Nick Knowles’ ‘terrified’ wife Katie is rushed to hospital for emergency surgery after suffering ‘crippling pain’ following her hysterectomy

Katie Knowles, the wife of Nick Knowles, had to be taken to the hospital for urgent surgery this weekend. She experienced severe pain after a previous hysterectomy.

The 35-year-old lingerie business owner, recently married to TV presenter Nick, 62, had a medical procedure in July after years of dealing with pain from PCOS and endometriosis.

Unfortunately, her recovery hit a significant snag this weekend – twelve weeks after her surgery, she had to go to the emergency room.

She described a frightening experience where the stitches from a previous procedure on her cervix broke open, causing significant pain, bleeding, and a near-fainting spell. She said it was the most terrifying day of her life.

Following her back surgery, she reported feeling sore, bruised, and very tired. She was also deeply disappointed to learn she would have to begin the recovery process from the beginning.

Katie shared that a previous procedure on her cervix failed, causing internal complications. This resulted in severe abdominal pain, trouble breathing, extreme bloating, heavy bleeding, and internal fluids leaking where they shouldn’t have, even affecting her bowel.

Let me tell you, Saturday was rough. I experienced a level of pain that completely immobilized me – I literally couldn’t move or walk. I ended up alone in the kitchen, just trying to cope with it from 2:00 AM to 5:30 AM. Honestly, I felt like I was going to pass out it was so intense.

Aside from feeling tired and dealing with menopause, my recovery was progressing well. I was almost back to my old self, though I probably didn’t help things by going back to work the day after my hysterectomy!

I needed emergency surgery, and I was surprised by how quickly things moved. I expected a long wait, but they did blood work, a CT scan, and got me prepped for surgery in less than 10 hours.

Honestly, I was absolutely convinced something was horribly wrong inside me – they were even saying my bowel might have a hole in it! I kept imagining needing major, open surgery, and *another* spinal tap – it was terrifying. They had three different surgical plans, and two of them were massive undertakings. It was so scary, but thankfully, a whole team – six surgeons and two anesthesiologists! – were looking after me. They did their best to calm me down, even though it was, without a doubt, the most agonizing and frightening day of my entire life. I was just so relieved to have them there.

Fortunately, the surgeons were able to get me back into surgery, repair the problem, and close me up.

I’m really sore, bruised, and tired, and I’m upset that I have to start recovering all over again. Still, I’m grateful it’s been taken care of, because the pain on Saturday night was terrible!

Following her hysterectomy, Katie shared an update on Instagram in August, explaining she felt disconnected from her body.

Katie shared that she was still feeling terrible weeks after her hysterectomy and had gained a stone (about 14 pounds) in six weeks while recovering.

A hysterectomy is surgery to remove a woman’s uterus, and sometimes other organs like the ovaries are removed as well.

She reassured her fans that they’re not the only ones struggling with recovery, sharing that she too deals with symptoms like brain fog, hot flashes, back pain, fatigue, anxiety, and irritability, among other things.

Katie recently shared with her fans that despite appearances, she’s still finding it difficult and hasn’t fully recovered. She admitted it’s been a daily struggle.

She explained that people keep sending her messages complimenting her quick recovery and appearance, saying things like, ‘You look amazing!’ and ‘You’ve bounced back so fast!’ However, she believes these comments are just for show, and are typical of what you see on Instagram – not necessarily genuine.

‘The truth is, I don’t recognise myself at all the moment. My body feels completely foreign. 

Over the past six weeks, I’ve put on weight, I’m always feeling bloated, and my breasts are larger and tender. My face is puffy, and my skin and hair are dry. I barely recognize myself when I look in the mirror, and it’s really upsetting.

She added that she’s also unable to exercise to improve her mood. Her doctor said she needs to avoid baths and the gym for another month due to the pain and bleeding she’s experiencing.

I feel trapped for another four weeks, stuck in a body that doesn’t feel like my own. I have no way to express myself or feel like myself again, and it feels like I’m just waiting for someone to give me the okay to move on.

Let me tell you, dealing with this has been *exhausting*. It’s this constant cloudiness – brain fog is the best way I can describe it – and little things slip your mind, like names right in the middle of a conversation. I even found myself at the wrong movie theater the other day! Honestly, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions, and I’ve been finding myself short-tempered with the people I care about most, simply because my mood swings are so unpredictable. It’s really tough to navigate.

I’m constantly dealing with hot flashes, and I’m often waking up soaked in sweat in the middle of the night – at 2, 3, or 4 a.m. I also have awful back pain and a deep, persistent exhaustion. On top of that, I’ve been feeling down, anxious, and easily irritated.

She admitted she could put on a happy face for a photo – dress up and smile – but it wouldn’t be genuine. She felt terrible underneath it all.

Okay, I *have* to be real with everyone. You see my posts and maybe think I’m doing great, ‘bouncing back’ or whatever, but please, please don’t think that’s the truth! I’m putting on a face, honestly. Underneath it all, I’m a mess. I’m constantly sore, I’m puffy, I’ve gained weight, and I’m just… grumpy and anxious all the time. I feel totally lost in this body, like it’s not even mine anymore, and I really don’t like it. I just needed to say that, so no one feels like they’re failing if they’re not seeing a perfect recovery like I *seem* to be.

It’s easy to feel isolated when you’re having a tough time with things like healing, hormonal imbalances, or just daily life, but remember you’re definitely not the only one. Social media, especially Instagram, often presents a carefully curated, unrealistic version of reality. What you see online isn’t usually the full or honest story.

People commented to thank Katie for being honest about the procedure and shared that they understood how she felt.

I really understand what you’re going through. Your message truly connected with me. Please allow yourself the time you need to recover – in every way, physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Recovering from this surgery is really tough, both mentally and physically. I’m a few weeks further along in my recovery, and it hasn’t been easy. I started feeling a bit more like myself around the six-week mark. I totally understand how frustrating it is not being able to exercise, but you’re doing incredibly well.

Thanks for sharing this! I’m four weeks after surgery and feeling discouraged by how slowly I’m recovering, but your post helped me understand that what I’m going through is actually normal. It’s really reassuring.

It was definitely me feeling that way. After being down for five days, I had to force myself to get up and do the school run, but I wasn’t myself at all. It felt like watching from outside my body. The hot flashes were the worst part, and I was completely emotionally exhausted trying to adjust to how I was changing. Don’t rush your recovery like I did – give yourself the time you need.

Look, I just keep telling myself that someday, *someday* it’s all going to be worth it. All the years of struggling, all the heartache… it *has* to be, right? I’m just trying to get through each day, hoping for that amazing payoff in the end. It’s the only thing keeping me going!

In July, Katie publicly announced she had a hysterectomy, posting a photo of herself in a hospital gown on social media.

In a heartfelt post, the mother of two shared her experience with debilitating pain that caused her to vomit, stay in bed, and miss out on everyday activities.

Katie’s caption at the time read: ‘I’m 35 and I’ve just had a hysterectomy.

I’ve struggled with PCOS, endometriosis, and adenomyosis for a very long time – long before I was even born, it feels like. And it was much more than just having a difficult period.

Life became a cycle of hospital visits and surgeries. I experienced heavy bleeding, constant pain that caused vomiting, and spent much of my time in bed, unable to participate in the things I enjoyed.

I was severely bloated, looking months pregnant. I suffered from debilitating migraines and intense, stabbing pain in my legs, hips, and stomach. I was constantly exhausted and spent so much time in the bathroom, often in tears because my days were constantly disrupted. The worst part was my daughters becoming afraid of starting their periods, fearing they’d experience the same struggles as me.

For years, my health issues were dismissed or misdiagnosed, and I was simply told to manage the pain with medication. I was led to believe my symptoms were normal, but they weren’t. This led to immense suffering – I’ve cried from pain in public restrooms and unexpectedly bled through my clothes. I’ve undergone three surgeries and tried countless treatments, including pills, patches, and hormone therapy. I even had to be medically induced into menopause just to get through university.

‘And still… the pain came.’

Katie, who married DIY SOS host Nick earlier this year, also shared how her diagnoses made it difficult to recognize herself, due to the pain she experienced.

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2025-09-28 14:50