Bindi Irwin Has Endometriosis Surgery After 10 Years of ‘Indescribable’ Pain
Bindi Irwin is opening up about her private struggle with endometriosis over the last ten years. Steve Irwin’s daughter posted a photo of herself smiling in a hospital bed on Instagram yesterday (March 7). She detailed her battle in the caption.
Speaking about her diagnosis for the first time, Bindi, 24, also reveals she underwent surgery to remove 37 lesions, some of which were “very deep & difficult to remove.” Additionally, a chocolate cyst (an ovarian cyst filled with old menstrual blood) was removed as well. Per the Mayo Clinic, endometriosis is a disorder that occurs when tissue grows outside the uterus lining, which can prompt severe pain.
“For 10yrs I’ve struggled with insurmountable fatigue, pain & nausea,” the Australian zookeeper wrote in the caption. She says she gave up entirely when a doctor told her this was “simply something you deal with as a woman.” Bindi, who shares daughter Grace (who turns 2 on March 25) with husband Chandler Powell, says she regained her life when she decided to go through with the surgery.
Bindi said “every part of my life was getting torn apart because of the pain.” So, she opted for surgery. Post-surgery, Bindi said that her medical facility asked her “How did you live with this much pain?”
She replied, “Validation for years of pain is indescribable.” She thanked the doctors and nurses who believed her pain. Bindi also thanked her family and friends who have supported her on the decade-long journey. “THANK YOU, for encouraging me to find answers when I thought I’d never climb out.” She concluded her post by warning others that “things may look fine on the outside.”
But, she notes that appearances can be deceiving. The television actress asked for people to be “gentle & pause” before asking her or any woman when they will be having more children. Adding that there is a “stigma around this awful disease,” Bindi wants to bring awareness for those who are also “quietly dealing with pain & no answers.” She writes, “Let this be your validation that your pain is real & you deserve help. Keep searching for answers.”
Selma Blair, who has been candid about her battle with multiple sclerosis, offered her support in the comments section. The Cruel Intentions actress said she is “so heartened” to read that Bindi’s battle has been validated. She writes, “You are giving many women hope that they too will have relief and the moments of calm in knowing.”
Padma Lakshmi, who had been diagnosed with endometriosis in 2006, says she knows “how hard it is.”
