Sacha Parkinson has revealed how she collapsed from ‘excrutiating’ pain while exercising – but didn’t know she was secretly battling endometriosis.
The Coronation Street star, 25, had suffered with heavy and painful periods for years but thought they were normal symptoms, and it wasn’t until she collapsed that she was diagnosed with the condition.
Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine today, Sacha, who is originally from Salford, revealed how she crawled across the hotel room floor to get into bed and worried that no one would find her until it was too late as she thought she might be dying from some unknown cause.
Sacha, who played Sian in Corrie, revealed her battle with the condition in an emotional Instagram post in which she could be seen lying in her hospital bed after a having an operation on her ovaries.
Coronation Street star Sacha Parkinson, 25, revealed that she collapsed from pain she didn’t know was from endometriosis
As well as her painful periods, Sacha would have a ‘dull ache’ in the bottom of her stomach throughout the month and she would experience pain during sex.
But it wouldn’t be until she collapsed in her Los Angeles hotel room after exercising that she knew something was wrong.
Sacha explained: ‘I started doing burpees, which is the most horrendous movement ever, and I was on the third one and I just dropped to the floor. I’ve never had that in my life so I didn’t know what was happening.
‘I immediately started pumping with sweat and I was boiling. I just remember army crawling from one side of the hotel room to where the bathroom was because it was tiled floor and I knew it would be cool. The pain was so bad I couldn’t even keep still so I crawled onto the bed.
She recently revealed her battle on Instagram saying she’d had an operation on her ovarie
Viewers praised Sacha for raising awareness of the condition, with one offering her ‘hugs’
‘It felt like forever, but I imagine it was only a couple of minutes. I remember thinking, ”No one knows I’m here and I don’t know what this is” and eventually it went.’
Sacha then visited her doctor who sent her to have scans that lead to her diagnosis, and doctors later informed her that the pain after the burpees she did was a cyst on her ovary twisting.
Twitter users praised Sacha’s interview, with many thanking her for raising awareness of the condition.
One tweeted: ‘Watching Sacha Parkison on Lorraien talking about endometriosis!! It is an horrendous pain!! Here’s a hug from one sufferer to another!!’
Endometriosis occurs when cells in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body, which causes pain and bleeding.
Sufferers will often have heavier and more painful periods, and also suffer period pain throughout the month.
Sacha revealed her battle with endometriosis on Sunday evening in an emotional Instagram post to raise awareness of the condition.
She wrote: ‘In April of last year I had surgery to remove endo cysts from inside both of my ovaries, that had taken up the entire space! Along with endo spots from around my womb. My surgery, though small in comparison to others, changed my life massively.
Others shared their stories about their struggles with the condition, which can cause heavy bleeding and painful periods
Sacha played Sian in Coronation Street, Sophie Webster’s first serious girlfriend
‘I had excruciating period pains growing up, often resulting in me taking days off school. I had constant lower back pain and for the last 3 years, a constant dull ache that felt like I had period pains every single day.’
She also revealed that her mother had the condition, but had a hysterectomy at the age of just 24-years-old to end her suffering.
She went on: ‘I have been familiar with Endometriosis since being a child. Sadly my beautiful, amazing momma had to have a hysterectomy at just 24 YEARS OF AGE!! Can you believe that?! Fortunately she already had me! (Though she may say unfortunately).
‘My mum had no choice but to have surgery as it had been undiagnosed for years and her condition became too severe. I’m saddened every day for her but THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO SPREAD THE WORD! IT’S AN INVISIBLE CONDITION BUT IT IS VERY MUCH A REAL ONE!’
Sacha says she wants to raise awareness of endometriosis, which affects one in ten women