24 August 2023 , 09:15
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Bindi Irwin has revealed medical staff didn't take notice when she shared her concerns over her severe endometriosis.
The daughter of the late Steve Irwin has explained she had been suffering from intense pain, but doctors had initially dismissed the concerns she had raised. Bindi, 25, later started doubting herself despite her health continuing to deteriorate. Last year, the mother-of-one collapsed and fell into a fetal position due to the extreme pain.
In a candid admission, Bindi says she underwent tests for various diseases and even cancer but alarmingly, she was told to "have a cup of tea" by medical staff. She said: "I was tested for everything. Every tropical disease, Lyme disease, cancer, you name it. I had every blood test and scan imaginable." She went on to say that it felt "inescapable" before adding doctors said: "It's all in your head', 'You're just hormonal', or 'Just have a cup of tea, lay down'" while adding that she felt "so desperately alone".
Bindi Irwin has revealed she had life-changing surgery after collapsing (@bindisueirwin/Instagram)
The conservationist was diagnosed with endometriosis (@bindisueirwin/Instagram)Speaking to People, Bindi explained her collapse led to medical staff ensuring she underwent a laparoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure that helps diagnose and discover treatment for intra-abdominal conditions. "I was so scared that they wouldn’t find anything because we had run out of everything else to test for," she said.
The procedure confirmed she was suffering from endometriosis, a condition which causes the uterine tissues to grow outside of the uterus, leaving the person in severe pain and also causing cramping. During her laparoscopy, doctors also discovered 37 lesions (different from the surrounding skin, including colour, shape, size and texture) and a cyst, which she had removed during an operation.
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Bindi had a cyst and 37 lesions removed from her ovary during an operation (ABC)The conservationist explained that following her surgery, she no longer feels restricted by medication and is able to enjoy spending time with her daughter, Grace, two. "I feel like I have a second chance at life," she said. Just several weeks ago, Bindi took to Instagram to share her struggles with her online followers.
She said: "It has been a very long journey and a lot of challenges to get to this point. I'm very thankful to be on the other side of the excision surgery. I can officially say I'm finally feeling better." Despite suffering for several years, Bindi started to find help after welcoming her daughter in 2021 when the pain became severe.
Symptoms for endometriosis, according to the NHS, vary from painful sex, nausea, bloating, abnormal menstruation, difficulty getting pregnant, pelvic pain, blood in urine or stool and pain with bowel movements. While there is currently no cure, treatments such as hormones and surgery are available.