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Bindi Irwin health battle: Star says she has been struggling with insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea

Bindi Irwin has shockingly revealed she has been struggling with a health condition that leaves her with “insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea”.

Bindi Irwin reveals private health battle

Bindi Irwin has revealed she has been struggling for 10 years with undiagnosed endometriosis that has left her with “insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea”.

Using International Women’s Day as a platform, the Australia Zoo heiress took to social media to share her story “for other women who need help”.

She reveals how doctors told her her health struggles were just something she’d have to deal with as a woman, leading her at one point to “give up entirely”.

“I battled for a long time wondering if I should share this journey with you in such a public space,” she said in an Instagram post on Wednesday morning.

“It came down to the responsibility I feel to share my story for other women who need help.

“For 10 years I’ve struggled with insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea.

“Trying to remain a positive person and hide the pain has been a very long road.

“These last 10 years have included many tests, doctors visits, scans, etc.

“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.”

Bindi Irwin has spoken of how she has struggled with "insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea" for the past 10 years. Picture: Instagram @bindisueirwin
Bindi Irwin has spoken of how she has struggled with "insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea" for the past 10 years. Picture: Instagram @bindisueirwin

Bindi tells how the light bulb moment that helped her eventually decide she needed to go under the surgeon’s knife came from a friend, Leslie Mosier, who she says “helped set me on a path of regaining my life”.

“I decided to undergo surgery for endometriosis,” she says.

“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.

“To cut a long story short, they found 37 lesions, some very deep and difficult to remove, and a chocolate cyst.”

After undergoing surgery at an endometriosis specialist in New York, Bindi reveals the moment she finally was validated for seeking a solution to the pain she had experienced for years, as she encourages other women experiencing similar symptoms with no answers to do keep pushing for help.

“(Their) first words to me when I was in recovery were, ‘How did you live with this much pain?’” she says.

(The) validation for years of pain is indescribable.

“I’m aware of millions of women struggling with a similar story. There’s stigma around this awful disease.

“I’m sharing my story for anyone who reads this and is quietly dealing with pain and no answers.

“Let this be your validation that your pain is real and you deserve help.

“Keep searching for answers.”

Bindi Irwin with “our family’s miracle”, daughter Grace Warrior Irwin Powell. Picture: Instagram @bindisueirwin
Bindi Irwin with “our family’s miracle”, daughter Grace Warrior Irwin Powell. Picture: Instagram @bindisueirwin

In Wednesday’s candid post, she took the opportunity to thank her family and friends who had supported her along the way.

“My 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 and nurses who believed my pain,” she said.

“I’m on the road to recovery and the gratitude I feel is overwhelming.

“To those questioning the cancelled plans, unanswered messages and absence – I had been pouring every ounce of the energy I had left into our daughter and family.

“Things may look fine on the outside looking in through the window of someone’s life, however, that is not always the case.

“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.”

More information on endometriosis can be found at endofound.org

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/bindi-irwin-health-battle-star-says-she-has-been-struggling-with-insurmountable-fatigue-pain-and-nausea/news-story/766914118d74265e7c9fb7f9c25e90a4