Reece Ciani had been complaining of the problem for a week, he went to the doctors several times and called six ambulances before he was diagnosed and placed in a coma.

Reece Ciani had been complaining of the problem for a week, he went to the doctors and called six ambulances before the severity of his condition was diagnosed and he was placed in a coma.

The father-of-two claims doctors and paramedics in Portsmouth, first treated his pain as an ear infection and a migraine.

Reece said: “I feel ignored – the doctors let me down. They should have seen the signs earlier. Maybe it’s because of Covid-19, but they didn’t help me until the last phone call.

“I’m speaking out now because I don’t want anyone else to go through what I’m going through. They should have helped with it sooner.”

“I’m still not very well. My memory is really disjointed and it’s hard to remember things. I woke up from the coma and didn’t know what was going on.

“I feel like I’m starting my whole life again. I’ve got a 14-month-old baby – I feel like he does! I can’t walk.”

Reece’s family say he first visited a doctor on October 20, where he was prescribed a nasal spray for an ear infection.

He deteriorated quickly the next day – to the point he was suffering extreme pain in his head and he was bleeding from his right ear.

It is claimed he then called 999 and paramedics attended, who advised him to visit his doctor again – which he did.

This time Reece was prescribed a course of antibiotics for a suspected infection and a burst ear drum.

But five days later still in pain he visited his local medical centre – for a third time.

His family say he was again given antibiotics but the agony became so severe later that day he called 999 again.

On this occasion paramedics treated him for a migraine.

Fearing for Reece, partner Tilly Mae-Wells, 20, dialled 999 again the next day and he was rushed to hospital.

He was then put induced into a coma and placed on life support while doctors worked to save his life after discovering he had potentially fatal meningitis.

Mum April Lawley, 48, said: “It’s been devastating. They couldn’t tell us if he was going to live or die [in the hospital].”

South Central Ambulance Service said Reece could contact the patient experience team to raise their concerns.

An ambulance spokesman said: “Paramedics do not diagnose illnesses, such as meningitis – this is done by GPs or hospital doctors.

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Scientists claim to have discovered the “cause” of endometriosis – raising hopes for a cure for the agonising condition.

Researchers found a type of white blood cell, called macrophages, which has undergone changes could be the prime cause. The team, from Warwick and Edinburgh universities, ran various tests on mice and say that targeting the altered cells could be a novel treatment.

Currently, there is no cure for endometriosis – a lifelong condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Endometriosis, which affects 1 in 10 women in the UK, can occur at any age, but it’s most common in women in their 30s and 40s.

It can cause persistent inflammation, pain and infertility as well as agonising periods and ovulation.

Surgery can remove some of the scar tissue and lesions, while hormonal treatments can offer relief from symptoms – but can carry the risk of side effects after prolonged use.

Without a cure for a condition that affects 176 million worldwide, an alternative treatment is much needed.

Previous studies had already shown that macrophages have a central role in the development of endometriosis. The immune cells help the lesions grow and also drive the development of their blood supply.

More recent research has also revealed that macrophages help nerves grow in the lesions.

The aim of the new study, published in a recent Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal paper, “was to determine the mechanistic role of macrophages in producing pain associated with endometriosis.”

Senior study author Dr Erin Greaves, who holds positions at both universities, explained that conventional treatments that use hormones are “not ideal” because they target ovarian function and can trigger side effects, such as suppressing fertility.

She added: “We are trying to find non-hormonal solutions.”

The team found that “disease-modified” macrophages stimulate nerve cell growth and activity by releasing the growth hormone insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).They also found that levels of IGF-1 in pelvic cavity tissue from women with endometriosis were higher than in women without the condition and were in line with their pain scores.

Further tests revealed that preventing the hormone’s activity by blocking the cell receptor for IGF-1, “reverses the pain behaviour observed in mice with endometriosis.”

Dr Greaves added: “If we can learn about the role of macrophages in endometriosis then we can distinguish them from healthy macrophages and target treatment to them.”

Symptoms of endometriosis

Endometriosis is where cells like the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body.

Each month, these cells react in the same way to those in the womb – building up and then breaking down and bleeding. Unlike the cells in the womb that leave the body as a period, this blood has no way to escape.

That can lead to infertility, fatigue, bowel and bladder problems, as well as really heavy, painful periods.

It affects one in 10 women in the UK.

Symptoms include;

• Painful, heavy, or irregular periods
• Pain during or after sex
• Chronic pain
• Infertility
• Painful bowel movements
• Fatigue

The cause of endometriosis is unknown and there is no definite cure.According to Endometriosis UK, it takes over seven years on average for women to finally receive a diagnosis.It’s estimated that up to 50 per cent of infertile women have the condition.

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Halsey has had some great news about her fertility following an an agonising battle with endometriosis. The ‘Nightmare’ singer has been extremely honest about her condition, which has caused her chronic pain. She has also donated and raised over $300,000 for endometriosis research and support.

Endometriosis is when tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, like the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Endometriosis can have a significant impact on a woman’s day-to-day activities and, according to the NHS, can cause difficulty getting pregnant. Research from Endometriosis UK suggests that the condition affects 10% of women world wide. 

Halsey has always thought she would struggle to have children because of the condition and had plans to freeze her eggs this summer. She has also previously spoken about how endometriosis could have caused her three miscarriages and it’s possible it could have stopped her from ever carrying a child full term.

Thankfully, Halsey (who has previously admitted to having had four surgeries for endometriosis) revealed that following surgery and some lifestyle changes her health has drastically improved and she no longer dreads her periods, that have hospitalised her in the past. 

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Halsey said that her doctor has advised that she doesn’t even need to freeze her eggs when she wants to conceive.

“I was like, ‘Wait, what did you just say? Did you just say I can have kids?’ It was like the reverse of finding out you have a terminal illness,” she explained. “I called my mom, crying.” 

Halsey, who is currently dating musician YUNGBLUD, has previously said in a since-deleted Instagram post she’s “dying” to have her own baby after spending some time with her manager’s adorable daughter. In the interview, she then joked with her assistant Maria that they had a “pregnancy pact” which means they have to get pregnant together.

She continued: “Never mind. I don’t need to put out a third album. I’m just going to have a baby.”

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