Chloe Kettle: Strength Through Endo
- Ayesha Shahid
- Aug 29
- 7 min read
"Sometimes it’s less about explaining the pain and more about surrounding myself with kindness, including my own."
What does it mean to live with a body that feels like it’s working against you? How do you carry stage 4 endometriosis, when the pain is invisible to others but constant for you? And how do you find light when the world rarely talks about struggles like these?
Meet Chloe, a brave young woman navigating life with Stage 3 endometriosis. Despite the weight of chronic pain and countless challenges, Chloe has chosen to share her journey with honesty and strength. Through her story, she sheds light on what it truly means to live with an invisible illness—one that is often misunderstood yet deeply impactful.
In this blog, Chloe opens up about resilience, self-compassion, and what keeps her moving forward.
How I Found Her:
I first came across Chloe through mutuals on Instagram, and something about her page immediately stood out. She had just recently started her account, yet her presence already felt warm and inviting. I was instantly drawn to her soft pink aesthetic, which carried this sense of calmness even while she shared the raw and difficult parts of her story.
Unlike many accounts, Chloe wasn’t just posting about her condition—she was creating a space where others could feel seen. One of the things that really impressed me was the way she used galas and community events to share her journey, turning something so personal into a collective moment of awareness. It made me realize how powerful storytelling can be, especially when it’s done with honesty and care.
Following her felt like connecting with someone who wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable while still radiating hope. That’s how our paths crossed, and I knew her voice deserved to be amplified here.
Realizing Something Wasn’t Right:
“It honestly took me a while to realise that what I was experiencing wasn’t normal. I just thought it was something I had to deal with. But the more I talked to my auntie who has endometriosis, the more I started to recognise that my symptoms sounded a lot like hers. That’s when it really clicked for me that something wasn’t right.”
Her words show the slow, quiet unraveling of realization — that what she had normalized for so long wasn’t just pain to push through, but a sign that something deeper was happening inside her body. Conversations with her aunt became more than family check-ins; they became mirrors, reflecting back symptoms she had brushed off for years.
“I found out after my first laparoscopy. Part of me felt relieved because it had taken so long to find out what was wrong with me and for doctors to finally listen. I’d started to think it was all in my head, so when they told me I had endometriosis, I felt a rush of relief but at the same time, I was scared and completely overwhelmed.
Hearing her say this, I couldn’t help but think about how heavy those emotions must have been, crashing in all at once. Relief, because finally she had an answer — a real, medical explanation for her pain. But also fear, because an answer doesn’t mean a cure. Imagine being so young and feeling your body betray you, while the very people meant to help you dismiss your pain as if it wasn’t real. That kind of dismissal plants doubt in your mind — makes you question whether what you feel is valid, whether you’re imagining it. To finally hear the words “you have endometriosis” must have been like standing between two worlds: one where she wasn’t “crazy” after all, but another where she had to face the reality of a chronic illness. It’s a cruel paradox — validation and devastation arriving at the very same moment.
She also mentioned that the doctors had finally listened to her, which reveals a harsh truth about our healthcare system: many doctors fail to take women seriously when they report symptoms of severe health conditions, often dismissing them instead.
Being 20 with Endo:
At just 20 years old, Chloe is navigating a reality that most people her age can’t imagine. On the days when the pain or fatigue becomes too overwhelming to explain, she focuses on giving herself grace. “I’ve learned to listen to my body and slow down, even if it means cancelling plans or stepping back from things I wanted to do,” she said. For her, comfort looks like small rituals—a heating pad, comfy clothes, something easy to watch—and the reminder that “rest isn’t weakness.”
Hearing that from someone so young is striking. At 20, most people are caught up in social calendars, late nights, chasing milestones, or rushing into adulthood. Chloe, instead, has been forced to master the art of slowing down—a kind of wisdom that usually comes much later in life, if at all. She has learned to protect her peace, to cancel plans without guilt, and to choose herself in a world that often demands the opposite.
Relationships, too, are shaped by this illness. “Sometimes it’s hard when it comes to making plans, because you never really know how you’ll be feeling on the day,” she admitted. But Chloe doesn’t dwell on what she can’t do. Instead, she cherishes the people who adapt with her—the friends and loved ones who remain patient, flexible, and supportive. At 20, she’s already learned something many take years to realize: real love and friendship never make you feel guilty for putting your health first.
Endometriosis has also taught her to rethink her body. “It’s taught me to rest, slow down, and make time for myself,” she explained. That perspective transforms what might feel like a limitation into a form of self-empowerment. She listens to her body now—something society doesn’t often encourage young women to do—and she sees strength in choosing rest.
When asked what keeps her going, Chloe doesn’t hesitate. “Knowing that my experiences might make even one person feel understood keeps me pushing forward,” she said. That’s the heart of her story: she’s not just enduring this illness, she’s using it as a way to connect, to inspire, and to remind others they’re not alone.
Finding Strength Through Sharing:
Chloe has faced some incredibly dark moments with endometriosis. “One of my lowest moments was last year on Christmas Eve. I woke up at 4 a.m. screaming in pain and had to be rushed to hospital. My endometriosis had caused my ovaries to get stuck and twisted, and I had two cysts rupture. It completely wrecked my Christmas and New Year—I was in so much pain I could barely function.”
Holidays are supposed to be filled with laughter, warmth, and family, yet Chloe spent those days trapped in a hospital room. What should have been a season of joy became a battle for relief. And yet, despite the agony, she shined through it—her resilience radiating even in the moments when the world felt unbearably dark.
But in contrast to those painful lows, Chloe has also discovered one of her greatest sources of empowerment: her Instagram page, @chloe_endodiarys. “My most empowering moment has been creating chloe_endodiarys. That page means the world to me. Being able to help other people by sharing my story and experiences has been such a powerful and healing part of my journey.”
Her account didn’t start as a big plan—it was born out of loneliness. “A page called endoaide inspired me to create my own endo page. I had been sharing things on my personal Instagram, but I realised I wanted a space just for my journey. At the time, I was feeling really alone, and posting about my experiences made me feel less isolated. Creating my page has connected me with so many other endo girls, and it’s been amazing to have a community that truly understands.”
The response to her openness has been overwhelming in the best way. “I was honestly shocked by how many kind messages and so much support I received so it’s been such a nice and heartwarming experience.” What started as a way for Chloe to cope has turned into something much bigger: a place of connection, encouragement, and proof that even in pain, community can bring light.
Understanding Stage 3 Endometriosis:
Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus grows outside of it, causing pain, inflammation, and often infertility. It affects approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age worldwide.
Stage 3 Endometriosis (Moderate). In this stage, women typically experience:
Multiple deep implants of endometrial tissue.
Small cysts on one or both ovaries (often endometriomas).
Thin adhesions (scar-like tissue) that may begin to restrict organ movement.
Painful symptoms that can interfere with daily life and fertility.
How many women does Stage 3 Endometriosis affect?
While precise global data by stage is limited, research estimates that about 20–40% of women diagnosed with endometriosis fall into Stage 3 or Stage 4 (moderate to severe) categories (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2022).
How doctors and the healthcare system treat Stage 3 Endometriosis:
Medication: Hormonal therapies (such as birth control pills, progestins, or GnRH agonists/antagonists) to reduce symptoms and slow disease progression.
Pain management: NSAIDs or other pain relief medications.
Surgery: Laparoscopic excision or ablation to remove lesions, cysts, and adhesions.
Fertility support: Assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as IVF, may be recommended if natural conception is difficult.
Multidisciplinary care: Combining gynecology, pain management, physical therapy, and mental health support.
Chloe's Message:
Chloe’s advice to anyone newly diagnosed with endometriosis is simple but powerful:
“Surround yourself with people who truly understand and are there for you. Listen to your body, and be kind to yourself—you’re learning how to live with something that can be incredibly challenging, and you don’t have to go through it alone.”
She also wants to correct common misconceptions about the disease. “That endometriosis is just a ‘period disease.’ It’s so much more than that—it can affect your whole body, every day of the month, not just during your period. The pain, fatigue, and other symptoms can impact every part of your life, and reducing it to just bad periods makes it harder for people to understand the reality of living with it.”
Her words remind us that endometriosis is not simply an inconvenience—it’s a life-altering condition that requires understanding, empathy, and support. Through her story and advocacy, Chloe encourages others to listen to their bodies, seek help, and build communities of care where no one has to feel alone.
Chloe’s journey is a powerful reminder that even in the face of invisible pain, resilience, community, and self-compassion can turn struggle into strength.
Sources:
World Health Organization. Endometriosis. 2023.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Endometriosis: Clinical Updates and Management. 2022.
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Revised Classification of Endometriosis. https://www.asrm.org
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