A The Traitors star has revealed their ten-year battle to be diagnosed with a ‘debilitating’ condition after facing ignorance from multiple doctors.
Elen Wyn, 24, a faithful who was banished in the second episode of the latest season of the BBC show, said male GPs told her she had a low pain tolerance when she was suffering from endometriosis.
Now, she has been diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis, a condition where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body. It has also spread to her ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel, bladder and kidney.
One doctor even ‘laughed’ in her face after enduring symptoms that left her in such agonising pain she was unable to stand, an experience she described as ‘awful.’
Elen said she first felt pain – describing it as like being ‘repeatedly stabbed’ – aged 14 and approached a doctor who dismissed it as ‘normal’ menstrual cramps.
On TikTok, the trainee opera singer said she instead decided to ‘power through’ and take ibuprofen.
Symptoms of endometriosis
Severe period pain
Pain when you urinate or poo during your period
Heavy periods that can see you changing your pad or tampon every 1-2 hours
Pain during or after sex
Pain in your pelvic area
Fatigue
However, while studying in Cardiff aged 21, she began to suspect she had endometriosis after reading accounts of TikTok users who had been diagnosed with the condition.
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Wanting a diagnosis, she booked an appointment with a doctor but as she told the BBC: ‘I saw another GP but he said the same, that my pain tolerance was too low.
‘I remember him laughing at me, it was awful.’
Elen then decided to request a female doctor, who ‘completely validated’ her by agreeing she could have endometriosis.
After an ultrasound and an MRI scan came back clear, the TV star asked for a laparoscopy which confirmed she had the condition.
Now Elen uses her social media platform to raise awareness of endometriosis to prevent future misdiagnoses.
She said: ‘I think a narrative needs to be erased here. Because it’s a condition associated with female hormones, people tend to link the symptoms with being dramatic and it’s really frustrating to me.
‘There is so much stigma around it and I think that stigma needs to be deleted.’
Elen also implored GPs to better educate themselves about the symptoms and possible treatment options.
The Traitors star is not the only figure in the public eye who has spoken about their experience with the condition.
Celebrities including Molly-Mae Hague and Amy Schumer both revealed they underwent surgery to lessen
After being banished from The Traitors, Elen spoke to Metro and said it was the ‘best experience of my life’ despite her premature departure.
She said: ‘Representing Wales is what I wanted to do most on the show. The Welsh language and its culture is a huge part of who I am.
‘Despite only being in two episodes, I do feel like I did to the best of my ability.’
The Traitors is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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