Dame Kelly Holmes has opened up about her health to her Loose Women pals following a recent operation.
On February 5, 54-year-old Kelly revealed on social media that she had to undergo an operation in order to remove an enlarged polyp.
The star took some time away from Loose Women, but made her return today (April 7), where she opened up about the experience.
Loose Women star Kelly Holmes gives health update
Kelly revealed she was recording a podcast with Naomi Potter, a doctor who has worked with Davina McCall, when she checked in over a health concern. Taking the opportunity to quiz Naomi, Kelly informed her she hadn’t had a period in 18 months but was suddenly bleeding heavily.
Immediately she was told that wasn’t normal. Kelly said: “She said: ‘All women who are postmenopausal, if they see something abnormal, it needs to be checked within two weeks.’ I didn’t know that. I really don’t know about any of this stuff. Like everyone else, I’m learning.”
Fortunately, I was able to afford it and it’s a choice.
After the chat, Kelly made the decision to go through private healthcare to get it checked out quickly.
She said: “I decided my health is too important. We buy bags all of the time and clothes. Fortunately, I was able to afford it and it’s a choice. I decided because of how I was feeling. And I wasn’t feeling good. I would rather get it checked.”
Speaking about the experience, Kelly said: “I went for an ultrasound. It wasn’t pleasant but she went: ‘You need a hysteroscopy.’ That is more of an investigation. They said I had a large polyp which isn’t good for you.”
Kelly got the option of general aesthetic or sedation and opted to be “put out” for the procedure, so that she wouldn’t remember or feel it happen.
Dame Kelly on her operation experience
As for her recovery, the Loose Women star admitted she was “in a lot of pain” following the removal of a “large polyp”.
She said: “If they had’ve been left, there is a possibility they would have turned cancerous. And in some cases cause a lot more issues for women. To the point where women have actually lost their lives because they didn’t know what was going on.”
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However, after the operation, Kelly decided to reveal the news to her followers. A decision which both “appalled” and “pleased” her in the long-run.
“The amount of women who have said they have gone through barbaric hysteroscopies because the NHS guidelines is to take two paracetamol. But then I was thinking is it normal? Does everyone have this?
“There was a campaign where 8,000 women came forward to say how much hell they have had from this one op. Which, when you think about the fact 51% of the population are women, at some stage every single woman will go through issues down there. Something needs to be done.”
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