Inside Naga Munchetty’s health crisis from ‘missed’ diagnosis to brave new mission as she’s replaced on BBC Breakfast
BBC Breakfast star Naga Munchetty has long been open about her brave health battle after being diagnosed with adenomyosis.
The TV presenter, 49, first revealed her condition last year after being forced to take some time off from her hosting duties amid her battle with the complex condition.
Adenomyosis is a condition that causes the lining of the womb to bury into the muscular wall of the womb.
Naga previously left her BBC Radio 5 Live listeners in shock when she confessed that as a result of her medical condition she was broadcasting to them in crippling pain each day.
Addressing her condition on the airwaves last May, Naga said: “Right now as I sit here talking to you, I am in pain. Constant, nagging pain.”
She then added: “Every so often the pain changes; it becomes a stabbing pain. A pain that takes my breath away and I can do nothing but sit with it for a minute or curl up to cope.”
MISSED DIAGNOSIS
The BBC journalist finally went public with the news of her condition after being formally diagnosed by a private doctor.
This came after the star hit out at the NHS as she insisted she had been “gaslit and never taken seriously” in her 35-year battle with doctors to discover the root cause of her pain.
Her missed diagnosis came after Naga pleaded with doctors to investigate her condition before she was told to “suck it up”.
The star of the Beeb made the damning revelations when she spoke out at the Commons women and equalities committee last year about her experiences within the NHS during her quest to find answers.
During the panel event, Naga recalled being told by doctors that “everyone goes through this”.
She further added: “I was especially told this by male doctors who have never experienced a period but also by female doctors who hadn’t experienced period pain.”
Naga also revealed it was a culture of being told be healthcare professionals: “‘You’re fine, everyone else is putting up with this, why can’t you?’”
Thanks to her bumper £350,000 salary, Naga admitted she was aware she was fortunate enough to be able to go private to seek a diagnosis, revealing it was the “only time I felt I could sit there and take time and force an issue, force understanding, force explanations from my gynaecologist and not feel bad that I was taking up more than 10 minutes of my GP’s time because there was a queue of people in the waiting room”.
AMBULANCE DASH
Last year, the star revealed she was caught up in a 999 drama after being forced to seek urgent care following a flare-up in her condition.
Speaking at the time of the ambulance dash, Naga said: “The pain was so terrible I couldn’t move, turn over, sit up. I screamed non-stop for 45 minutes.”
Naga further added of the pain she experienced: “[The pain is] in my uterus. Around my pelvis. Sometimes it runs down my thighs.
“And I’ll have some level of pain for the entire show and for the rest of the day until I go to sleep.”
BRAVE NEW MISSION
In a bid to encourage women to keep on “taking their health seriously”, Naga has announced a brand new project to keep a spotlight on her condition.
The presenter has turned author for a brand new book focused all upon women’s healthcare.
Her forthcoming read, titled It’s Probably Nothing, will focus on systemic struggles and take a look at how women fare within the healthcare system when it comes to female health issues.
Teasing the book, Naga posted online: “Why can the healthcare system feel rigged against women? And how can women be empowered to fight for an answer beyond just being told they’re ‘unlucky?'”
She further added: “Using extensive interviews and medical evidence, as well as my own experience getting diagnosed with adenomyosis, I have aimed to put together a handbook for women at every stage of their lives that will help them get the care they deserve.”
Adenomyosis
What is Adenomyosis?
Adenomyosis is a condition of the uterus (womb), where the tissue that grows on the lining of the uterus (also known as the endometrium) is also present on the inside muscular wall of the uterus.
Adenomyosis can cause symptoms such as heavy bleeding during your period, bleeding when you are not due for your period, period pain (dysmenorrhea), pain during or after sex (dyspareunia) and infertility.
Although the condition is not life-threatening, it can have serious symptoms.
Some women undergo a hysterectomy to lessen the symptoms.
Adenomyosis can have a number of causes though none have been definitively identified.
There is an association between the presence of adenomyosis and the number of times a women has given birth: the more pregnancies, the more likely you are to have adenomyosis.
MISSING ON AIR
Naga’s latest news comes after the star disappeared without warning from BBC Breakfast over the weekend.
The star usually hosts alongside Charlie Stayt every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
However, despite hosting during the week, she failed to appear on the big red sofa on Saturday morning as expected.
Instead, Charlie was joined by regular stand-in co-host Nina Warhurst to bring Britain up to speed with the day’s headlines.