Nick Knowles' wife issues heartbreaking update after hysterectomy

Nick Knowles' wife Katie has opened up about the brutal reality of her recovery after undergoing a hysterectomy, admitting: "My body feels completely foreign." The 35-year-old lingerie business owner, who married the DIY SOS presenter, 62, earlier this year, revealed the candid update on Instagram as she continues to recover from the major surgery in July. Katie told fans she had endured "years of pain" before the procedure and weeks later still "feels like absolute s***" after gaining a stone in six weeks.

A hysterectomy removes a woman's womb and sometimes the ovaries, and Katie explained she wanted to share the truth about the operation and its gruelling aftermath. She admitted: "I keep getting messages saying, 'Wow, you're out already, you look amazing, you've bounced back so fast.' But honestly? It's absolute Instagram propaganda. "The truth is, I don't recognise myself at all the moment. My body feels completely foreign.

"I've gained a stone in six weeks, I'm constantly bloated, my boobs are bigger and sore, my face looks puffy, my skin and hair are dry. Every time I see my reflection, it feels like a stranger staring back, and I hate it."

Katie revealed her consultant has banned her from exercising for another month, leaving her unable to ease her symptoms.

She said: "That's four more weeks of being stuck in this body I don't feel comfortable in, with no outlet, no way to feel like me again. It's like I'm trapped, waiting for permission to move forward.

"The symptoms are relentless: the brain fog, forgetting names mid-sentence, going to the wrong cinema, snapping at people I love because I'm just so up and down.

"The CONSTANT hot flushes, the 2, 3 & 4 a.m. wake-ups, waking up drenched in sweat, terrible back pain, exhaustion that sits in my bones. And mentally... I'm low, anxious, & angry."

Despite dressing up for TV appearances and events with Nick, Katie insisted it was "smoke and mirrors."

She said: "Yes, I can throw on a dress and lipstick and smile for a picture, but it's smoke and mirrors. Behind it, I feel like absolute s***.

"I'm sharing this because I don't want anyone scrolling through their feed thinking they're failing because they're not 'bouncing back' like I seem to be. I'm not. I'm bleeding, sore, puffy, heavier, grumpy, anxious and lost in a body I don't know or like.

"If you're struggling too, whether it's with recovery, hormones, or just getting through the day, you're not alone. Instagram will show you the highlight reel. But for real? It's mostly fake news."

Fans flooded her post with support, with one writing: "I totally feel you.... Your words resonated. Take time to heal, physically, emotionally and mentally." Another added: "It's a big op to recover from mentally and physically... You're doing amazing."

Katie previously revealed how pain before her hysterectomy left her "vomiting, curled up in bed and missing out on life," and says she now wants to be open about the long road to recovery.