'I feel awful constantly': E! News reporter Keltie Knight reveals she will undergo hysterectomy to combat debilitating blood disorder

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: E! News star Keltie Knight opened up about her ongoing battle with a chronic blood disorder, microcytic anemia, and announced that she has decided to undergo a hysterectomy to combat the debilitating effects of her illness. 

The 42-year-old's candidness sheds light on the challenges faced by those silently battling chronic health conditions.

Keltie Knight shares brave decision to undergo hysterectomy amid chronic illness struggles

Keltie, known for her vivacious presence on-screen, shared her story both through an Instagram video and a heartfelt essay on the E! News website.

In the Instagram video, she said, "I’ve been suffering in silence for so long behind the scenes. Basically, it doesn’t matter what you do to me, nothing — nutrition, infusions, hormones, anything — my blood cells are just smaller and there’s less of them, and so, I’m feeling awful constantly," as per PEOPLE Magazine. 

As per the Cleveland Clinic, microcytic anemia is a disorder where a person has smaller than usual red blood cells due to a lack of hemoglobin, a protein that helps red blood cells carry oxygen throughout one's body.

Typical symptoms include fatigue and weakness, dizziness, a paler look, and shortness of breath, among other things. 

The reporter further narrated, "I have fatigue like I couldn’t even describe to you. I’m sleeping like 16 hours a day. If I’m not in — on E! News, in a fancy dress, I am in bed." 

In her essay, Keltie delved into the emotional toll of living with chronic illness, expressing her desire to shed light on the often-overlooked struggles faced by individuals silently grappling with health challenges.

"I started joking about not wanting to leave my house or not liking people. But the truth is I love my people. I can't wait to be out on a dance floor with my friends or at a concert with my husband Chris Knight like we used to," wrote the TV personality, referencing her husband, the RocNation music executive.

Her decision to remove her uterus was one she wanted to share with others in the hopes that other women experiencing chronic illness would feel empowered to speak up instead of keeping silent about their ailments.

Keltie declared, "I'm being honest with you because my hope is that as women, we stop feeling like we need to pretend everything is OK when it's not. Throughout my career, I felt like I was such a fluke, that all my dreams were coming true not because I deserved them, but because I had tricked everyone into hiring me."

She continued, "I felt replaceable, so I never really advocated for myself because I knew if I was out sick, they would find someone younger, sparklier, and healthier. Living with a chronic disease silently takes over your entire life. There is guilt of not being a good wife or a good friend and the shame of never getting better leads to deep depression."

"It's hard to keep fighting for yourself," stated Keltie, before thanking her doctors for advocating for her, and adding, "Until now."

E! News promotes Keltie Knight to co-host

Keltie was recently elevated to the role of co-host, alongside Justin Sylvester, as per Deadline. She started in her new role on March 4. 

Having previously served as E! News' chief correspondent, Keltie has been a familiar face covering Hollywood events and red carpets for the nightly entertainment news show.

Expressing her gratitude for the opportunity, she remarked, "After over a decade of covering the entertainment beat and interviewing actors, musicians, and artists I admire, I’m deeply honored to take on this new role and host the show alongside my dear friend and best in the business talent, Justin Sylvester."