Gigi Robinson models swimwear (itsgigirobinson)
It took years for Sports Illustrated swimsuit model
Gigi Robinson
to discover what was causing her excruciating pain, she says, for three weeks every month.
The social media influencer, who was a finalist in the 2022 SI Swim Search, was diagnosed with endometriosis last December and is finally getting the treatment she deserves.
Endometriosis (endo - face, matrium - womb) is a chronic gynecological disease that affects women.
It is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease in which cells similar to cells of the endometrium - the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus - grow in areas outside the uterus, such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries or other areas in the abdominal cavity and female pelvis.
The symptoms of endometriosis are varied and include: severe pain in the pelvis and uterus during menstruation, pain during intercourse, chronic pelvic pain, fertility problems, fatigue, depression and more.
It is among the diseases that are underdiagnosed.
In fact, on average, it takes women suffering from endometriosis 7 years to get a diagnosis, because quite a few doctors reject most of the claims and link them to hormones and moods, when in reality it is a real and painful disease.
The department attacks one out of every 10 women of childbearing age, as stated by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
It is most often diagnosed in women in their 30s and 40s, and the exact cause of its appearance is unknown.
The only way to diagnose endometriosis for sure is through a laparoscopy, a minor operation that Robinson initially refused to do.
"I thought it was my body reacting to my period," the model told Fox News Digital, "That's what the doctors thought... I always had bad back pain - terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible back pain - three weeks out of the month. During six to The last eight months I've been in a lot of pain in ways I just didn't know were even possible. It's been so horrible."
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The 24-year-old said that she met with several doctors to find out what was wrong with her.
She said only one suspected it was endometriosis and recommended laparoscopic surgery.
The cautious Robinson postponed the procedure, despite the possibility of finally receiving the diagnosis she was expecting, since the idea of going under anesthesia scared her.
"I was a little medically anxious," she admitted, "I wanted to be sure that if I did the surgery, there would be a good reason for it... but in the end I did it and we found it was endometriosis. It was very interesting to understand all of this."
"Something I always talk about is being your own best advocate," Robinson explained, "What would your mom, your partner, or your best friend say to a doctor if they saw you in such pain? That's how you should talk about yourself ... I minimized my pain for a long time ... I wondered 'doesn't it hurt all women sometimes?'
I just thought it was normal. Now I see a glimmer of hope."
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"No one believed me"
Robinson recovered from the surgical procedure.
However, she noted that the experience left her with a "feeling of anger and frustration."
"It's like no one believed me, but I was right," she explained.
"I kept supporting myself. I kept pushing for it and it still took so long. Now I'm in a place where I can finally, hopefully, heal. I'm starting to feel like doing certain things doesn't hurt like it used to. It's huge... it's been great I feel great today. After the surgery, it took two and a half weeks before I started to feel like myself again."
More on the subject:
The model who became a nurse in the Corona ward to a Sports Illustrated star
at the age of 56 The model posed for the first time for Sports Illustrated
Watch her talk about the disease:
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
The photos for Sports Illustrated
In 2022, Robinson was selected from among thousands of applicants to fly to the Dominican Republic and be photographed by acclaimed Sports Illustrated swimwear photographer Yu Tsai.
Her photo was featured in the 2022 issue, which featured cover girls Kim Kardashian, May Musk, Ciara and Yumi Noh.
Robinson described the experience as "one of the greatest joys of my life."
"It gave so many people - so many women - hope," she said, "It's changing the way we look at the human body, and we get different bodies in all industries, especially in situations that are so intimate, like in swimwear. I posed there Without having to go on a crazy diet or without hiding anything... by the way, we only had 10 days to prepare for this... I wanted to be an example and show that if you are dealing with a health problem, a mental problem, a body image problem - you can show up as who you are and wear the This damn bikini, loving it, enjoying it and feeling super sexy and hot in it. I feel like I've been able to do that."
Robinson noted that the experience allowed her to raise awareness of dealing with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: a group of 13 genetic syndromes that cause damage to the body's connective tissues.
"It unleashed such a wave of acceptance in the chronic disease community to show up as you are and feel good about it," Robinson said of her shoot for the magazine, "
It was just amazing to get messages from people all over the world. It was a moment where I felt like I had to do it and I did it. The issue was the true expression of being there, speaking up, using my voice — and I did it. I'm just grateful that Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Magazine saw that in me."
From Sports Illustrated magazine:
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"We must trust our intuition"
Today, Robinson hopes to use her platform to raise awareness of a personal health struggle that many can relate to.
Olivia Colpo, who also previously appeared on SI Swimsuit, also spoke about her struggles with endometriosis.
"I think in general we're becoming more and more comfortable talking about health issues and normalizing them online," Robinson explained, "and in doing so, I think it gives people with the appropriate platform, a responsibility to share their experiences - because it makes others feel less alone in their journey. It can also inspire them to take direct action to get help. It might lead to a diagnosis... We have to trust our intuition, right? My intuition told me to keep pushing no matter what - and I did, even if it took so long Endometriosis can affect your fertility, your relationships. Therefore, I think talking about something so personal, so intimate and so serious is an important thing. It will allow others to feel less alone and fight for the answers they deserve. This applies to all health issues".
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Now Robinson is looking forward to a healthier and happier future.
About two years ago, she decided to stop consuming alcoholic beverages as part of the hope for a healthier future: "I don't know if I really need this in my life," she recalled, "If I'm already dealing with all these health problems, I don't want to make them worse. I don't Wanting to put my body in a state of stress. It felt like I was able to gain more control over my health, even though I never had a problem with alcohol in the first place. It's known to be bad for the gut and not good for my body in general. That's why I stopped."
She concluded: "It feels so good to talk about my experiences so openly. I hope to encourage others to use their voices as well."
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