Women Defying the Odds: Meet Dawn Heels, a Fibroid Advocate and Campaigner from London, England

Meet Dawn Heels, a Fibroid Advocate and Campaigner from London, England.  

Please tell us a little bit about you are and where you are based?  

My name is Dawn Heels, I am 40 years old. I am a lawyer and I live in London. I have been suffering from menstrual health problems since the age of 14. I have turned my pain into purpose by becoming a fibroid advocate and campaigner, by campaigning for change in the way this awful condition is dealt with.   

What have been your barriers and how did you overcome them?

My story begins when I was 14 years old and my period officially started. From the jump, it was very heavy and painful. I had a really good relationship with my mum, where I was able to discuss anything with her, so I told her and she explained that she too had started her period at the age of 14 and funnily enough, she also experienced very heavy and painful periods, so what I was experiencing must be hereditary.  

At around the age of 16/17, I began to understand that the pill could help with periods and after trialling many over the years, a friend of mine who was a trainee nurse at the time, told me about the progesterone only pill ‘Cerezette’ which could potentially stop my periods. With all my pain, this was a dream come true. So off to the sexual health nurse I went, got my Cerezette and for the next 10+ years lived a life of being period free! It was amazing. I entered my 30s and I knew that within that decade, I would want to start trying for a baby. I had been on the pill for so long and my body needed a break. Little did I know that the pill would have been the worst Band-Aid I could ever put on my period sore.  

In 2016, I was working at a company that had me completely stressed out. I started to experience pain on the left hand side of my stomach. At first, I thought it was a result of the stress but as it persisted, I knew I had to go to the doctors. I went and he explained that it was probably something to do with my cycle and sent me on my way. I saw him again and he repeated the same information. But as this pain persisted, I KNEW something was wrong, so I made yet another doctor’s appointment and asked to see a female doctor. She said my description of the pain sounded like I had a cyst on my ovaries but in any event, she’ll send me off for an ultrasound scan. The scan revealed I had two fibroids; a condition I didn’t know about but was told by my doctor that the two 4cm fibroids were normal, common and nothing to worry about. Well, nothing to worry about left me in severe pain for 6 years; bum pain, leg pain, pelvic pain, stomach pain, painful, heavy, clotty, prolonged periods, frequent urination, extreme bloating, tiredness and a protruding ‘preggo’ stomach. Nothing to worry about had me planning life around my periods. Nothing to worry about rendered me infertile. But each and every time I went to complain to my doctor about my pain and suffering, it was dismissed as just another fibroid symptom, and such was normal. 

My suffering got progressively worse in 2020 where I was constantly on my period and in pain, which subsequently led to me not being able to take it anymore in 2021. After an enlightening conversation with a work colleague (I was now in a new place of work) who kindly reminded me that we had workplace medical insurance, I was able to see a consultant who changed my life. It was the first time I felt seen, heard, and a progressive plan was put in place. He re-scanned me and found that I had at least 6 fibroids; the biggest was the size of a grapefruit and due to this fact, I would have to have an open myomectomy. This is an operation that resembles a c-section. I always thought that should I ever need such an operation, it would be to give birth to a baby, not tumors. 

In January 2022 I had my operation. My consultant came to see me the day after to advise that he had in fact removed 16 fibroids! I was in shock. THIS was why I was suffering so much. Two tiny fibroids were left inside me to give me a chance at conceiving. 

It took 8 weeks to start feeling myself again (this was coupled with an emergency blood transfusion); it was a long recovery process. 

After a vacation to de-stress from the operation, in July of 2022, I found out I was pregnant for the first time at the age of 39. I gave birth in March 2023 to a beautiful baby girl, who is my miracle blessing. I am forever grateful. 

I shared my story online in 2022 and was inundated with stories from women who had suffered, or were currently suffering with fibroids. It spurred me to start a series on Instagram called ‘My Fibroid Journey’ where I amplify the voices of fibroid warriors. I do this alongside having medical professionals educate us on the condition. I also run a monthly support group called The Guidance Suite (@guidancesuite), offering support and guidance for women suffering with a womb condition. We also have therapists who sit in on the sessions as the conversation of mental health and menstrual health issues is often left off the table. I am one for doing and seeking change; I am a member of a Parliamentary committee in London on women’s health, a member of the newly created Health Collective and I am part of Wellbeing of Women’s ‘Just a period’ campaign. I’m doing all of this as I don’t want women to go through what I went through. Change is needed and pronto. 

What do you think gave you the drive and determination to succeed? 

In my personal life, it was the end goal of wanting a family. I needed to get on a medical pathway that would firstly give me a better quality of life and then, hopefully, bless me with a baby. Now, on the other side of this journey, my drive is my daughter. I want her to be able to seek any type of medical advice and not be gaslit by medical professionals and further, I want her to be given proper information so she can make an informed decision. With this in mind, I’ll do anything I can to make a difference to women’s health.  

What is the biggest lesson that you’ve learnt along the way? 

You are the specialist over your body, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Your pain and/or suffering should never be diminished by anyone, especially when you know how you have been validly feeling.  

Do you have a mantra you live your life by? 
“Surrender”. Surrendering the future; whatever shall be, shall be. During my suffering and yearning for a child, I cried so many tears and the question of why me was constantly on my lips, until I could not take the torment anymore. I therefore surrendered my life to God and said should it be your will; it shall be in your perfect timing….and it happened in His perfect timing. 

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?  

Life isn’t as easy as these teachers are making it out to be! I went to an all-girls school, and we were told that life was simply finish school, go to university, then after that you’ll get the perfect job, get married, have a baby and life would be good! There was no preparation for the harsh realities of life; that perhaps it may not be so straightforward. Therefore, my advice to my 16-year-old self is that no matter the obstacle, don’t be deterred because determination is going to get you everywhere.   

How can our readers connect with you? 

Instagram: @dawn_heels / @guidancesuite 

Twitter : @whatdawndid 

Website: www.dawnheels.com