It ‘wreaked havoc on my life’: Olivia Culpo on her struggles with endometriosis and diagnosis

Olivia Culpo spoke about her struggles with endometriosis on Sunday in a new promotional clip for her TLC series The Culpo Sisters.

‘Endometriosis wreaked havoc on my life,’ the actress/model, 30, told her 5.2 million Instagram followers in a clip ahead of Monday’s broadcast, adding that it took her ‘years and years and years to finally get a diagnosis.’

The Rhode Island native said she remembered ‘not being able to function’ and suffered the ‘type of pain that kept [her] in bed all day,’ but was not able to get an immediate diagnosis.

‘I went to doctor after doctor after doctor, I was told by every single doctor I went to – dozens – that my periods were normal that pain is normal that discomfort is normal that I just need to take medicine,’ Culpo said, noting that she ‘was prescribed all sorts of things and the pain was not getting any better.’

The one-time Miss Universe said she ‘was almost made to feel like [she] was making up [her] symptoms and overreacting,’ which was ‘very painful physically and also emotionally, because [her] pain was never validated.’

Culpo, who has been dating Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, 26, for three years, added: ‘I knew something was wrong with my body.’

In a caption on the Instagram post, Culpo expounded on her frustration prior to being diagnosed with endometriosis.

Candid: The actress/model, 30, opened up about the topic to her 5.2 million Instagram followers in a clip ahead of Monday’s broadcast

Details: Culpo said that it took her ‘years and years and years to finally get a diagnosis’

Struggle: Culpo said she ‘was prescribed all sorts of things and the pain was not getting any better’

‘In today’s society, women are not empowered to be the expert of our own body,’ she said. ‘Being made to feel like my chronic pain was an overreaction was disheartening and confusing. Who was I to disagree with not one, not two, but many highly educated and well-intending doctors?’

She credited information she received on ‘Reddit forums, YouTube videos, and Instagram accounts’ that ‘validated’ her instincts that she had been misdiagnosed.

‘After dozens of wrong turns, I finally landed on the truth, which was that I had severe endometriosis and needed surgery if there was any hope to salvage my reproductive organs,’ Culpo said. ‘If it wasn’t for those who shared their stories on random blog posts, I never would have found the courage to keep advocating for myself.’

She said that it was ‘a gift to be able to pay it forward by sharing’ her story, and hoped to empower others in their health journeys.

Recall: Culpo said, ‘I went to doctor after doctor after doctor, I was told by every single doctor I went to – dozens – that my periods were normal that pain is normal that discomfort is normal that I just need to take medicine’

Research: She credited information she received on ‘Reddit forums, YouTube videos, and Instagram accounts’ that ‘validated’ her instincts that she had been misdiagnosed

Moving forward: She said that it was ‘a gift to be able to pay it forward by sharing’ her story, and hoped to empower others in their health journeys 

‘I hope that if nothing else this is a reminder to trust yourself above all and fight for yourself even if it feels like you’re a one woman army!’ she said. ‘I love hearing your stories over DM so much- so grateful for our little endo community on here.’

On her TLC show last week, Culpo said she feels under pressure to have kids ‘ASAP.’

Culpo said her battle with endometriosis – which can cause fertility issues – led her to worrying ‘about [her] timeline.

 ‘Endometriosis can affect your fertility in a lot of different ways,’ she said. ‘There is so much that I don’t know about what’s going to happen in the future with that condition and I worry all the time about my timeline. I feel like I have to have kids ASAP.’

Hard call: Olivia Culpo feels under pressure to have kids ‘ASAP.’ The 30-year-old model has been diagnosed with endometriosis – which can cause fertility issues – and Olivia admits to worrying ‘about [her] timeline.’ The beauty – who is dating NFL star Christian McCaffrey – said on The Culpo Sisters: ‘Endometriosis can affect your fertility in a lot of different ways

Olivia and Christian are ‘on the same page about having kids.’

However, the model recognizes that he’s currently focused on his career. She said: ‘He is completely and totally focused on football and he should be.

‘He’s 25. He’s not ready to have kids. When you add all of these fertility concerns, it’s definitely very, very stressful.’

Meanwhile, Olivia previously admitted that she was left with ‘no sense of identity’ after her split from Nick Jonas.

The model – who dated Nick from 2013 until 2015 – said: ‘I moved to LA with him. I had no brand, no money and I was in love. That was great right, but when he broke up with me, I was kind of left with no sense of identity.

Her support system: Olivia and Christian are ‘on the same page about having kids.’ However, the model recognizes that he’s currently focused on his career. She said: ‘He is completely and totally focused on football and he should be’

On the field: ‘He’s 25. He’s not ready to have kids. When you add all of these fertility concerns, it’s definitely very, very stressful,’ she said. Here he is seen in October in Santa Clara

‘My whole identity was in him, which is a very common story of a young person in love. I thought we were going to get married, I thought all the things, and I just remember night after night looking up at my ceiling in my apartment that I couldn’t afford thinking to myself how am I going to pay my rent.’

This comes after Culpo was seen in the backyard of her Los Angeles home this weekend.

The TV star showed off her very toned and tanned figure as she posed in a pink strappy bikini that consisted of a triangle-shaped top and V shaped briefs from Revolve.

The 5ft7in brunette I Feel Pretty actress wrote in her caption, ‘Watermelon sugar….’ 

Flaunting her stunning physique, Culpo wore a bikini by the company Revolve. 

Her glam was perfect as Culpo wore her brunette hair to the side with soft waves as she added pink and mauve colored makeup.

McCaffrey excelled in college football before being drafted for the NFL in 2017. 

Earlier this month Culpo said she only works out to look good in her bikinis.

The model has to stay in shape for her career but admitted she hates working out with McCaffrey, because his training is way more intense than hers.

She told PEOPLE at the Create Cultivate LA Conference: ‘Honestly, I hate working out with him. Because he is a professional athlete. He works out for a profession.

‘It’s just impossible. Like the amount of weight that he’s lifting, there’s no point in even trying to do anything within the realm of what he is doing.

‘I work out just so I can get by in my bikinis. For him, it’s just a different level and he always wants to make sure that my form is perfect and things like that. It can be annoying, [and] we’ll work out [together] to some degree.

Two piece weather: Culpo enjoyed a day of modeling this weekend. The influencer showed off her very toned and tanned figure as she modeled a strappy bikini

Glow for it: The former beauty contestant seemed to be covered in pink makeup as she shimmered in the sunlight

Cheers to her look: The 5ft7in brunette I Feel Pretty actress was in the backyard of her Los Angeles home

She even had on an anklet: The star, who was draped in gold jewelry, also had on an anklet that hugged her toe

‘But he’s just so particular about the workouts.’

And Olivia hates when Christian, 26, tries to correct her form.

She said: ‘I’m just like, “Let me do my thing. This is what I’m going to do. I’m going to do me. You do you.” But it’s fun! I’m more like, watching him.’

New on TV: She has been busy with her sisters Sophia and Aurora on their new reality TV show. Seen in Madison Square Park on November 8 in New York City