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Bizarre cause of nurse's rapid weight gain: 'Growing teeth and hair'

A woman who struggled to lose weight has discovered the bizarre cause — a tumour with hair and teeth growing in her ovary.

Jaimi Conwell, 28, a nurse from Texas, US, had been trying to lose weight for years, using a range of diets including eating low calorie and keto foods, as well as exercising.

But despite working out twice a day and eating healthy, she was unable to lose any weight and within the last two years, she started to gain rapidly.

Jaimi knew something wasn't right so she decided to visit her doctor in March 2021 after experiencing some worrying symptoms.

Jaimi Conwell, 28, before and after she discovered the tumour.
Jaimi Conwell, 28, a nurse, had been trying to lose weight for years before she discovered the tumour. Source: Jam Press/Australscope

“I would bend over to tie my shoe and get nauseous, which I thought was normal for bigger people,” she told Jam Press.

She said she got her blood count checked and her white blood cells came back abnormal.

“I was placed under anaesthesia, but was with my mum who I made a proxy so she could make any decisions for me,” she said.

“The doctor came in and told her I had a massive tumour in my abdomen that had engulfed my right ovary.

“He asked if they could remove it and my mum agreed, so I had the tumour along with my right ovary removed.”

'Like having three kids inside of you'

The 28-year-old said when she woke up, she took a walk with her mum and could see she was worried.

“She told me about the tumour and that they were unsure if it was benign,” the nurse said.

“I was in so much shock, that I can’t remember how I was thinking or feeling at the time.

“At one point though, I remember thinking: ‘Am I going to die? Did I even live the life I wanted to?’”

Although she was stunned, Jaimi agreed with the choice to remove her right ovary as multiple tests showed how dangerous the tumour was.

She was diagnosed with a teratoma tumour – a tumour that had been slowly growing her entire life.

Given it weighed 9kg, it is believed that the mass overtook all the nutrients she was giving her body in order to grow.

The 9kg tumour and Jaimi after losing 46kg.
Jaimi learned the 9kg tumour was growing teeth and hair. Source: Jam Press

“I was in shock, as that’s like having three kids inside of you,” Jaimi said.

“[I was told] that it was also growing teeth, which was an absolute shock.

“It also grew hair and I think that was more disgusting for me than anything.

“They said it could be due to a number of things and as my mum, grandfather and aunties are twins, maybe I had a twin in my mum's womb.”

Nurse looses 46kg after surgery

Jaimi said she initially thought having her right ovary removed meant she wouldn't be able to have children.

“All I have ever wanted was to have kids and start a big family,” she said.

“I was so depressed and crying all the time, until I saw my OBGYN [Obstetrics and gynaecology] who assured me that all my hormones and eggs will go to my left ovary.

“I shouldn’t have any issues getting pregnant, but not being able to have kids is still heavy in the back of my mind.”

Armed with the knowledge that the tumour was likely the reason she had failed to lose weight so far, she returned to her diet and exercise regime, eating protein shakes, fish, chicken and salads.

One year on, she has lost about 46kg.

Woman's transformation goes viral on TikTok

Jaimi decided to upload her transformation to TikTok after her sister said she should share her weight loss journey.

The clip has received 1.8 million views and over 437,000 likes.

She starts with a video of herself before losing the weight and then cuts to a clip of what she looks like today.

"You're so pretty," one viewer commented, followed by a love heart emoji.

Another person added: "You were beautiful before and beautiful now."

One person wrote: "Why's my glow up passing me?"

"You low-key look like Kylie Jenner to me," another viewer said.

Someone else commented: "Your transformation is insane."

Jam Press/Australscope

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