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🎟️ I have two free tickets to give away! 🎟️

I’m honoured to be speaking on the Gynae Health panel discussion at Scars Of Gold on Monday 12th May in London sharing my lived experience and advocacy around endometriosis.

This beautiful, bold event by @mortalandstrong and @drlizmurray runs from 10th–17th May at Sidings, Waterloo, featuring an open exhibition of powerful art, photography and 100 Voices sharing their stories of navigating life-changing health conditions at a young age.

From Monday 12th-Friday 16th, there are daily health panels and workshops - for individuals, employees, carers, medics and anyone impacted by health.

I’ll be speaking on Monday about endometriosis - as a coach, advocate and someone who’s lived it. It’s time we spoke openly about what so many live through silently. 💛

If you’d like to win one of the two FREE tickets for Monday 12th May please comment below and tell me why you'd love to attend. I’ll pick two winners and announce asap!

#ScarsOfGold #EndometriosisAwareness #HealthAdvocacy #LivedExperience #GynaeHealth #MortalandStrong #Giveaway #LondonEvents

Why did I start Pausefully? Because for far too long, women with endometriosis have been dismissed, misdiagnosed, and left without the support they desperately need.

👋 I’m Vicki Hodges, a leading voice in the endometriosis space, drawing on 30 years of lived experience and professional expertise as an Endometriosis coach & counsellor.

I’ve been there myself - years of being told my pain was “normal,” pressured into surgery that didn’t work, and made to feel like I had no options.

Pausefully was founded to disrupt this narrative. I create impactful change for individuals affected by endometriosis and infertility.

📢 I provide a safe space for you to talk about and process the often overlooked emotions that come alongside the condition. I believe that being heard is part of healing.

📢 I’m dedicated to closing the gender health gap, making endometriosis a household name.

📢 I aim to disrupt the endometriosis world by dismantling myths, raising awareness, and removing the stigma that surrounds the condition.

📢 I am committed to driving systemic change that ensures endometriosis is no longer an invisible burden, but a condition that is properly diagnosed, treated, and fully understood by society.

📢 I do all this because I wish someone had been there for me when I was lost in the endless cycle of pain, confusion and isolation. Now, I’m determined to be that person for others.

📢 I’m not just here to accept the status quo - I’m here to change it.

Who’s with me on being part of this change? Please comment below, like and share so I can make this reach those who need to know the support is out there.

#EndometriosisRevolution #DisruptTheSystem #WomenSupportingWomen #HealthcareAdvocate #MenstrualHealth

🚨 Since 2022, gynaecological wait list have grown by a third 🚨

It was an honour to be invited on the @bbcnews yesterday to raise awareness of endometriosis and the growing gynaecological wait list in the UK. I had the privilege to share my journey with #endometriosis - a deeply personal experience that I hope will help shine a light on the urgent need for change.

For 24 years, I lived with debilitating symptoms before finally being diagnosed with endometriosis. Deep down, I already knew I had it - I didn’t need a diagnosis to confirm what I had been enduring daily.

I lived with constant pelvic pain, extreme fatigue, infertility struggles, and heavy bleeding so severe it would often flood through my clothes. My bowel and bladder function were significantly impacted, and I frequently experienced the painful swelling of the “endo belly” from inflammation.

However without the diagnosis I wasn't receiving the correct care. This wasn’t just a “bad period,” “part of being a woman,” or even “in my head” - it was a condition that affected every aspect of my life. Yet, like so many others, my symptoms were dismissed and minimised.

This isn’t uncommon; it’s a heartbreaking reality for millions of women.

📈 Nearly 764,000 women waiting for care - enough to fill Wembley Stadium eight times over!!
🗓 Almost half of the 593,000 women referred in England have been waiting over 18 weeks
🤯 A staggering 482% increase since before the pandemic

@royalcollegeobsandgynae has called for an urgent package of care and long-term, sustained funding to address this crisis.

Here’s what I’d like to see happen:

✅ Better GP training so symptoms are recognised sooner and we avoid years of delayed diagnoses
✅ Increased awareness in schools, workplaces, and communities to break the stigma and improve early intervention
✅ Funding for research and better diagnostic tools that move beyond invasive laparoscopy for diagnosis
✅ Emotional support and advocacy to empower women to navigate the medical system and reclaim control over their health

Women deserve better. I will continue to fight for better for us all through my work at Pausefully.

Endometriosis is a chronic, debilitating condition. You are not being dramatic.

I know what it’s like to smile through meetings while your body is screaming.

To say “I’m fine” because explaining your pain feels exhausting.

To push through, overperform, stay reliable, stay strong, because somewhere along the way you learned that making other people comfortable mattered more than listening to your own body.

You cancel plans and blame being “busy.” You minimise your symptoms. You laugh things off. You hide how much pain you’re actually in.

That’s masking.

And when you’ve done it for years, survival mode can start to feel normal.

But constantly ignoring your body, suppressing emotions, and forcing yourself to cope comes at a cost - emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Healing isn’t only about managing symptoms. It’s about learning to regulate your nervous system, process the emotions you’ve carried alone for years, stop abandoning yourself to keep others comfortable, and create a life that feels safer in your body.

You do not have to keep proving how much pain you can survive.

I'm here to support you to pause, reconnect with yourself, and start living more fully, not just surviving. Comment FULLY and I'll be in touch ❤️

#endometriosis #endowarrior #endo #chronicillness #endosupport

Asking questions during your family-building journey can feel daunting, but knowing your rights and understanding your options can make a huge difference 🤝

In episode 1 of our #ProjectFamily podcast, Carolynn and Vicki share the practical steps that helped them advocate for themselves - from communicating their needs to finding the right support - so they could make informed, confident decisions about their care.

What’s one thing you wish you’d known at the start of your family-building journey? Share in the comments 💭

🎙️Listen to the full conversation on Ferring’s YouTube channel via the link in our bio and follow us for more from the #ProjectFamily podcast series.

Menstrual health related stresses don’t stop when you enter the office and resume when you leave.

But you’re a leader at senior level - director, head, c-suite - dealing with a condition that doesn’t end, and still relied on to make quick decisions, manage conflict and KPIs, and maintain client engagement.

So what reasonable adjustments, policies, ERGs that support those with menstrual health related issues, does your company provide? What can they do to help?

On this week’s episode of the What a RELIEF podcast, I speak to Vicki Hodges about the impact that endometriosis and other chronic conditions have on stress, and what scope organisations may have to provide support.

If you’re living with a chronic condition or want to know how better to support someone who does, this episode is an important one.

Family-building journeys are rarely straightforward. They’re often emotionally complex, logistically demanding and, at times, incredibly isolating. 💙

In the first episode of our brand new #ProjectFamily podcast, advocates Carolynn Dubé and Vicki Hodges, open up about their own experiences – the challenging moments, the turning points that helped them feel more confident, and what they wish they’d known from the start.

If you’re navigating your own path to parenthood, their stories are a reminder that you’re not alone and support exists to help you feel informed, empowered and heard throughout your journey.

🎧 The full episode will be available on Ferring’s YouTube channel via the link in our bio later this week.

➡️ Follow us for more stories from the #ProjectFamily podcast series.

Family-building journeys are rarely straightforward. They’re often emotionally complex, logistically demanding and, at times, incredibly isolating. 💙

In the first episode of our brand new #ProjectFamily podcast, advocates Carolynn Dubé and Vicki Hodges, open up about their own experiences – the challenging moments, the turning points that helped them feel more confident, and what they wish they’d known from the start.

If you’re navigating your own path to parenthood, their stories are a reminder that you’re not alone and support exists to help you feel informed, empowered and heard throughout your journey.

🎧 The full episode will be available on Ferring’s YouTube channel via the link in our bio later this week.

➡️ Follow us for more stories from the #ProjectFamily podcast series.

Please don’t ignore that inner knowing.

Over the past four weeks, my dog Pip has been unwell, so we’ve been back and forth to the vets. They gave antibiotics, probiotics and an anti-sickness injection as they said it was gastroenteritis.

I asked if it could be a blockage and requested a scan. My concerns were dismissed, and I went back to the vets four times. Eventually, I took him to another vet who listened, did the scan, and found a mass of plastic in his gut. He was rushed into emergency surgery yesterday.

During this experience, it resurfaced something for me. It took me back to my journey with endometriosis; the dismissal, the not being heard, the questioning of my own instincts.

How many times are we made to feel like we’re overreacting? Like we’re being “difficult”? Like we should just trust the professional and stay quiet? But what if that inner voice is actually trying to protect us?

This is about knowing something wasn’t right so refusing to ignore your instincts. And here’s the thing:

👉 Advocating for yourself (or someone you love) isn’t annoying.
👉 Asking for a second opinion isn’t dramatic.
👉 Trusting your gut isn’t irrational. It’s necessary.

When we’ve been dismissed enough times, we can lose trust in ourselves. And rebuilding that trust is one of the most important things we can do. This experience reminded me why my work matters so much.

I support women to reconnect with their mind and body, their instincts, and find their voice so they don’t silence themselves when something feels wrong. When staying quiet impacts your health and potentially costs you the loss of organs, then we need to be making noise!

Keep asking. Keep advocating. Keep going until you are heard. And if you aren't in a place where you can do this alone, reach out to me for support. 🤗

#endometriosisawareness #selfadvocacy #invisibleillness #endometriosiscounselling #medicalgaslighting

Please don’t ignore that inner knowing.

Over the past four weeks, my dog Pip has been unwell, so we’ve been back and forth to the vets. They gave antibiotics, probiotics and an anti-sickness injection as they said it was gastroenteritis.

I asked if it could be a blockage and requested a scan. My concerns were dismissed, and I went back to the vets four times. Eventually, I took him to another vet who listened, did the scan, and found a mass of plastic in his gut. He was rushed into emergency surgery yesterday.

During this experience, it resurfaced something for me. It took me back to my journey with endometriosis; the dismissal, the not being heard, the questioning of my own instincts.

How many times are we made to feel like we’re overreacting? Like we’re being “difficult”? Like we should just trust the professional and stay quiet? But what if that inner voice is actually trying to protect us?

This is about knowing something wasn’t right so refusing to ignore your instincts. And here’s the thing:

👉 Advocating for yourself (or someone you love) isn’t annoying.
👉 Asking for a second opinion isn’t dramatic.
👉 Trusting your gut isn’t irrational. It’s necessary.

When we’ve been dismissed enough times, we can lose trust in ourselves. And rebuilding that trust is one of the most important things we can do. This experience reminded me why my work matters so much.

I support women to reconnect with their mind and body, their instincts, and find their voice so they don’t silence themselves when something feels wrong. When staying quiet impacts your health and potentially costs you the loss of organs, then we need to be making noise!

Keep asking. Keep advocating. Keep going until you are heard. And if you aren't in a place where you can do this alone, reach out to me for support. 🤗

#endometriosisawareness #selfadvocacy #invisibleillness #endometriosiscounselling #medicalgaslighting

I want to start my day by showing gratitude 🙏

Since the beginning of this year, the @pausefullytold podcast has been a true labour of love and self-funded, with my time given freely. I do this because I know how important it is to create a space where real stories around endometriosis and infertility can be heard.

These conversations don’t just support those listening, they support partners, families, workplaces and communities. I’ve had feedback from guests sharing that telling their story, sometimes for the very first time, has been powerful, emotional, and healing. That’s why this podcast matters so much to me and others.

So when I got the email from the team at @startupgreenwich to let me know they had awarded me a grant for the podcast, it genuinely made my year.

Thank you for recognising the impact this is having, not just within the Greenwich community, but far beyond. Start Up Greenwich delivers a fully funded business support service to help entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses like mine. I will be forever grateful for the support you have given me over the years, and for the belief you have in the work around endometriosis I do.

If you haven’t listened to the podcast yet, you can tune in via:
🎧 YouTube: pausefully
🎧 Spotify: Fully Told by Pausefully

And if you’re a local business in Greenwich, I highly recommend checking out @startupgreenwich for the incredible support they offer.

#gratitude #startupsupport #greenwichbusiness #endometriosispodcast #endowarriors

A little personal reflection on the work I do around my endo counselling but also my podcast @pausefullytold

I love being able to hold space for others to share and support them with talking through and process some of the shit they’ve endured, and are still going through, because of this debilitating condition.

The act of talking in a counselling session or as a guest on my podcast is therapeutic to so many. Not just for the person speaking to me but the ripple effect it has into the community. By one person speaking out it can help others feel less alone, more empowered to take action, or simply see themselves in someone else so to make them feel validated in their experience.

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of my podcast so far and for the way you showed up for yourself and by doing so, showed up for many others ❤️🙏🏽

#musingsoftheday #endocommunity #womenshealthpodcast #bethechange #payitforward

When you’re living with endometriosis, self-care isn’t just about spa days or ticking off a wellness checklist.

It’s so important to regulate your nervous system when it's been on high alert for years. I learnt this the hard way.

Endometriosis isn’t just physical. The chronic pain, medical trauma, dismissal, and uncertainty can keep your body in a constant state of stress which impacts your nervous system, emotions, and sense of safety in your own body.

Over time, this can show up like:

😰 Anxiety or burnout
😶 Feeling disconnected from your body
😵 Always being in “fight or flight” mode
🤯 Struggling to rest without guilt

I know this because I’ve lived it. And I also know that healing isn’t about pushing through or doing more, it’s about learning how to feel safe again in your body.

Through talk therapy and nervous system work, I support you to:

💛 Process the emotional impact of endo
💛 Reconnect with your body
💛 Feel calmer, clearer, and more in control

You do not have to go through this alone or try to cope any longer.

If you’re curious about how my work could support you, you can book a free chat with me via the link in bio or by clicking on the image.

#endometriosissupport #nervoussystem #chronicillness #womenshealth #pausefully

There are some conversations we need to be having more of, and this is one of them.

In the latest episode of the Pausefully Fully Told podcast, I sit down with the incredible @meetssahni , CEO and founder of @themainegroup, mentor, and IVF/ endo warrior who shares her deeply personal journey with endometriosis and fertility struggles.

We talk honestly about:

✨ The realities of living with endometriosis
✨ The emotional impact of fertility challenges
✨ The importance of being heard, supported, and properly cared for
✨ Why community and advocacy matter more than ever

So many experiences like this go unseen or misunderstood, and I wanted my podcast to change that.

If you’ve ever felt alone in your journey, this conversation is for you. And if you haven’t experienced it yourself, this is an opportunity to listen, learn, and better support those who have.

🎧 Watch and listen on YouTube and Spotify via the links in my bio or search Fully Told

#endometriosisawareness #fertility #womenshealth #fullytoldpodcast#IVF