This Morning star felt she was going 'mad' after agonising health condition was misdiagnosed

This Morning's very own Kate Lawler has bravely opened up about a hitherto undisclosed health battle that subjected her to "the worst pain of her life".

The telly favourite, who shot to fame clinching the Big Brother UK crown in 2002 as the first woman to win, recently divulged details of her agonising ordeal which saw her hospitalised while holidaying in Greece.

Initially brushed off with assurances that "everything was fine", the 45-year-old presenter endured recurring misery, necessitating multiple tests after returning to the UK, leading to a series of misdiagnoses prior to uncovering she had pelvic congestion syndrome.

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She confided: "The abdominal pain was worse than any pain I've ever had. It was crippling - sometimes too unbearable to even get out of bed - and it felt even worse during menstruation and sexual intercourse."

Describing the torment, she said: "It was a sharp, stabbing pain that would last from 10 seconds to several hours."

Kate first began experiencing discomfort in December 2017, later finding herself admitted to hospital while on a break abroad in the following year, reports Wales Online.

Believing she might have a serious hernia and feeling ignored by doctors, Kate recounted how they seemed to imply she was "going mad", with suggestions pointing towards hormonal imbalances or ovulation as the cause for her excruciating discomfort.

Despite repeated reassurances from medics that all was well, Kate couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, the persistent intense pain leaving her desperate for answers.

She shared the emotional toll with The Sun, admitting: "In the end I literally felt like I was going to have to live with the pain forever."

In August 2022, she was diagnosed with pelvic congestion syndrome and underwent a procedure to address it a few months later.

"I can't explain how much I've improved and how I no longer feel crippled by this pain that would strike at any time," she proclaimed, now actively raising awareness of the syndrome after having to fight for her diagnosis. "No woman should suffer in silence."

PCS, as detailed by the Cleveland Clinic, can cause persistent pain due to blood flow issues within the pelvic veins.

This condition manifests as sharp, severe pain, heightened pain pre-and post-menstrual cycle, during sexual activity, and when standing or sitting for extended periods.

The exact causes are elusive and while there's no cure for PCS, treatments like medications and certain medical procedures can alleviate symptoms.

Kate had pelvic vein embolisation, a minimally invasive procedure involving the insertion of tiny coils into faulty veins using X-ray guidance.

Recently, the radio host and mother-of-one has been keeping followers updated on her health via social media, revealing in 2023 that she was experiencing peri-menopause and considering HRT.

Alongside an emotional self-portrait posted to Instagram, Kate shared: "Just a selfie of me earlier because you know, life/work/child/the news/housework/bla bla."

Venting her reality, she added, "Only sharing this because the last few days my Insta may have looked like all the fun but in all honesty, the majority of the days over the last week have been a lot and I'm due on so that probably doesn't help.

"And I had a call from my GP after blood tests to tell me I'm perimenopausal and the offer of HRT just made me feel weird. Anyway, if your own mental load feels heavy right now, I see you and I'm sending you so much love."

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.