Close friendship forms over endometriosis

Two women who spent a week living in each other’s shoes in view of the nation are now “best friends” after discovering they both have endometriosis.

Katy Goff, a former carer from Dursley, and Katy Wilson, a property investor from Cheltenham, had never met when they moved into each other’s homes on Channel 5’s Rich House, Poor House.

Ms Wilson said it was “scary” how well matched she and Ms Goff were, as they found out they both have endometriosis and “instantly connected”.

Ms Goff said she felt “she could achieve something” after meeting Ms Wilson, who is now coaching her to become a property investor.

Rich House, Poor House sees two households from opposite ends of the financial spectrum and class divide swap homes, budgets and lifestyles for a week.

Ms Goff, who lives with partner, Luke, a tree surgeon, applied for the show as she “just needed to do something different”.

“I was really bored with the same old going to work, being poorly all the time, and I just wanted to do something spontaneous,” she said.

Ms Goff said she struggles with living with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, fibromyalgia, and endometriosis, along with other “invisible illnesses”, meaning she found it hard to get and keep jobs despite wanting to work.

Endometriosis is an incurable condition where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the uterus grow elsewhere in the body, affecting more than 1.5 million people in the UK.

“I didn’t have to worry about money for a whole week, that was amazing,” Ms Goff said.

“We went on a shopping spree and [the producers] had to spend the money because I’m so used to saving every penny.”

Meanwhile, Ms Wilson said the show contacted her via social media, where she promoted “deal packing”, which involved finding property deals for investors.

She said the experience was not “a complete shock” as she had “lost it all” when she was younger, and lived in emergency accommodation with her mother.

“When I got to Katy’s house, I burst into tears within half an hour,” said Ms Wilson.

When the time came to meet at the end of the week, Ms Goff said she “instantly connected” with Ms Wilson.

“I suffer with endometriosis and I found out Katy suffers from endometriosis too,” she said.

“When they told me, something clicked in my head, I was like, ‘I can actually achieve something with these conditions that I’ve got’.”

Ms Wilson is now mentoring Ms Goff in becoming a property investor, and said she had just done her first deal with an investor.

“I would say it’s been life-changing for me as well because it’s like finding the long lost sister; I’m an only child,” she said.

“We talk everyday. We’re best friends.”