Sanchia Alasia
Age: 38
Time to diagnosis: 8 - 9 years
Sanchia is modest but really she’s an inspirational, award-winning diversity and human resource specialist – and a passionate campaigner. She’s also Mayor of Barking and Dagenham.
Sanchia often felt like the odd one out; why was she suffering like this but being ignored by doctors and misunderstood by others? She recalls one woman chastising her for taking time off a university placement; telling her to ‘just get on with her period like the rest of us’.
After many years, Sanchia found a GP who listened and believed her. Finally she felt huge relief to be understood and to know what was causing her distress.