Bindi Irwin reveals she underwent critical surgery after 10 years of 'unsurmountable' pain
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: Bindi Irwin has revealed she underwent "scary" surgery for endometriosis after enduring years of "insurmountable" pain. The 24-year-old daughter of the late 'Crocodile Hunter' star Steve Irwin opened up about her decade-long ordeal in a lengthy Instagram post on Wednesday, March 8.
The 'Crikey! It's the Irwins' star posted a confronting photo of herself in a hospital bed, revealing that she knew she had to undergo surgery because she "couldn't live like I was." Bindi, who has one-year-old daughter Grace Warrior with her husband Chandler Powell, also shared that the surgeon at the Seckin Endometriosis Center in New York City removed a total of thirty-seven lesions and one "chocolate cyst."
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'For 10yrs I’ve struggled with unsurmountable pain'
“Dear Friends, I battled for a long time wondering if I should share this journey with you in such a public space. It came down to the responsibility I feel to share my story for other women who need help,” Bindi said. "For 10yrs I’ve struggled with insurmountable fatigue, pain & nausea. Trying to remain a positive person & hide the pain has been a very long road. These last 10yrs have included many tests, doctor visits, scans, etc," she added.
Bindi further said that most of the doctors do not take the condition seriously enough as she revealed a horrific incident where a doctor told her that “it was simply something you deal with as a woman and I gave up entirely, trying to function through the pain.” “I didn't find answers until a friend, Leslie Mosier, helped set me on a path of regaining my life. I decided to undergo surgery for endometriosis.” she continued.
'I thought I’d never climb out'
Bindi claimed when she awoke following the procedure, her surgeon's first words to her were, "How could you live with this much pain?" It was an "indescribable" feeling, she claimed, to receive this "validation" from a doctor after years of having doctors ignore her misery. She also thanked her family and friends, who “have been on this journey with me for 10+ yrs.” “THANK YOU, for encouraging me to find answers when I thought I’d never climb out. Thank you to the doctors & nurses who believed in my pain," Irwin explained.
Moreover, Bindi advised against asking women about their family plans as you never know whether they are dealing with a condition like endometriosis, which can impede fertility. "Please be gentle and pause before asking me - or any woman - when we'll be having more children. After all that my body has gone through, I feel tremendously grateful that we have our gorgeous daughter. She feels like our family's miracle," she said. "Let this be your validation that your pain is real and you deserve help. Keep searching for answers," she concluded.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a painful reproductive disease in which cells resembling the lining of the uterus grow outside the uterus, causing cramping and chronic pain. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, this excruciating disease affects an estimated 11% of women worldwide. There are many different signs and symptoms of the disease, including pain that can occur anywhere in the pelvis and vagina, as well as in the lower back and abdomen. Other signs include painful intercourse, abnormal menstruation, nausea, bloating and discomfort during bowel movements.