Let’s all take a chance to meet Katie Smith. Smith is not really your average 24-year-old, considering she had something strange emerge in her stomach and nobody could figure out what it was, even the doctors.
Her Pregnancy Revealed Something Out Of The Ordinary
The Beginning
Within such a short time, Katie’s stomach started growing so fast that it seemed like she was pregnant. Strangely enough, this is not what happened at all. Pregnancy test after pregnancy test continued to say she was not pregnant.
The Beginning
Her Story
Here’s some background on Smith. She is currently 28 years old, born and raised in Swansea, Wales. In 2014 she started to notice that she was gaining more and more weight and looked like she was nine months pregnant.
Her Story
Healthy Lifestyle
Katie maintained a healthy regimen and was conscious of her body shape. While she was happy with her curves, she also spent considerable time in the gym, which made her excessive weight gain even more annoying.
Say Hi To Katie
Not As It Seems
During this time Katie felt insecure about attending her work Christmas party because of how she looked in his clothing. She felt like she was too overweight. Little did she know that bigger problems were to come.
Not As It Seems
Too Fast To Keep Up With
Despite her efforts, Katie’s stomach continued to grow. She was keeping up a healthy lifestyle with exercise and dieting but it was gradually getting larger. This was the absolute worse thing, putting in the effort but seeing the opposite results.
Too Fast To Keep Up With
What Was Going On?
The change was so gradual that Katie could barely detect something off. However, she was trying to resist the weight gain and it wouldn’t budge. No workout was enough to stop this monstrous weight gain from forming.
What Was Going On?
Not Just Growing
Katie could no longer avoid this weight gain. Everything she was gaining went directly to her belly and on top of that, her stomach was hard as a rock. What do you think was going on, what do you think she did next?
Not Just Growing
Staying Hopeful
Katie’s stomach was changing texture and now felt strange too even touch. Despite the frustration she felt, she was sure it would pass with time. Unfortunately, as much as we may want something is not always how it happens.
Staying Hopeful
There’s Only One Explanation
At this point Katie was a size eight and she couldn’t find in her dresses. However, she was afraid to go to the doctor. She spent her adolescence with her father as a doctor and this made her a bit weary.
There’s Only One Explanation
Her Gut Feeling
Katie had no clue that something bigger was approaching. Her only explanation pointed to one thing. However, she wasn’t exactly ready to believe it. I wonder what it was, what do you think it could be?
Her Gut Feeling
With Child
Katie looked at all of the factors and everything pointed to pregnancy. She was gaining weight at a rapid speed, she was constantly tired, and she had a serious boyfriend for many years. What else was the explanation?
With Child
Unplanned Pregnancy
At this point she understood that she had to be pregnant. She and her boyfriend started to get a bit nervous. They definitely didn’t plan for this, but it wouldn’t be totally unexpected given her situation.
Unplanned Pregnancy
Soon To Be Parents
Katie had been dating her boyfriend Jamie Gibbons for 10 years at this point and they fathomed the idea of her being pregnant. They were surely not prepared but they felt like they owed it to themselves to check.
Soon To Be Parents
The Blue Stripe
Katie took a pregnant test that said she was not pregnant and the two were totally shocked. They were the test was wrong so she took another. However, it yielded exactly the same results, what did this mean?
The Blue Strip
Getting Really Worried
The couple was not only surprised, but their concern was growing stronger. A million thoughts popped into their heads as they considered what was going on. Maybe she was seriously sick or had a miscarriage, either way, they had to find out.
Getting Really Worried
Facing Her Fears
Despite her fears about doctors, Katie decided she would finally see a professional. While she went there to receive answers, that is not actually what happened. The doctor simply told her that she was just fat.
Facing Her Fears
Following Her Instincts
Despite being told this, Katie knew in her heart that something was wrong. The weight gain did not severely impact her daily activities so she just ignored it. Still, part of her wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Following Her Instincts
Not Trustworthy
Everything pointed to pregnancy but still, she did not understand why she wasn’t pregnant. Although she didn’t totally believe the doctors, she decided they were the professionals and they probably knew best.
Not Trustworthy
No Solution
Part of her wanted to be pregnant, that would mean that the problem would go away and she knew what was going on. However, her stomach continued growing for an entire two years before she got an answer. Each month it got larger and larger.
No Solution
She Didn’t Feel Well
While she was having a normal day at the office, something strange happened. Katie began to feel light-headed and suddenly collapsed. She didn’t remember anything but when she awoke her coworkers explained that she fainted.
She Didn’t Feel Well
A Difficult Period
Katie soon realized that seeing a doctor was now urgent. Her GP told her that everything she was experiencing was because of stress, and she just had to continue on with her life like before, soon the problem would go away.
A Difficult Period
All From Stress?
What do we know about passing out from stress, is this possible? Katie wasn’t believing the doctor’s explanation but the doctor tried to tell her that everything was okay. For starters, he ruled out that she was not pregnant.
All From Stress?
Not What It Appears
As much as she tried to avoid the annoying and repetitive questions, everyone wanted to know about her “pregnancy.” They say her stomach and she had to repeat herself over and over again. She could not ignore it.
No End In Sight
Every single day Katie had the same conversation with people, ” The doctors say I am just overweight.” At this point she was becoming pessimistic, it looked like nothing would ever change, she was feeling helpless.
.
No End In Sight
Due Date
People were always asking her about her due date and she started to lie to spare them the embarrassment. Katie started to believe that she was just overweight so this is what she told people when they would question.
Due Date
Changing Appearance
As she was waddling around with a ginormous stomach, she began to feel insecure about the way she looked. Nothing was fitting her and she had to resort to the maternity section at this point, how embarrassing.
Changing Appearance
Maternity Clothes
She recollected at this time and said, “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 Clothesv
Needs Help
Despite everything that was going on, Katie was extremely stubborn about receiving any help. She blacked out many times at work, had problems breathing and was experiencing life-altering weight gain, that made her realize it was time.
Needs Help
Seeking Assistance
Still with all of this, it was only because of her coworkers that she realized she needed to get checked. You may ask yourself why Katie did not take care of herself better and many would agree. It was definitely strange how long she was taking.
Seeking Assistance
A New Explanation
Katie wanted to live her life as normal as possible and this meant ignore her circumstances. After passing out four times, enough was enough. The next doctor had yet another irrational reason, he said it was due to her acne medicine.
A New Explanation
Time To Stand Up
Katie felt like the medical professionals were taking her symptoms too lightly. They rationalized it all by other factors in her life and she was starting to get fed up. It came to the point where she couldn’t take it any longer.
Time To Stand Up
Enough Was Enough
This reason did not make sense considering that she stopped taking the medicine several months prior. Smith insisted on another reason, and this led her to a second doctor. This doctor was sure she was pregnant, but the blood tests were negative.
Enough Was Enough
Getting To The Bottom Of It
Since the blood tests were negative, her GP decided to try ultrasound. Katie could not even walk without having problems breathing. That was when she knew that this was getting out of hand and she needed answers.
Getting To The Bottom Of It
The Truth At Last
The doctor insisted on checking if she was pregnant with an ultrasound. While she may not have gotten what she expected, she found something else that would maybe help Katie get the help she needed.
The Truth At Last
Terrified
Katie carefully watched the doctor during the ultrasound. She noticed her expression change and it was clear something was off. Her eyes got bigger and she had a look of fear come over her instantly.
Terrified
Consoling Katie
The doctor immediately asked for help and that’s when Katie went numb. Her boyfriend tried to help her but he could not calm her down. Were we finally going to get to the bottom of her weight gain?
Consoling Katie
Not Pregnant
While the screen was blank, it was clear that something else was going on there. At this point, the doctors and Katie were all aware that her life was in severe danger. Finally, someone was taking her seriously.
Not Pregnant
Surprising News
While the options could go on forever, they needed a CT to pinpoint the cause. Katie was beginning to freak out and this was completely valid. She could help but expect the worse and waited desperately for that CT.
Surprising News
Emergency CT
She went in for an emergency CT and this is when the most shocking news of all was delivered. Katie was told to sit down and prepare herself before hearing the news. She held her boyfriend’s hand and waiting anxiously for the results.
Emergency CT
Definitely Not Pregnant
Well for starters she was definitely not pregnant. The weight gain in her stomach was actually an ovarian mass that was growing. Within seconds, Katie’s entire life was destroyed and she did not know what to do. The doctor also felt unprepared.
Definitely Not Pregnant
To The Skin
This cyst was far from normal. It was 24 centimeters think and lined her stomach wall. Although she had her answers, her life was still at risk and they needed to act fast. Wow, did you see that coming?
To The Skin
What Exactly Is An Ovarian Cyst?
If you are unfamiliar with what a cyst is, it is basically a fluid-filled sac that can grow on a woman’s ovary. They usually are not harmful, but in Katie’s case there ewas no chance of it going away without help.
What Exactly Is An Ovarian Cyst?
Oddly Large
A cyst can be harmful when it gets in the way of someone’s life or blocks the blood supply that directs to the ovaries. Katie’s case was special because this cyst was extremely large and very dangerous.
Oddly Large
Exploring Her Options
After a month, Katie was discussing her options with a specialist who went over everything in detail. Shew still remembers what the consultant’s face looked like after seeing the size of her stomach.
Exploring Her Options
Complete Shock
Even though the consultant had a calm tone, his face showed it all. He had never seen anything like it before. The hardest part was that all the professions were not sure how big the cyst actually was.
Complete Shock
That’s Not All
The doctor added that she may have multiple cysts growing inside her, and they could all be attached to organs. Katie was in disbelief but it was clear to her that surgery was the only option by now.
That’s Not All
The Effects
The doctors were clear that she had a cyst in her stomach but they still did not know how it was impacting her body. She was experiencing side effects from the cysts and she still did not know why.
The Effects
You’re Fine
The doctor working with Katie was in shock when he heard what the other doctors reasoned her case. Although he wasn’t exactly sure the size of the cyst, he was ready to take control. H ewas no going to dismiss her.
You’re Fine
One Thing For Certain
The only that the staff knew for sure was that Katie was going to lose one of her ovaries. She also was going to be hospitalized for an extended period depending on how large the cyst was. Katie did not know what to do.
One Thing For Certain