Kate Lawler, 45, reveals battle with secret health condition that left her 'in the worst pain of her life' before being rushed to hospital in Greece
The Big Brother star, 45, has shared in a new interview how she battled debilitating stomach pain, and was eventually rushed to hospital in Greece, before being reassured by doctors that 'everything was fine.'
Kate told The Sun On Sunday that it took rounds of tests and several misdiagnoses back in the UK before doctors finally discovered she had pelvic congestion syndrome, a little-known condition caused by hidden varicose veins around the ovaries and womb.
She revealed: 'It was a sharp, stabbing pain that would last from 10 seconds to several hours.
'Then we were on holiday in 2018 and I thought I had a serious hernia or something was wrong with me, to the point that I went to hospital.
'But doctors thought I was just going mad. They just said, 'You're fine,' and left it at that. I was made to believe it was simply caused by my hormones, or ovulation.'
Kate, who shares daughter Noa, four, with husband Martin Bojtos, added that she visited her GP twice, and was instead told it could be a hernia or endometriosis, and even a visit to a private gynaecologist failed to provide answers.
She went onto reveal that it was during a chance conversation at a routine appointment for her varicose veins in August 2022 that she discovered she had PCS.
The condition is most common in women aged 20 to 45 who have given birth more than once, as well as those with varicose veins, a family history of them, or polycystic ovary syndrome.
Patients can experience dull or heavy pain in their pelvis, and it can feel worse at worse at the end of the day, before or during your period, or during or after sex.
While many Brits have never heard of PCS, it affects around 1.5million people in the UK, and Kate said that a visit to The Whiteley Clinic helped her get tested for the condition.
The reality star added that varicose veins have run in her family, and they and PCS are 'often interlinked.'
Treatment for PCS is typically pelvic vein embolisation - a procedure which involves placing tiny coils inside the damaged veins under X-ray guidance, and Kate said the procedure has changed her life.
The star said the procedure was 'uncomfortable but not painful,' and called for doctors to have more awareness of PCS.
WHAT IS PELVIC CONGESTION SYNDROME?
Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) leads to chronic pain in the pelvis, which is thought to be caused by problems with the veins in that area.
Such vein problems may cause blood to build up, making them enlarge and change shape, like varicose veins.
Pregnancy and childbirth may trigger PCS, however, its exact cause is unclear.
PCS' patients' pain may be worse during sex, after standing for a long time and when walking.
Other symptoms may include discomfort during periods, a sudden need to urinate and enlarged veins on the buttocks, genitals or thighs.
Treatment may involve drugs to relieve pain or block ovarian function.
Surgery can removed damaged veins. A hysterectomy may also be required.
It comes after Kate revealed she has 'broken the law' as she ended up locked in a dispute with her neighbour.
The Big Brother winner took to Instagram to share that she had got herself into 'trouble' with her neighbour after painting the back of their shed.
Kate revealed that her gardener had painted it because because she didn't like the colour of it, but her neighbour was furious she had done so without permission and the TV personality later discovered it was in fact illegal, and considered trespassing.
She quickly took to social media to explain her predicament and sparked a nationwide debate as some agreed with her that they wouldn't care, while others were horrified that she had painted someone else's property.
'Why do I always get myself in these situations?' Kate wrote. 'I'm in trouble with my neighbour for painting the back of their shed a different colour. Won't be doing it again as in hindsight I know I should have asked first, but I didn't think it would be a big deal given that they can't see it?
'It has made me wonder though… Would you be annoyed if you discovered the back of your shed (which you couldn't see) had been painted by the neighbour whose garden backed on to yours?
'Have you had a similar fall out with your neighbour? Basically, am I an a***hole and should I buy them flowers and a box of milk tray to apologise?'
The next day Kate again took to social media to reveal she had since discovered it was illegal.
'I've just found out I've broken the law,' she began. 'Um... I found out that me painting someone's shed is actually illegal. I can't believe I didn't know this. Genuinely I did not know that me leaning over the end of my garden, sorry not me my gardener, that him leaning over the end of our garden and into somebody's else's garden and painting the back of their shed is trespassing.
'Um... so I'm sorry if that offends you and I'm sorry to my neighbour because I didn't know that what I was doing was illegal and I also, genuinely, I just didn't think someone would mind me painting the back of their shed which they couldn't see and I know that a lot of you would.
'And that's what's so interesting about this debate because it has sparked a nationwide debate.'
She continued; 'Half the people in the comments of my last video wouldn't care either. I genuinely wouldn't care if somebody paint. In fact if you want to paint the back of my shed go for it, it just wouldn't bother me.
'We're all different, we're all human beings, none of us are the same. Some of you would care, some of you wouldn't. That was the question I was asking more. I'm not asking if what I did was wrong. I know what I've done was wrong, I know it was illegal, now, I didn't know it at the time otherwise I wouldn't have done it but I'll never do it again.
'So don't be like me. Don't paint the back of somebody's shed without asking first because it is illegal, it is trespassing. And what a debate! It is quite fascinating. Anyway... I'll leave it there.'
Kate also captioned her video: 'WARNING! Do not lean into your neighbours garden and paint the back of their shed / fence or anything as it's actually illegal. It's considered trespassing or vandalism, which I genuinely didn't realise I at the time.
'So like I suggested in my previous video, I'm going to buy them a sorry present and apologise. Sorry if I offended you in my actions too.
'Just remember what Albert Einstein once said…. The man who never made any mistakes never made anything x.'
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