Bindi Irwin has revealed she is “healing” after her endometriosis surgery in which doctors removed 37 lesions.
The famed conservationist and mother revealed last week on International Women’s Day that she had struggled with the condition for a decade.
On Wednesday, the star took to social media to update fans on her recovery from the relatively common disease, where tissue similar to that on the inside of the womb grows externally in other parts of the body.
“I have spent the week reading your kind words and stories of strength through your own experiences with endometriosis,” she said.
“Thank you with all my heart for sharing.
“I can finally see a new me on the journey towards better health.
“I can’t wait to be able to focus all my energy on our family and the conversation work we are so passionate about.
“Sending my love and light your way.”
Fans flooded the comments with messages of support, wishing Irwin a “new start and new healthy path”.
“I had a surgery almost two years ago and will likely have another in the next year … your honesty in sharing your journey has meant so much,” one person wrote.
“You’re one of the strongest people I’ve seen and thank you for sharing your journey!” another said.
The star revealed her decade-long struggle with endometriosis on March 8, sharing her battle with “insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea”.
“Trying to remain a positive person and hide the pain has been a very long road,” she said.
“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.”
Irwin said a friend helped her make the difficult decision of undergoing surgery for her condition in which doctors found 37 lesions, some of which were “very deep”, and a chocolate cyst (ovarian cysts filled with a dark thick material).
Irwin added that conditions such as hers should remind others to “be gentle and pause before asking me (or any woman) when we’ll be having more children”.
“I’m aware of millions of women struggling with a similar story … there’s stigma around this awful disease,” she said.
“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.”
Irwin and her partner Chandler welcomed their daughter Grace Warrior on March 25, 2021, on their one-year wedding anniversary.
More than 11 per cent of Australians with uteruses suffer from endometriosis, which can cause debilitating pain and even impact fertility in some cases.
On average, it takes 6½ years to receive a diagnosis.
Originally published at www.news.com.au