Nick Knowles, 62, sends wife Katie, 35, heartwarming message of support as she leaves the house for first time for lunch date after hysterectomy
The lingerie business owner, 35 - who recently married television presenter Nick, 62 - revealed last week that she had the op after 'surviving' years of 'pain'.
She has been at home recovering since the major surgery and took to Instagram on Friday to share an update with fans.
Katie revealed she had been experiencing menopause symptoms including hot flushes, and that a self-care day was in order.
On Saturday she managed to take it a step further, as she made it out of the house for a lunch date with her supportive husband.
Taking to his Story, Nick shared a selfie that was posted by Katie, adding a heartfelt message to his wife.
The original photo showed the couple cosying up inside a shop, with Katie writing: 'Well look who made it out the house today' with a heart emoji.
The DIY SOS star shared it on his Story, expressing how proud he was of Katie.
'You are doing so well,' he began. 'It's such a huge thing to deal with in so many ways, not just physically.
'I'll be right by your side every step of the way. Proud of you.'
After their successful lunch date, Katie shared a video when they got home as she told her fans that she had managed to change into some comfies, calling herself a 'slob kabob'.
'I'm glad I've been out, even though I'm feeling exhausted,' she added.
Yesterday, Katie displayed her abdomen bloating from the surgery in one clip, as well as showing where her scar was in the candid video.
Katie went on to share in the caption that she had also been suffering from brain fog so 'can't string a sentence together', and revealing she is getting breathless if she does too much.
In the caption of the video, Katie continued: ' A little day-in-the-life post-hysterectomy. Tried to wear leggings today to feel like a person…'
In a voiceover on the clip, Katie said: 'So today I decided to have a shower. Umm... obviously not the first time I've done this but because I was just a pile of sweat.
'And it's kind of due in part to menopausal symptoms with hot flushes and sweaty ti****s, sweaty upper lips, sweaty back, just sweaty everything. Um and I also have an infection from a fever that I have developed now. Er yeah I have been disgusting.
'So I thought I would push the boat out wash my hair and then it was curly and my daughter brushed the curls out so it was a bit Hermione Granger. So I treated myself to straightening it which wasn't the most comfortable thing to do in all reality because of the stretching but felt so much better knowing that I can leave it a few days now - and theoretically it should be fine.'
She added: 'I did try to put normal people clothes on today but as it turns out it wasn't happening because the bloating's still kind of there. We're still there and also putting clothes on that end up going too close to my scars.'
In the caption of the video, Katie continued: 'A little day-in-the-life post-hysterectomy. Tried to wear leggings today to feel like a person… lasted 7 minutes before getting back into Nick's boxers and a T-shirt.
'Still bloated, still sore, still spending 90% of the day horizontal. BUT, I got to take off those god-awful surgical stockings!!! Another fun addition to my sans uterus era: brain fog. I can barely string a sentence together or type properly, which is great when you rely on typing for work.
'They didn't remove my ovaries, but they did warn me that with the effects of hormones and even some just post surgery malarkey, that I could experience symptoms. Also now walking with a slight elderly lean and getting breathless after literally anything. I'm such a catch it's lucky that I married him before choosing to do this.
'I've been working from bed, trying to distract myself from the absolute boredom (and the emotional ambush when babies appear on TV). I miss doing things for myself. I miss feeling like me. And the body stuff is rough. I've got another four scars on my stomach, and I just don't really want to look at myself at the moment.
'But today I did my hair and a bit of makeup, just to feel a little more human. And I honestly think it did a lot for my self-confidence, even if it was just for being in the house. I just keep looking to a pain-free future to try and pull myself out of it.
'The love I've had on here has blown me away. Women supporting women. Sharing stories. Saying thank you.
'It's a double edge sword, because on the one hand it's awful to see so many women with such sad and painful stories, but on the other, it has been so wonderful to make what I have gone through and I'm going through feel more normal and understood.'
WHAT IS A HYSTERECTOMY?
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a woman's uterus.
There are three kinds:
The operation is most commonly performed on women between the ages of 40 and 49.
More than 20 million American women have had a hysterectomy, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As women approach menopause, the odds that they will develop one of several serious uterine health conditions increases. Doctors may recommend a hysterectomy as a treatment for:
fibroids
endometriosis
uterine (endometrial) cancer
chronic uterine pain or bleeding
collapsed uterus
In some cases, doctors may suggest a hysterectomy as a preventative measure if a woman has significant warning or early signs of developing one or more of these conditions.
When necessary, surgeons may also remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes, if these have also been damaged or are at serious risk of damage.
The removal of reproductive organs sends a woman's body into menopause, no matter how old she is.
This comes with unpleasant side effects like hot flashes, and many women have to start hormone therapy, taking estrogen to balance out their own hormones.
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