HOSPITAL DASH
Strictly star rushed to hospital after being in so much pain she ‘had to call ambulance’
THE contestant revealed the condition has left her in crippling pain.
STRICTLY Come Dancing star Montell Douglas revealed she suffers from a chronic health condition and had to call an ambulance because she was in "so much pain".
The Gladiators star had such bad cramps she landed in hospital.
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She said: "That hospitalisation for me was a kind of wake-up call.
"My body just started convulsing, and I was almost passing out, because the pain was so intense.
"I was overheating because of the hormones - my body couldn’t control its temperature, and that in turn made me dehydrated. The pain was in waves, coming in like contractions."
Montell was prescribed strong painkillers to help manage the symptoms.
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They need to be taken before the excruciating period pains, known as dysmenorrhoea, kick in, which can be difficult to predict.
She said: "I'm going to be really honest about it as I think it's something we really need to talk about more the agonising pain… not many people and not all women will experience the same thing.
"It's so disruptive and it's very emotionally draining, not to mention physically draining."
Montell joined the BBC reboot of Gladiators earlier this year as she took on the alter ego of Fire to show off her power and strength.
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She shared her excitement about her Strictly signing, telling fans: "Strictly ARE YOU READY, Fire is here to light up the Ballroom.
"Wow I am so honoured to have been asked to do the show. It is such an amazing thing to be a part of and I can’t wait to get started.
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"Hopefully a few of my Gladiator moves will come in handy with the Tango or Paso Doble!”
The 37-year-old previously competed in the Olympic Games, making sporting history to become the first female UK athlete to compete at both the summer and winter Olympics.
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JB Gill and Amy Dowden MBE
Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe
Nick Knowles and Luba Mushtuk
Paul Merson and Karen Hauer
Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystał
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Tom Dean MBE and Nadiya Bychkova
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Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola
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She is a former Team GB sprinter and Olympic bobsledder, and held the British woman's record for the fastest 100m sprint at 11.05 seconds, smashing the previous record which was unbeaten for 27 years.
In 2010, Montell won Commonwealth Gold in the 4 x 100m relay in Delhi as well as holding a European Under-23 Silver Medal in 100m.
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