- US-based Kenyan content creator Achieng Agutu opened up about a frightening health scare that left her hospitalised for two weeks
- Agutu experienced severe pain in her lower right abdomen and back, prompting doctors to carry out a full gynaecological evaluation
- A gynaecologist found four small uterine fibroids, though medics said the growths were not the cause of her symptoms
US-based Kenyan content creator and model Achieng Agutu, widely known to her online following as the "Confidence Queen," has revealed that she spent two weeks going in and out of hospital after falling seriously ill, a period she described as "scary, emotionally draining, and frustrating."
Source: Facebook
Agutu disclosed the ordeal to her followers after seeking answers about severe pain she had been experiencing in her lower right abdomen and back.
The prolonged discomfort prompted her medical team to carry out a thorough evaluation.
What was Agutu's diagnosis?
During the process, a gynaecologist discovered that Agutu had four small, benign uterine fibroids.
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Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that form in or around the muscular wall of the uterus and are among the most common reproductive health conditions affecting women.
Common symptoms include heavy or prolonged menstrual periods, pelvic and lower back pain, abdominal bloating, frequent urination and, in some cases, fertility complications.
Treatment ranges from monitoring and medication to minimally invasive procedures or surgery, depending on the size, location and severity of symptoms.
Despite the discovery, Agutu's doctors concluded that the fibroids were not the underlying cause of her symptoms.
She shared that she was still undergoing further tests to identify what was actually behind her severe pain, adding to the frustration of an already difficult experience.
She reflected that the ordeal reminded her "how precious life and good health are."
What did Agutu learn from her diagnosis?
Beyond sharing her personal experience, Agutu used the moment to encourage women, particularly Black women, to prioritise routine medical screenings and advocate for themselves when seeking healthcare.
Black women are disproportionately affected by uterine fibroids, with research suggesting they are up to three times more likely to develop them than women in some other racial groups, making self-advocacy in medical settings all the more critical.
Agutu has long championed a philosophy of putting herself first. In a previous interview with Verywell Mind, she spoke candidly about personal priorities, saying:
"You know, you have one life. You live every day; you'll die once."
She has also spoken openly about building confidence in the face of public scrutiny, famously telling her audience:
"Do the opinions pay your bills? I don't think they do, so you better wear that outfit boo."
Her approach to online negativity is equally no-nonsense. When asked how she handles social media trolls, her response was characteristically brief:
"Block and prosper."
Watch the video below:
Was Millie Odhiambo diagnosed with fibroids?
TUKO.co.ke also highlighted facts about Millie Odhiambo’s decades-long struggle with severe period pain and her eventual fibroids diagnosis.
Despite repeated hospital admissions in Kenya, the cause went undetected for more than 20 years.
Odhiambo was diagnosed only after becoming seriously ill while studying in New York.
Source: TUKO.co.ke