‘White Doctors Thought I Was Crazy’ -Nigerian Entrepreneur, Tania Omotayo Shares Her Agonizing Experience Battling Endometriosis
Nigerian Entrepreneur and socialite, Tania Omotayo has revealed that she suffered from endometriosis and had an agonizing experience.
Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus -the endometrium- grows outside the uterus.
The sickness most commonly involves ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis. Rarely, endometrial-like tissue may be found beyond the area where pelvic organs are located.
Sharing her experience with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, Tania, who is now a mother noted that her battle with Endometriosis made her have heavy periods as she would bleed for 3 to 4 weeks monthly.
The super mom-of-one who is the creative director and founder of Ziva Lagos and Ziva Kids, further revealed how she was left looking crazy because of the pains that come with the disorder.
According to her, white doctors who were treating her thought she was crazy when she would roll on the floor, screaming because of the pain.
She recalled how one of the doctors told her father that she was only looking for attention because there was nothing wrong with her medically.
In her words:
“Have you watched Africa Magic movies when somebody dies and they’re rolling on the floor? That was me in the hospital. Yeah, with white doctors looking at me like I was crazy.
I was screaming, I was rolling, because I knew deep down, in the last 3 years, maybe 10yeara before that. When I tell you I’ve been to every doctor, every hospital worldwide, in every continent.
My dad and I went to Austria. They told him it was in my head and I was looking for attention that there was absolutely nothing wrong with me.
I was in pain. I had really heavy periods. I would bleed for like 3weeks to 4weeks. I was in so much pain, I had to go to the hospital to get an injection for pain or sleep.
I was constantly admitted in the hospital and the doctor actually told my dad to my face, in front of me, not like he said it behind my back, “She’s just a young girl looking for attention, there’s nothing medically wrong with her”.
In London, they checked; there was no type of test that I did not do at that stage.
I’ve had two surgeries. The doctor was like “no you are still healthy and if by 30 you haven’t had kids then we are going to freeze your eggs.
Luckily I was healthy enough to have a child naturally which was such a huge blessing. I remember telling God that even if I’m gonna have to use a surrogate just give me one.”
SEE ALSO: Why Women With Endometriosis Should Freeze Their Eggs Early | Gynaecologist, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi
Tania added that respite came to her when she came across the Instagram account of a supermodel, Millen Magese who had the same ailment.
She further stated that when a specialist ran some tests on her, they were surprised that she lasted that long. She continues:
“Finally, there is a supermodel called Millen. She has Endometriosis and she is from Tanzania. I remember reading her story on Instagram and I so happened to be in South Africa for a photoshoot and I showed my co-workers that I had the same ailment. But my Nigerian sisters said, ‘God forbid, you will not have it in Jesus’ name’.
I called my dad and told him what I had read and said I feel have it so I need to go to the doctor. I googled and found the best Endometriosis doctor in South Africa and I went to see him. As soon as I walked into his reception, I saw the model there and I started to cry because I felt this was a sign from God.
I had never met her before but I felt it was a sign. When the doctor checked me, he said he was surprised I had lasted this long and advised I go to surgery the next day.”
Tania had opened up about how she battled endometriosis before she got pregnant with her daughter. According to her, her pregnancy was a scary one and she had so much anxiety because she did not know what to expect.
Speaking further, the businesswoman said the reason why she did not publicize her pregnancy was that she did not know whether the baby would survive or not and she would not be able to handle the pain publicly if she didn’t.
During the interview with Chude, the fashion designer also addressed her 2016 split from award-winning singer, Wizkid. Tania and Wizkid parted ways in 2016 amid reports that he was expecting his second child with Binta Diallo.
Replying to a question on whether she was happy in the relationship dating back six years ago, Omotayo affirmed.
“I consider myself to live in my own world. I live in a bubble. I don’t like doing things on the outside.
“So imagine being 21 and being thrown into the media at a time when it wasn’t normal for young people to be in a relationship and be so public. I knew that, at that time, we were the only ones.
“That was before Iceprince came out with his girlfriend years later. So it was new at the time. It was so bad that they insulted my destiny. At some point, they started insulting my legs, saying I had really skinny chicken legs.
“We were young and he was becoming a global superstar. There’s no way we wouldn’t have had issues.
“It’s impossible. It comes with that celebrity life. I couldn’t have predicted that. At some point, we decided that we had different things that we wanted to do.
“But was I happy? Yes. That was like my best friend. And it was fine.”
Still speaking on her relationship with Wizkid, Tania stated that she is not offended when people refer to her as ‘Wizkid’s ex’ because they, indeed, had a relationship. She said:
“Did I not date Wizkid? It is not insulting to call me Wizkid’s ex-girlfriend. I dated the person. I don’t find it offensive.”
Tania tied the knot with her sweetheart, Sunmbo in October 2018 and they have a child together.
