Kili Liz Thomsen, 27, wanted to do something good for her body by no longer taking hormonal contraception. Instead, she repeatedly suffered severe abdominal pain around the time of ovulation. A series of gynaecological investigations did not provide a clear explanation. “At some point, you start to wonder whether this is just normal,” she says.

A phone call provides reassurance

One Friday evening, when Kili’s pain became unusually severe and she was unable to reach her gynaecologist, she turned to santé24, SWICA’s online practice. They advised her to go to A&E. The hospital examination finally brought some clarity: her pain was being caused by a blood-filled, ruptured ovarian cyst.

But even after getting the diagnosis, there were still unanswered questions. The pain continued, and Kili wondered if she should still be worried. Another call to santé24 helped her to better understand the healing process. A gynaecologist on duty explained to her what a ruptured ovarian cyst of this kind means, and how and when the body will reabsorb the blood in the abdominal cavity. 

More than a diagnosis

However, the part that Kili really valued was something different. “I always had the feeling that my complaints were not being taken seriously,” she says. That made her all the more appreciative of how attentively santé24 listened to her, and also gave her the confidence to keep pursuing her own path. 

Since returning to hormonal contraception was not an option for her, she also opted for complementary medical treatment with a naturopath. “I didn’t just want to suppress my symptoms; I wanted to understand why my body was reacting this way.” SWICA contributes to the costs of recognised complementary medical treatments under its supplementary insurance products.

Loyalty pays off

Kili has been insured with SWICA since she was a child. As an adult, she has made the conscious choice every year to stay with the company. This is not only down to her experiences, but also because of benefits such as the fact that long-term customers pay a rate based on their age at enrolment. “There are lots of small things that make a real difference when you add them together.”

Looking back now, her abiding feeling is of having been supported through a difficult time. “Especially when you are unsure about your health, it makes a huge difference to have someone by your side who listens and helps you to navigate the situation.”