Katie Smith was just a normal young lady in her mid-twenties. Well, that’s if you think it’s normal for the situation. When something unexpected began to grow in her stomach, Mrs. Smith was a mere 24 years old. The doctors were disconcerted and couldn’t figure out what it was…
Woman Found Out Her Swollen Belly Didn’t Carry Her Baby, But Something More Serious
The Beginning
Katie’s stomach started to grow and exploded so quickly that she seemed to be pregnant! The weird part was she wasn’t at all pregnant! After the pregnancy test, she took a pregnancy test, all of which were negative, but doctors dismissed her concerns.
The Beginning
Her Story
Smith is from Swansea in Wales and began to notice an odd gain in weight. She had gone from normal to someone in a few years who looked as if they were full-term pregnant. Smith told the BBC that she had never been a skinny girl, but she had slowly developed this huge belly.
Her Story
Healthy Lifestyle
As most young ladies at that age are, Katie truly followed a healthy lifestyle and was conscious of her figure. She was an avid gym-goer, embracing her curvy figure. This is the reason that it was not only frustrating but confusing to gain weight. That mystery went on…
Say Hi To Katie
Not As It Seems
Katie felt uncomfortable and insecure because her figure was so flawed, and she didn’t even want to work at a Christmas party. As any woman would feel uncomfortable in her situation, Katie felt she was fat and that her outfit was truly unflattering.
Not As It Seems
Too Fast To Keep Up With
Katie did it all, but her stomach wouldn’t stop growing. She said, “I was exercising and eating healthily, but I was slowly getting bigger.” There’s nothing more frustrating than following a healthy lifestyle and still packing on weight and fast.
Too Fast To Keep Up With
What Was Going On?
Katie continued, “It crept up so slowly [that] I didn’t know anything was wrong – I thought I was putting on timber.” Katie was putting on mass weight amounts, and she still had no idea why.
What Was Going On?
Not Just Growing
The time had come when Katie could no longer ignore this excessive weight gain. It was becoming clear that all the weight she put on was transferred directly to her region of the belly. The weight felt strange. How will she move forward?
Not Just Growing
Staying Hopeful
Katie’s stomach felt hard when touched as if it were irritated. She was content and adamant, however, that the situation would advance and hopefully end with time. Despite this, she had hoped that this situation would not work out…
Staying Hopeful
There’s Only One Explanation
She had grown out of her dresses and now wore size eight clothing. She was so scared to seek medical care that she didn’t. Her father was a doctor, which led her to doubt how to deal with the situation.
There’s Only One Explanation
Her Gut Feeling
Katie never knew that there was much more to things ahead. Only one conclusion she had come to was not what she wanted or wanted to accept. This was potentially what her situation had come to, though. What could be the one thing that was doing this to her?
Her Gut Feeling
With Child
She evaluated her symptoms and all the characteristics that accompanied what her body was going through, and one explanation was given… pregnancy. She was constantly tired, her stomach area was expanding, and she was also in a serious relationship.
With Child
Unplanned Pregnancy
She was certain that it meant she had a bun in the oven as she analyzed all the aspects over and over again! Katie and her boyfriend were both rather anxious. It was certainly unplanned if she was actually pregnant, and it was not on her agenda right now.
Unplanned Pregnancy
Soon To Be Parents
Jamie Gibbons was Katie’s boyfriend of ten years, and the couple thought there was a chance she had a little human inside her. Although they did not prepare for it, it was clear that they had to have it checked out.
Soon To Be Parents
The Blue Stripe
The couple was a bit taken aback after taking a pregnancy test, so it came back negatively. The two thought the test was incorrect and went for round two instantly. The same result, the test was negative.
The Blue Stripe
Getting Really Worried
The couple decided it was time to visit the doctor. What could be happening here? Could Katie have been ill? Has she suffered a miscarriage? Their minds were racing, and both of them were simply scared!
Getting Really Worried
Facing Her Fears
She had little left to do, given the options, so she had to see a doctor. Sadly, the news she wanted was not given to Katie. The doctor explained that she was “merely fat.” Katie’s spirits were down; she saw no escape at the rate things were happening.
Facing Her Fears
Following Her Instincts
The doctor had blatantly dismissed her fears and concerns, but Katie knew something was wrong. Since she had seen a doctor and her daily routine was not affected by this, she ignored it.
Following Her Instincts
Not Trustworthy
Katie had been thinking about this so much that she didn’t understand how pregnant she was. It really looked and felt as if she was; what was up? She doubted the doctor but believed in his conclusion. Even though they weren’t experts, she really had no choice.
Not Trustworthy
No Solution
If Katie were indeed pregnant, then when the baby was born, the issue would disappear. Her belly, however, continued to grow for two full years. It got bigger and bigger every month until something horrible happened one day at work…
No Solution
She Didn’t Feel Well
It was the average working day for Katie until she began to feel sick, light-headed, nauseous, and spacey. She collapsed. As Katie regained consciousness, she was informed by her coworkers that she had fainted.
She Didn’t Feel Well
A Difficult Period
Katie knew she had to see a doctor immediately. Katie said, “It was a tough period in work, and when I passed out, my GP put it down to stress.” There was another explanation, and just as she was living before this ordeal, she had to continue.
A Difficult Period
All From Stress?
Is fainting from stress normal or even possible? Katie didn’t believe that was the reason. Her doctor reassured her that nothing major was happening, and she was certainly not pregnant.
All From Stress?
Not What It Appears
People were always asking her about her “pregnancy” everywhere she went. People noticed her expanding stomach, and she could not even try to hide it. She explained the situation over and over.
No End In Sight
“The doctors say I am just overweight, ” Katie continued, telling all those who asked every day. Shortly, she was frustrated with the situation and saw no solution and no resolution ahead of her.
No End In Sight
Due Date
Katie said that when the baby was coming, she was constantly stopped and questioned about when she began to give in to spare them and herself the embarrassment. Soon, she stopped telling them that she was overweight but had begun to think that that was what she actually was.
Due Date
Changing Appearance
With a huge belly, Katie was walking around town and had begun to feel both embarrassed and insecure. She began shopping in the maternity section of the shops, but she was discouraged from buying anything because her fake baby bump was still growing.
Changing Appearance
Maternity Clothes
Katie explained, “I remember trying to shop for clothes in December 2016, and nothing would fit. I was skin and bone on top, then this massive lump and normal legs. The only thing that was going to fit was maternity wear.”
Maternity Clothes
Needs Help
Katie was stubborn enough to see the doctor. After several fainting spells, breathing difficulties had prevented her from leading a normal lifestyle, and she required even more assistance than she had initially.
Needs Help
Seeking Assistance
Unless her coworkers were so adamant about it, she still would never actually have gone. People wondered how Katie let herself go and why she did not necessarily care for herself. Something certainly was wrong; shouldn’t she be there by now?
Seeking Assistance
A New Explanation
She tried to avoid it but to no avail. But it became unbearable where it was just enough to have her pass out for the fourth time. The doctor said this time around that it was her acne medication. Katie didn’t take that reasoning for herself, and she knew he was wrong.
A New Explanation
Time To Stand Up
It’s as though the doctors did not take her case or her symptoms seriously. They carried on blaming anything and everything they could in her life as time went on. Katie wanted answers, not theories; she wanted real answers.
Time To Stand Up
Enough Was Enough
Months earlier, Katie had stopped taking her acne medication, and she did not settle for this diagnosis. She went to the doctor for a second opinion and said she must be pregnant. After blood testing, he did a blood test, and there were no conclusive results.
Enough Was Enough
Getting To The Bottom Of It
The general practitioner of Katie even said she had to be pregnant regardless of the blood test results. Another ultrasound was ordered, and Katie’s walking even became difficult, let’s not forget her difficulties with breathing as well.
Getting To The Bottom Of It
The Truth At Last
As directed by the next doctor, a pregnancy test was requested. Would she finally get a real diagnosis at long last?. Hopefully, soon enough, but for now, we can see a new side to the case.
The Truth At Last
Terrified
Katie carefully watched the doctor as she performed an ultrasound. It became clear that when she saw her expression, something was not right, not at all. The doctor’s eyes grew, and her facial expression dimmed, and it seemed that the doctor was petrified.
Terrified
Consoling Katie
The doctor requested an expert opinion, and Katie was worried. Jamie tried to calm her down and ease her fear, but she became overwhelmed and quickly started to panic. What was in her belly, what was growing?
Consoling Katie
Not Pregnant
The screen was completely blank, the ultrasound screen that is. It was confirmed that Katie wasn’t pregnant. But there was something wrong—they didn’t know what it was, but they knew it was life-threatening.
Not Pregnant
Surprising News
There were endless possibilities, although they urgently requested a CT to get to the bottom of this. Katie was frightened, worried, anxious, and had no clue what would follow. As she waited to find out what was wrong, her mind was racing.
Surprising News
Emergency CT
The CT that was requested since the ultrasound was completely blank depicted something totally insane! Doctors were trying to calm down Katie and prepare her for what they were going to disclose and explain. She and her boyfriend were both waiting… in suspense…
Emergency CT
Definitely Not Pregnant
Katie was not pregnant; that’s for sure. Her swollen abdomen was due to a developing ovarian mass. A moment later, Katie’s world came to an abrupt halt as the doctor could not determine what caused her sudden illness.
Definitely Not Pregnant
To The Skin
This wasn’t your average cyst, and it was also attached to her stomach, measured at 24 centimeters thick. This explained, finally, the weight gain. Her life, however, was at risk, and it was necessary to remove the mass as quickly as possible.
To The Skin
What Exactly Is An Ovarian Cyst?
A cyst is a fluid-filled sac on the ovary of a woman that can grow. They often do not usually cause any additional problems or harm; they usually dissolve on their own. This was not the case for Katie.
What Exactly Is An Ovarian Cyst?
Oddly Large
Since they can block the blood supply to the ovaries or grow to an abnormal size just like this one, cysts interfere with people’s lives when they rupture. Katie’s had honestly grown to a different level; it was totally massive.
Oddly Large
Exploring Her Options
A month passed, and to move forward, Katie was discussing her options with a specialist. She says when she saw her belly, she can still visualize the look on the consultant’s face; he was completely stunned.
Exploring Her Options
Complete Shock
He had explained the ovarian mass nicely and very gently to her, but his face said it all. In utter awe, he was. Nobody expected it to be so big, and even the expert could not believe how big the cyst was.
Complete Shock
That’s Not All
One other possibility was that multiple cysts were present and that they could be attached inside her abdomen to other organs. Katie was petrified, and she knew there was no option but surgery.
That’s Not All
The Effects
The students were unaware of any further negative effects of the cyst they had on Katie’s body. She most certainly experienced side effects, those that had no connection with being pregnant.
The Effects
You’re Fine
The doctor was unsure of the cyst’s details but decided something needed to be done. The doctor was also shocked that, without any further evaluation, the other doctors had not only turned her away but told her she was fine.
You’re Fine
One Thing For Certain
What the doctor knew for certain was that Katie would lose an ovary! She was also told that her stay in the hospital might have to be longer than expected-it depended on where exactly the cyst was. She felt as if she were giving away her life.
One Thing For Certain