The country music icon has battled a number of health struggles throughout her career, and the moment she collapsed on stage after ignoring doctor’s orders was a wake-up call
Country music legend Dolly Parton has set the record straight on her health ‘challenges’ after her sister asked fans to pray for her welfare.
The star’s younger sibling Freida sent fans into a frenzy after writing on social media that she was “up all night praying” for Dolly, who recently cancelled her winter Ceasars’ Palace gigs.
Freida’s Facebook posted said: “Last night, I was up all night praying for my sister, Dolly. Many of you know she hasn’t been feeling her best lately. I truly believe in the power of prayer, and I have been lead to ask all of the world that loves her to be prayer warriors and pray with me.
“She’s strong, she’s loved, and with all the prayers being lifted for her, I know in my heart she’s going to be just fine. Godspeed, my sissy Dolly. We all love you!”
READ MORE: Dolly Parton’s furious response after sister asks for prayers
And now Dolly has issued a fiery statement of her own after her sister’s cryptic social media post, clarifying that she’s not in medical dire straits.
Explaining why she is taking some time off work, the 79-year-old confirmed that she has been battling severe kidney stones and needs time to recover.
Her English manager Olly Rowland confirmed that the worries were overblown, adding: “It’s just the kidney stones, and the procedure she needs to resolve those. It looks like her sister posted, and it got quite a bit blown out of proportion, weirdly.”
While fans are flooded with relief that Dolly’s diagnosis isn’t anything more serious, it’s not the first time she’s faced medical setbacks. The star has battled a number of health issues, with one agonising issue changing her life forever.
In 2017, the country star candidly discussed her health struggles in her autobiography ‘Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton’.
She was just 35-years-old when illness first struck, as she admitted: “I was getting away with murder. I wasn’t watching what I ate, I wasn’t conscious of nutrition, wasn’t taking care of myself.”
“I was working hard, and underneath I was a pile of personal and emotional problems. All at once I fell apart. It was stomach problems and female problems – all over health problems actually.”
These complications surfaced following Dolly’s massive triumph with her chart-topper ‘9 to 5’ and her silver screen debut in ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ during the 1980s.
In 1984, Dolly’s health took a turn for the worse when she collapsed on stage in Indianapolis, having ignored medical advice not to perform.
She was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere, such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries, according to the NHS. At just 36, she was forced to have a partial hysterectomy, heartbreakingly ending her chances of carrying children.
This procedure involves the removal of the uterus while leaving the cervix intact, as explained by John Hopkins Medicine.
This plunged Dolly into a deep depression, during which she suffered with binge eating, excessive drinking, and even contemplated suicide.
In her book, she wrote: “Suddenly I was a middle-aged woman. I went through a dark time, until I made myself snap out of it.” The heartbreaking events led to Dolly rapidly gaining 50Ibs, confessing that she could eat three pizzas but still crave McDonalds and chips.
This resulted in an unhealthy eating cycle, as she revealed: “On top of being medicated, Dietin’ Dolly would go on liquid protein, Scarsdale, Atkins, the water diet, then I’d binge, diet, gain, start all over again. Eventually my system wouldn’t work anymore. My body couldn’t hold up under that strain. Overeating is as much a sickness as drugs or alcohol.”
What is endometriosis?
Around one in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK – between puberty and menopause – suffer from endometriosis, highlights Endometriosis UK.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) explains that the condition occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, leading to inflammation and scar tissue forming in the pelvic region.
It is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK, but it takes on average eight years for symptoms to be diagnosed. Unfortunately, the cause of endometriosis is unknown and there is no way to prevent it.
However, WHO explains that symptoms can be treated with medicines, and in some cases, surgery.
Symptoms
Symptoms of endometriosis can differ from person-to-person, however the most common warning sign is dysmenorrhoea (painful periods). The NHS has highlighted other red flags to watch out for, these include:
- Pain in your lower tummy or back (pelvic pain) – usually worse during your period
- Period pain that stops you doing your normal activities
- Pain during or after sex
- Pain when peeing or pooing during your period
- Feeling sick, constipation, diarrhoea, or blood in your pee or poo during your period
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Heavy periods – You might use lots of pads or tampons, or you may bleed through to your clothes
Treatment
You should write down your symptoms and visit a GP, especially if they’re having a big impact on your life. It’s important to note that these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have endometriosis, as they are often mistaken for other health conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). The health body has also shared the treatment options available, these include:
- Painkillers – such as ibuprofen and paracetamol
- Hormone medicines and contraceptives – including the combined pill, the contraceptive patch, an intrauterine system (IUS), and medicines called gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues
- Surgery to cut away patches of endometriosis tissue
- An operation to remove part or all of the organs affected by endometriosis – such as surgery to remove the womb (hysterectomy)
In most cases, people who have a hysterectomy can be in hospital for up to five days after surgery, with full recovery taking about six to eight weeks.
For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
