A woman who was hospitalised with sepsis after years of agony says doctors feared she had cancer before discovering the true cause.
Paige Hughes spent much of her adult life battling agonising cramps, fatigue and stabbing pains that were repeatedly dismissed as “just bad periods”.
But the 33-year-old’s world came crashing down when she was left fighting for her life after a ruptured appendix sent her into sepsis.
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During emergency hospital scans, medics spotted something unusual – but initially thought it could be pelvic inflammatory disease.
As doctors began investigating the possibility of cancer, Paige was terrified.
It was only by chance that the real cause was finally uncovered – stage 4 endometriosis, a severe and often misunderstood condition where tissue similar to the womb’s lining grows elsewhere in the body.
“I feel like somebody has stuck a pin in me and sucked the life out of me,” Paige told Need To Know.
“It sounds dramatic, but it’s true.
“I become fatigued very quickly, sometimes within the space of 30 minutes.
“I have shooting and stabbing pains along with bowel issues, headaches, brain fog and more.
“Accepting it was a long-term chronic health condition took me a few years to come to terms with, though.”
The diagnosis, made in November 2018 shortly after her brush with sepsis, finally explained the mystery pain that had ruled her life for years.
Paige says the painful condition impacted everything from sex to social activities with friends.
She said: “It used to affect my work, and I would find a normal 9-5 difficult.
“I’ve been known to take a hot water bottle into the office.
“It also impacts relationships, sex and social activities, as if I have a flare-up, I have to cancel or change the plans last minute.
“It’s very unlike me to do that, but it’s non-negotiable – addressing the flare-up has to go top of the list.
“A flare-up will wipe you out suddenly, so it can ruin a lot of things.”
After years of frustration and exhaustion, Paige, from Manchester, decided to take matters into her own hands.
Rather than relying on surgery or hormone therapy, she began exploring natural and holistic methods – including cycle-based exercise, nutrition, reflexology, meditation and nervous system regulation.
She said: “I’m much more inclined to that stuff anyway, and so it just feels right for me.
“I thought, let’s try this [natural healing] first, and if not, I will opt for something else.
“I have always stood by that if I need surgery, as in it’s non-negotiable, I will have it.”
Within weeks, Paige began noticing a difference. Her energy levels improved, her flare-ups eased, and her scans showed visible improvement.
She added: “I think the natural and holistic approach is the way forward for this sort of thing.
“I have gained so much more insight into myself, the natural world and what works for me, so I actually feel richer as a result, not at a deficit.
“My symptoms improved within weeks. No journey is perfect, and you need to stack it; some things take longer, but I do think it works.”
Having felt the benefits in late 2024, Paige left her job in the charity sector and retrained as a menstrual health coach and personal trainer.
Today, she runs The Alternative – a queer-run, feminist-first and trans-affirmative health and fitness space – alongside her business partner Rae.
The inclusive studio helps women and people with periods better understand their cycles and take control of their wellbeing.
She said: “My most recent scans have shown visible improvement in my condition, but I also now feel more connected with my body and in control.
“People assume you’re ignoring medical advice. But I’ve done my research, trained properly, and I’m choosing a path that works best for my body.
“People can’t tell you it’s wrong if it’s working, and equally, it being wrong is just their opinion.
“Last year, I started to feel amazing. I had years’ worth of holistic support stacked up, including reflexology, somatic body practices, eating better, vitamins, sleep hygiene, journaling, meditating, education, therapy and physical workouts.
“It hit me around summer how amazing I felt, and that brought with it a sense of grief that I had been depriving my body of this level of connection and care before now.
“When you feel truly healthy, it becomes clear to you how crap you felt before.”
Now Paige is determined to use her experience to help others living with endometriosis.
She said: “You deserve to be listened to, always. You deserve real, qualified support that helps you understand your body, not suppress it.
“There’s so much about menstrual and hormone health we weren’t taught in school.
“I run my workshops and people are like, ‘I can’t believe I didn’t know this, what the hell?’
“There is always more than one path, and you’re allowed to choose the one that feels right for you.
“Trust your body, it knows what you need better than anyone.”
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