Bindi Irwin Reveals ‘Indescribably’ Painful 10-Year Battle With Endometriosis
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Bindi Irwin Reveals ‘Indescribably’ Painful 10-Year Battle With Endometriosis
The 24-year-old was admitted to hospital and had to undergo surgery for the condition.
Bindi Irwin attends the annual Steve Irwin Gala Dinner at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on November 09, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Trigger warning: This article contains themes of health struggles and trauma that some readers may find distressing
Bindi Irwin is opening up about a painful health struggle she's faced for the last 10 years. The 24-year-old revealed on Wednesday she had to undergo surgery for endometriosis which is “a condition in which the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus,” according to the United States National Institutes of Health. Symptoms include cramping, chronic pain, heavy bleeding during periods and fertility issues. The Crikey! It's The Irwins star wasn't sure she wanted to share details of her health publically but realized it was important to share her story with other women who need help.
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"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, doctors visits, scans, etc," Irwin wrote. "A doctor told me 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 @lesliemosier helped set me on a path of regaining my life. I decided to undergo surgery for endometriosis."
Bindi said doctors had found 37 lesions, some of which were “very deep and difficult to remove,” but she was now “on the road to recovery.” "Going in for surgery was scary but I knew I couldn't live like I was. Every part of my life was getting torn apart because of the pain," she said. "To cut a long story short, they found 37 lesions, some very deep & difficult to remove, & a chocolate cyst. @seckinmd's first words to me when I was in recovery were, 'How did you live with this much pain?' Validation for years of pain is indescribable."
Bindi Irwin attends The Paley Center For Media Presents: An Evening With The Irwins: "Crikey! It's The Irwins" Screening And Conversation at The Paley Center for Media on May 03, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
According to CNN, the celebrity conservationist who gave birth to a daughter, Grace, in March 2021 whom she shares with her husband Chandler Powell, added, “Please be gentle and pause before asking me (or any woman) when we’ll be having more children,” she wrote. “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.”
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"I'm aware of millions of women struggling with a similar story," the mother-of-one concluded the post. "There's stigma around this awful disease. I'm sharing my story for anyone who reads this & is quietly dealing with pain & no answers. Let this be your validation that your pain is real & you deserve help. Keep searching for answers. www.endofound.org."
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Soon after her post was shared online her family rallied in with support. Her husband Chandler Powell said, “You are my inspiration to be as strong as I can be in every aspect of life. Seeing how you pushed through the pain to take care of our family and continue our conservation work while being absolutely riddled with endometriosis is something that will inspire me forever.”
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Irwin’s brother Robert added on Instagram, “I’m so happy you can have your life back. Endometriosis is a horrible, crippling disease and too many women endure this in silence or are never even diagnosed. You never know who’s suffering in silence, let’s make this a topic that we all freely talk about.”
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