Haley Kalil has plenty to celebrate this year.
this Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ModelPeople who have been in physical pain for years are finally living a pain-free life after addressing growing health problems that seem to have no answers.
More than 14 doctors, five years later, Kalil Diagnosed with endometriosis, urethritis and ovarian cysts, which left her in agony behind closed doors and burst into tears. The 29-year-old said she tried to make a diagnosis after she didn’t feel right, but was often dismissed by doctors. Today, she opens up about her experience, hoping it will inspire other women to take charge of their health and seek another opinion while they’re still in the dark.
The Minnesota native and founder of The Nerd Herd debuted SI Swimwear in 2018 as part of the magazine’s open casting.she Named co-winner with Camille Kostek.
Kalil spoke to Fox News Digital about her health struggles, how she’s doing today, and how SI made her feel empowered.
Fox News: Tell us about a health problem you are facing.
Hayley Carlier: Oh my gosh, this is a journey. If you’re a woman who’s been through it, then you know what the journey is like. It hasn’t been diagnosed for so long. In addition to what medical experts call urethritis, I also have endometriosis. I also have ovarian cysts.I recently had surgery to help with Endometriosis, and my scar tissue from urethritis.
Fox News: How long have you been having problems?
Carlier: Oh man, for as long as I can remember.already college to youth. I had the worst time ever. Intense cramping, profuse bleeding. I am in great pain. But you go to the doctor and you’re told, “It’s just your period. It’s just cramping. It’s normal.” But I don’t think it’s normal.
I was a virgin when I got married. I talk about this very openly. After getting married, I started experiencing other symptoms including painful intercourse and more bleeding. This can’t be normal. But every doctor told me yes. Some even said it was because I waited until I got married. This is another excuse for another excuse. I don’t have an answer.
But finally, I came across a emergency doctor. I trust her very much. She sat me down, looked me in the eyes and said, “Whatever you’re going through is not normal. You need to ask about endometriosis and urethritis because I think that’s what you’re going through.” She was first Doctor who takes my pain seriously.
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A woman who takes my pain seriously. I don’t hate male doctors, but at that point I was frustrated. I have seen so many male doctors and I feel like my pain is being ignored. I know, they are hard to understand. They don’t have a uterus. It’s hard to identify with this pain when you haven’t experienced it before. But I wish it was taken more seriously. This ER doctor referred me to a friend of hers. That’s when I finally got a diagnosis. I am relieved. I have the answer.
Fox News: When did you first realize that the pain you were going through was not normal?
Carlier: I used to cry a lot. Eventually, I got used to the pain and it was hard even to admit it. I was so used to tears and excruciating pain that I had to go to the ER because I couldn’t take it anymore. This doesn’t feel right to me. I feel that the doctor underestimated my experience.
Fox News: Did you know what endometriosis is before it was diagnosed?
Carlier: not at all. I don’t know what that is. I just think it’s another term for painful times. But the reality is a lot of women have it, but they don’t know it. They learn to accept their pain and consider it normal.
Fox News: When did you have the surgery?
Carlier: i have multiple Operation. I like to joke that I’m trash from the waist down *laughs*. But I’m kidding because it can help you deal with pain and realize you need surgery. [My last surgery] is on January 25th. To be honest, my biggest fear is scarring. I’m in an industry where any mark on you can be a mark on who and what you are. You also live in a world where women want to wear bikinis but don’t want to be afraid, because scars are ugly in society’s eyes.
I remember sitting on the couch with my girlfriend, a pediatrician who was very familiar with endometriosis. I came, “Should I have this surgery? I’m afraid of these scars.” She just looked at me and said, “You don’t even realize what you’re talking about right now. You choose vanity over the fact that you can finally get rid of the pain. It’s so sad.” At that moment, I said to myself, “What am I doing? I can’t believe I would choose to have a scar-free body rather than end up living a pain-free life.” One of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Fox News: How are you feeling today?
Carlier: A million times better – or even better…I can’t even tell you how happy I am. They could scar my whole body, and I’ll take it. I do not care. I’m so happy to finally be living a pain-free life.
It’s funny that the people I work with on set are not picky at all. They were more like, “I’m sorry you had to go through that.” They just looked at my scar and said, “It’s nothing.” I had laparoscopic surgery, so the incision was small. I have one on my belly button and two near my belly. It’s that simple.
Fox News: Many women with endometriosis tend to suffer in silence and try to adjust to the pain just like you do.
Carlier: That’s what I do in life. You never want to be that girl sitting around complaining about her period. It’s still a shame that everyone rolls their eyes and says, “Come on, we’ve all been through it.” For Sports Illustrated, I was very open to them from the beginning. [Editor-in-chief] One day, MJ Day looked at me and said, “We all have scars. You are a person. It’s part of your journey. It’s part of who you are.”
I feel comfortable with SI like I can tell them anything. I don’t have to smile with them in the face of pain. If I’m hurt, I can speak up. There are other times when I don’t feel comfortable opening it in different scenes. Instead, you have to act like a happy girl on set even if your heart just wants to go to the bathroom and cry. There are many times, as a model, that I have to smile in pain. But I’ve never done that with SI. They gave me a safe space to speak my mind…that’s what I’m doing now and I’m proud.
