ITV This Morning star says she was was going 'mad' after being misdiagnosed in health battle
This Morning regular Kate Lawler has opened up on her health battle which left her in serious pain.
This Morning host Kate Lawler has opened up about an undisclosed health battle that saw her experience "the worst pain of her life".
The TV star, who won Big Brother UK in 2002, recently opened up about her agonising ordeal which saw her hospitalised while holidaying in Greece.
She was told that "everything was fine" however, the 45-year-old presenter endured recurring misery, and underwent multiple tests after returning home to the UK, leading to a series of misdiagnoses prior to uncovering she had pelvic congestion syndrome.
She said: "The abdominal pain was worse than any pain I've ever had. It was crippling - sometimes too unbearable to even get out of bed - and it felt even worse during menstruation and sexual intercourse."
Describing the torment, she said: "It was a sharp, stabbing pain that would last from 10 seconds to several hours."
Kate has been experiencing discomfort in December 2017, later finding herself admitted to hospital while on holiday in Greece.
Kate initially thought she had a serious hernia and was feeling ignored by doctors, She recounted how they seemed to imply she was "going mad" with suggestions pointing towards hormonal imbalances or ovulation as the cause for her excruciating discomfort.
Despite repeated reassurances from medics that all was well, Kate couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, the persistent intense pain leaving her desperate for answers.
She opened up about the impact it had on her, admitting to The Sun: "In the end I literally felt like I was going to have to live with the pain forever."
In August 2022, Kate was eventually diagnosed with pelvic congestion syndrome and underwent a procedure to address it a few months later.
"I can't explain how much I've improved and how I no longer feel crippled by this pain that would strike at any time," she proclaimed, now actively raising awareness of the syndrome after having to fight for her diagnosis. "No woman should suffer in silence."
PCS, as detailed by the Cleveland Clinic, can cause persistent pain due to blood flow issues within the pelvic veins.
This condition manifests as sharp, severe pain, heightened pain pre-and post-menstrual cycle, during sexual activity, and when standing or sitting for extended periods.
The exact causes are elusive and while there's no cure for PCS, treatments like medications and certain medical procedures can alleviate symptoms.
The mum of one then had pelvic vein embolisation, a minimally invasive procedure involving the insertion of tiny coils into faulty veins using X-ray guidance.
The radio host has been sharing her journey on social media and keeping her fans updated by revealing in 2023 that she was experiencing peri-menopause and considering HRT.
Kate posted a photo of herself, and penned: "Just a selfie of me earlier because you know, life/work/child/the news/housework/bla bla."
She then went on to say: "Only sharing this because the last few days my Insta may have looked like all the fun but in all honesty, the majority of the days over the last week have been a lot and I'm due on so that probably doesn't help.
"And I had a call from my GP after blood tests to tell me I'm perimenopausal and the offer of HRT just made me feel weird. Anyway, if your own mental load feels heavy right now, I see you and I'm sending you so much love."
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