Latest news with #KateLawler
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
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."
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
ITV This Morning star rushed to hospital while on holiday with 'worst pain of her life'
Kate Lawler, who won Big Brother UK in 2002, has spoken out about her experience of being diagnosed with a little-known women's health condition, that left her in crippling pain This Morning's Kate Lawler has opened up about a hidden health struggle that subjected her to "the worst pain of her life". The 45-year-old television personality, famed for winning Big Brother UK as the first female champion in 2002, detailed the agonising ordeal leading to a hospital dash in Greece. Initially being told by doctors that "everything was fine", she returned home to the UK only to endure multiple tests and incorrect initial diagnoses until discovering she had pelvic congestion syndrome. Kate shared: "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. "It was a sharp, stabbing pain that would last from 10 seconds to several hours," reports Wales Online. Symptoms first troubled Kate in December 2017, which then escalated to a hospitalisation while on holiday the following year. Suspecting a serious hernia at first, Kate voiced frustration over doctors dismissing her concerns, leading her to feel as if she were "going mad" and attributing the relentless pain to hormones or ovulation. Despite repeated assurances of her well-being from various medical professionals, she continued to be plagued by extreme discomfort, rendering her "desperate" for an accurate diagnosis. "In the end I literally felt like I was going to have to live with the pain forever," she heartrendingly recounted to The Sun. In August 2022, she was diagnosed with pelvic congestion syndrome and later underwent a procedure to combat the debilitating condition. She expressed her relief saying: "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," and is now advocating for increased awareness, as she had to push for her own diagnosis. "No woman should suffer in silence." According to the Cleveland Clinic, pelvic congestion syndrome causes chronic pain due to blood flow issues in pelvic veins, characterized by intense sharp pains, painful periods, discomfort during and after sex, and prolonged standing or sitting pain. The causes of PCS remain a mystery and while there isn't a permanent cure, symptoms may be alleviated through medications and surgical procedures. Kate underwent a pelvic vein embolisation, which entailed placing small coils into the affected veins with X-ray assistance. The radio presenter and mum-of-one frequently updates her followers about her health struggles on social media platforms. In 2023, she disclosed she was experiencing perimenopause and was considering hormone replacement therapy options. On Instagram, alongside an emotional selfie, she candidly shared: "Just a selfie of me earlier because you know, life/work/child/the news/housework/bla bla." Her caption continued: "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."
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
ITV star felt she was 'mad' after agonising health condition was misdiagnosed
Kate Lawler, who won the third series of Big Brother in 2002, has opened up about a secret health condition that left her in 'the worst pain of her life' This Morning's very own Kate Lawler has bravely opened up about a hitherto undisclosed health battle that subjected her to "the worst pain of her life". The telly favourite, who shot to fame clinching the Big Brother UK crown in 2002 as the first woman to win, recently divulged details of her agonising ordeal which saw her hospitalised while holidaying in Greece. Initially brushed off with assurances that "everything was fine", the 45-year-old presenter endured recurring misery, necessitating multiple tests after returning to the UK, leading to a series of misdiagnoses prior to uncovering she had pelvic congestion syndrome. She confided: "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 first began experiencing discomfort in December 2017, later finding herself admitted to hospital while on a break abroad in the following year, reports Wales Online. Believing she might have a serious hernia and feeling ignored by doctors, Kate 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 shared the emotional toll with The Sun, admitting: "In the end I literally felt like I was going to have to live with the pain forever." In August 2022, she was 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. Kate had pelvic vein embolisation, a minimally invasive procedure involving the insertion of tiny coils into faulty veins using X-ray guidance. Recently, the radio host and mother-of-one has been keeping followers updated on her health via social media, revealing in 2023 that she was experiencing peri-menopause and considering HRT. Alongside an emotional self-portrait posted to Instagram, Kate shared: "Just a selfie of me earlier because you know, life/work/child/the news/housework/bla bla." Venting her reality, she added, "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." This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
This Morning star's secret health condition that left her in 'worst pain of her life'
This Morning star's secret health condition that left her in 'worst pain of her life' She suffered years of immense pain and misdiagnoses. This Morning star Kate Lawler has revealed a secret health condition that left her in 'the worst pain of her life'. The TV star, 45, who rose to fame as the first female winner of Big Brother UK in 2002, has spoken in a new interview about suffering from immense pain and being rushed to hospital in Greece. At the time, she was told that 'everything was fine', and returned to the UK but had to undergo several rounds of tests which led to misdiagnoses before finally finding out she had pelvic congestion syndrome. She revealed: '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. 'It was a sharp, stabbing pain that would last from 10 seconds to several hours. Kate first felt symptoms in December 2017, and was hospitalised while on holiday the following year. Article continues below Kate Lawler opened up about her painful battle before finally being diagnosed with PCS (Image: ITV ) Two stars quit ITV gameshow just weeks before filming second series READ MORE: She thought she had a serious hernia, but claimed doctors thought she was 'going mad' and she was made to believe that her pain was stemming from hormones or ovulation. Despite being told she was fine by different doctors, Kate still felt as though something was wrong and was still experiencing intense pain, leaving her 'desperate' for a diagnosis. 'In the end I literally felt like I was going to have to live with the pain forever,' she heartbreakingly told The Sun. In August 2022, she discovered she had pelvic congestion syndrome, and underwent a procedure 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 has now said, as she's working to raise awareness of the condition after having to advocate for herself. 'No woman should suffer in silence." Kate is raising awareness of the condition after being misdiagnosed (Image: Instagram ) According to the Cleveland Clinic, PCS can cause chronic pain as it involves problems with blood flow in pelvic veins. Symptoms involve sharp and intense pain, as well as pain before and during your period, during and after sex, and while standing or sitting for long periods. Causes are unknown and there isn't a cure for PCS, but symptoms can be eased with medication and procedures. Kate underwent pelvic vein embolisation which was a procedure that involved placing tiny coils inside the damaged veins under X-ray guidance. Kate revealed she struggled with immense pain before undergoing a procedure (Image: ITV ) In recent years, the radio presenter and mum-of-one has shared health updates with fans on social media, and in 2023 revealed she was perimenopausal and had been offered HRT. Alongside a tearful selfie on Instagram, Kate wrote: 'Just a selfie of me earlier because you know, life/work/child/the news/housework/bla bla. '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. Article continues below '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.' This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
It was worst pain of my life – Kate Lawler reveals secret health battle and frantic hospital dash on Greek holiday
FOR five years, Kate Lawler battled debilitating stomach pain. But doctors repeatedly told the TV personality, 45, 'everything is fine', so she assumed it was nothing to worry about. 5 Kate Lawler battled debilitating stomach pain for years before being diagnosed with pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) Credit: Rex 5 PCS is a little-known condition caused by hidden varicose veins around the ovaries and womb 5 Kate was treated with pelvic vein embolisation, saying the procedure changed her life Credit: Instagram It wasn't until she was rushed to hospital while on holiday in Greece that she began to suspect something serious might be wrong. But even then, it took numerous scans back home in the UK and several misdiagnoses for her to discover the truth. Kate, who won Big Brother in 2002, tells Sun on Sunday Health: 'My symptoms started in December 2017. '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. 'It was a sharp, stabbing pain that would last from 10 seconds to several hours. 'Then we were on holiday in 2018 and I thought I had a serious hernia or something was wrong with me, to the point that I went to hospital. 'But doctors thought I was just going mad. They just said, 'You're fine,' and left it at that. 'I was made to believe it was simply caused by my hormones, or ovulation.' The mum-of-one, from London, visited her GP twice and was told it might be a The 5 causes of pain in the pelvis all women should know Desperate for answers, she visited a private gynaecologist in November 2021. 'She did internal scans and all the tests and said, 'Absolutely everything is fine',' Kate says. 'All she could tell me was that everything was clear, which was a relief. 'But also, when you're told everything looks normal but you're still experiencing intense pain, you then start to think, 'Am I making this up in my head?' 'I didn't want to be a burden and keep going to the doctors, but I was so desperate to get it sorted. 'In the end I literally felt like I was going to have to live with the pain forever.' In the end I literally felt like I was going to have to live with the pain forever Kate Lawler It was only during a chance conversation at a routine appointment for her varicose veins in August 2022 that she discovered she had It's most common in women aged 20 to 45 who have given birth more than once, as well as those with varicose veins, a family history of them, or Most patients experience dull, achy or heavy pain in their pelvis. It may feel worse at the end of the day, before or during your period, during or after sex, and when you stand or sit for long periods. Some people also need to use the toilet more urgently, or have pain when they pee. Most Brits have never heard of PCS, but it affects around 1.5million people in the UK. 'We're a very veiny family' Kate, who has appeared on Hole in the Wall, Celebrity 'I was getting the varicose veins on my legs treated and he started talking about PCS and I said, 'Sorry, what are you talking about? Because I can relate to all the symptoms you're saying.' 'I felt like that was exactly what I had. 'I had never linked my 'My mum's got varicose veins, my grandparents had them, and my dad's got them all over his leg. We're a very veiny family. 'Eventually your varicose veins and your legs can cause pain and discomfort and you can end up having ulcers, which my grandma had. 'Varicose veins and PCS are often interlinked. And once I'd had the test, it transpired that I had both.' 5 The condition affects around 1.5million people in the UK Credit: Getty The most common treatment for PCS is pelvic vein embolisation - a walk-in-walk-out procedure which involves placing tiny coils, thinner than human hair, inside the damaged veins under X-ray guidance. Kate says the procedure in November 2022 was 'uncomfortable but not painful' - and it has changed her life. 'Suffer in silence' 'I was holding a stress squeezer and cursed a few times, but once it was over it was amazing,' she says. 'I realised, 'God, I was in a lot of pain before'. I would wake up and immediately be in pain, and no amount of painkillers would get rid of it. 'I just learnt to live with it - though I didn't want to be on painkillers my whole life. '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.' Like thousands of others, Kate is frustrated by the lack of awareness around the condition. 5 No woman should suffer in silence, says Kate Credit: Getty She says: 'So many women go to the NHS or private doctors and they're just not given enough training when it comes to women's health, and that includes things like menopause, perimenopause and PCS. 'They get trained in a bit of everything, but unfortunately it's not enough. 'What Prof Whiteley is doing is incredible, and we just need to get the word out there. 'I want women to be able to find out exactly what's wrong with them if they're experiencing the same things I did, because most are misdiagnosed. 'I've spoken to many different people who have suffered from it, and most of them will go into hospital, have loads of scans, and then just be sent home. 'One woman was actually told to have a hysterectomy unnecessarily. The gynaecologist didn't know what was causing the pelvic pain so he thought, 'Oh, I'll take out your uterus.'' A lot of the women we see will have been suffering from pelvic pain for many years but their conditions will remain undiagnosed Dr Sophie Strong She adds: 'Women's health is so underfunded and doctors need to be more informed. 'There needs to be more money and awareness so that when a woman goes to the GP in pain, it's not brushed aside.' Despite the challenges, Kate is urging women not to be shy about asking for help or thinking they're making a fuss. 'No woman should suffer in silence,' she says. Dr Sophie Strong, consultant gynaecologist at The Whiteley Clinic, adds: 'A lot of the women we see will have been suffering from pelvic pain for many years but their conditions will remain undiagnosed. 'Our new Pelvic Pain Clinic is a place for women who have been told there's no hope and there's nothing that can be done for them. We can make a real difference.' WHEN TO SEE A GP Dr Strong recommends getting medical attention for: Periods that are so painful they stop you from doing normal activities, like work or school. Painful sex or severe pain after intercourse. A change in vaginal discharge. An aching feeling in the pelvis. Irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bladder (sudden urges to urinate without a full bladder). Lower back or hip pain. Bulging veins near the vaginal opening.
