A Blair Atholl woman whose life has been devastated by a rare illness is fighting to raise awareness of the condition.
Kirsten Roper, 27, suffers from Fowler’s Syndrome, a little-known disease that causes urinary retention in women. It is not known what causes it.
As the bladder becomes full, sufferers feel pain and become aware of the need to urinate without the ability to pass urine.
Kirsten has been left reliant on a walking stick and disabled adaptations in her home, and struggles to leave her house without help.
She said: “I was diagnosed with Fowler’s Syndrome in September 2014, having had bladder issues for several years.
“The initial symptoms were frequent urinary tract and kidney infections and periods of urinary retention. From first symptom to diagnosis was three years.
“The profile of Fowler’s Syndrome needs to be raised, as currently even some doctors have never heard of it and have no idea how to treat patients with this diagnosis.
“When I was eventually diagnosed I was given very little information about what exactly to expect.
“Fowler’s has absolutely turned my life upside down. It affects everything. I essentially can’t leave the house alone due to the regularity with which I collapse due to the pain and infections.”
“It’s highly likely that mine will be permanent unless better treatments are discovered in due course,” Kirsten said.
Through an online blog and contacting other sufferers via social media, Kirsten hopes to raise awareness and help develop better treatment for the condition.
“If there is a greater awareness of the condition, it is my hope that there will be more research and better treatments for sufferers.
“I would love to set up a formal charity for Fowler’s Syndrome, to allow any donations to be shared, but until Fowler’s is more known it just won’t work.
“I will do it one day and I will make a bigger difference but, for now, my life has been destroyed by Fowler’s and I need to get it back on an even keel.”
Kirsten’s blog can be read by visiting www.fightingfowlers.wordpress.com.