Bethenny Frankel Opens Up About Fibroids Issue, Surgery

The "Real Housewives" star underwent surgery last month.

ByABC News
June 22, 2016, 8:42 AM

— -- Bethenny Frankel has revealed it was a fibroid issue that forced her to scale back her screen time on this season of “The Real Housewives of New York City” and undergo surgery last month.

“The bleeding was so excessive and I was so weak and I felt like I looked so haggard and had such black circles under my eyes that I had to take care of it ," Frankel, 45, said today on "Good Morning America."

“I just felt zoned out.”

The "Naturally Thin" author and Skinnygirl brand founder said she spent three days in the hospital in May after undergoing a myomectomy, a surgical procedure to remove uterine fibroids, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Frankel, the mother of a 6-year-old daughter, had spoken previously about facing a women's health issue" and in a recent "Real Housewives" episode revealed she was suffering from heavy bleeding.

“It was part of the show and it was affecting the way I was acting during the show,” she said, adding that her doctors removed “gigantic” fibroids.

“When you’re iron deficient and you’ve lost so much of your blood, you just feel depleted.”

Frankel, who previously suffered from endometriosis and cysts and had a miscarriage, said she is using her food background to heal.

“Everyone thinks because I have a brand called Skinnygirl that I’m all focused on health all the time and I’m not. I’m stressed. I’m a mom, just like anyone else,” Frankel said. “But since the surgery I was drinking green juices and eating more vegetarian foods and trying to just eat healing foods.

“I did go to school for food and healing so I’ve tried to really exercise that,” she added. "I think that’s why the recovery’s been more quick than my doctors said."

The reality-TV star has been locked in a multiyear divorce with estranged husband Jason Hoppy. Frankel told ABC News in April she hopes her divorce will be finalized soon.

She said today she feels like she is “coming out on the other side.”

“I feel happier than I’ve felt in such a long time,” Frankel said. “I’m so blessed with my daughter and my career but I’ve had a couple of difficult years in my personal life.”