kept thinking maybe I'm just being weak, maybe I just need to harden up. That made me think I was going crazy," Bollmann said.
She convinced her mum to let her go on oral contraception so she could try to skip her period but her period and the pain kept coming, she said.
"I lost so many friends because of being in pain all the time. No one wants to listen to you complain about how sore you are."
By the time she was 15, she said, a doctor advised her getting pregnant would fix her pain.
She left that appointment in tears and didn't go back. Feeling like no matter how hard she tried she couldn't get help, she began to suffer in silence.
Six years later, aged 21, she was finally diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition that affects one in 10 women.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is found in places outside of the uterus. It can only be diagnosed through surgery.
Women who suffer the condition often experience extremely painful periods and in some cases have difficulty getting pregnant.
Bollmann suffered seven miscarriages before she had her daughter Pandora, now 5.
Dallas Bollmann wishes doctors would listen before handing out prescriptions and sending her home. Photo / George Heard
But contrary to her doctor's belief, getting pregnant didn't take away her pain.
For the past four years, her endometriosis continued to escalate to the point where she became reliant on heavy pain medication to function.
"My body then decided that I was now very allergic and I was admitted to the hospital via ambulance for an allergic reaction ... I was then treated as if I was a drug seeker in front of my daughter, who was so upset for me it broke my heart," Bollmann said.
She was constantly told by doctors losing weight would cure her condition, she said.
"No matter what I do, I can't lose weight due to all the other crap and believe me, I try, I've been trying for 20 years.
"I eat less than 1000 calories a day because that is what every dietician has told me to do, I go to the gym as much as I can and as my pain allows," she said.
After 20 years of pain, she is still struggling to cope.
"It's had a huge impact on my relationships. I struggled to bond with my daughter. It made it difficult to be intimate with my partner. I could only work part time."
More than anything, she said she wishes doctors would listen before handing out prescriptions and sending her home.
Follow women's personal stories of poor healthcare in our interactive grid below. Click on a face to go to the full story.
