Advertisement
Dublin: 12 °C Friday 15 November, 2024

Lena Dunham is enraged that women have to 'work extra hard' to have their symptoms recognised

‘I’m red with rage.’

LENA DUNHAM SPENT ten years living with endometriosis, and ultimately underwent a hysterectomy last year at the age of 31.

Glamour Women of the Year Awards - Los Angeles SIPA USA / PA Images SIPA USA / PA Images / PA Images

Since then, the writer and actress has spoken openly about the years of chronic pain she endured, the countless efforts she made to alleviate the symptoms of the condition and the moment which led her to beg medical professionals to ‘stop the pain or take my uterus’.

Recently, the actress celebrated the nine-month anniversary of her surgery, and this week she is back in hospital after having her left ovary removed.

PastedImage-91766 lenadunham / Instagram lenadunham / Instagram / Instagram

In a poignant Instagram post, Lena reveals that despite what she – and indeed her followers might have assumed – the hysterectomy didn’t ‘fix her’.

Lena reflected on the suggestions made my well-meaning followers, and refused to feel bowed.

A lot of people commented on my last post about being too sick to finish promoting my show by saying my hysterectomy should have fixed it. That I should get acupuncture and take supplements (I do). That I should see a therapist because it’s clearly psychological.

CA: 2018 HBO Golden Globes Party SIPA USA / PA Images SIPA USA / PA Images / PA Images

Lena’s multiple surgeries and setbacks have done much to teach her about her own wellbeing, and that of others.

A big lesson I’ve learned in all this is that health, like most things, isn’t linear – things improve and things falter and you start living off only cranberry juice from a sippy cup/sleeping on a glorified heating pad but you’re also happier than you’ve been in years.

Lena then tuned her attention to the battles fought by women to have their symptoms and gut instincts recognised by medical professionals

I’m simultaneously shocked by what my body is and isn’t doing for me and red with rage that access to medical care is a privilege and not a right in this country and that women have to work extra hard just to prove what we already know about our own bodies and beg for what we need to be well. It’s humiliating.

Lena’s post which was uploaded just three hours ago has amassed more than 106,000 likes.

DailyEdge is on Instagram!

Author
Niamh McClelland
View 4 comments
Close
4 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel