Bindi Irwin Tears Up Over 'Long' Endometriosis Journey, Says She’s a 'Completely New Person' After Surgery
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“It’s been a long journey. It’s been a long ten years,” the 25-year-old said
Bindi Irwin is reflecting on how far she’s come in her endometriosis journey.
In a recent interview with Good Morning America, the Crikey! It's The Irwins star opened up about how much her health has improved since she underwent surgery for endometriosis, the reproductive condition in which uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus, causing cramping and chronic pain.
“It’s been a long journey,” Irwin, 25, said as she started to tear up. “It’s been a long ten years."
“When I first got out of surgery, the first thing he said to me was, ‘How did you live with that much pain?’ And that validation meant so much to me,” she told the outlet.
Irwin recalled being a teenager when she started experiencing fatigue, cramping, and nausea. However, after visits to multiple doctors she never got an explanation as to what was causing her symptoms and her pain was often dismissed.
“I was tested for cancer, I had MRIs, ultrasounds, CT scans, you name it. I was checked for everything and the scariest thing was that there were no answers.”
Irwin — daughter of the late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin — spent years in pain. During that time, the Animal Planet star married husband Chandler Powell and welcomed a daughter Grace.
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She admitted that during her pregnancy, her “severe unexplained pain” made her believe that she was having a miscarriage. “We're so lucky to have Grace. So many women can't fall pregnant because of problems with endometriosis," she added.
Luckily, Irwin finally underwent surgery to confirm her endometriosis diagnosis earlier this year.
“My health now is night and day,” she admitted. “It took a while to recover because it was such an extensive surgery. They took out 37 lesions and now I’m a completely new person.”
She continued, “I’m actually able to go on a walk with my family. I’m able to do the conservation work. I’m able to be there for our daughter, finally. I’m able to run around with her, to play with her, to have fun and revel in her joy.”
Irwin said that she hopes other women find comfort in her story and are able to get the care they need.
"Maybe my story resonates,” she said. “Maybe if you've gone through undiagnosed, unbelievable pain you will be able to say, 'Hey, that girl has symptoms similar to mine. Maybe this is what's wrong with me.'"
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