A PRIMARY school teacher who has been unable to work since January will have to wait another two months until she can undergo surgery to enable her to get back on her feet.

Despite the struggle to lead a regular day-to-day life, Sam Rohman is working hard to raise awareness of the disease which has slowly stripped her of any normality.

Sam, 30, who lives with her husband David in Whitewell Close, Bury, was diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 27, a condition which attacks the body when cells, like the ones in the lining of the womb, grow elsewhere in the body.

She believes that young women should be made more aware of the symptoms.

Sam, who must wait until June for an operation to remove the overgrown cells, said: “It’s like wrenching, twisting spasms that take away my energy and zap me of strength.

“It tires me so much that when my painkillers start to work again all I want to do is sleep, sometimes for hours or for whole days.

“When I lie down it's ten times worse and stops me from sleeping. I just have to take each day as it comes.”

Sam’s condition deteriorated in January when she was crippled with pain and left unable to work.

During Endometriosis Awareness Month, which took place worldwide during March, a number of marches were simultaneously carried out in towns and cities.

Due to Sam’s current condition, she is unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair so instead of taking part in any marches, she was sponsored to wear only yellow for the month.

The reception teacher, who is mainly cared for by her recently retired in-laws, Catherine and David Rohman, also held an afternoon tea party with a yellow themed lucky dip and quiz.

“I can only say a huge thank you to family and friends who helped me raise around £800 for endometriosis UK,” added Sam.

“A number of friends I’ve made through endometriosis Facebook support groups are hoping to get more posters around GP practices.

“We hope that more and more young women will realise that serious pain during their periods is not actually normal and get some help.”

Sam hopes to get back to work once she has recovered from her operation this summer.

Endometriosis UK supports women through the diagnosis, treatment and management of the disease.

To donate to Sam's fundraising efforts for the charity: go to www.justgiving.com/Samantha-rohman