From Illness to Opportunity: A Baker's Journey
Briony May Williams, known for her appearance on the Great British Bake Off in 2018 and subsequent presenting roles on shows like BBC One's Escape To The Country, has revealed that a significant health challenge inadvertently set her on the path to stardom. In 2013, while working as a teacher in Bristol, Williams was signed off sick due to overwhelming symptoms, prompting her to take up baking as a stress-relief activity.
"I had lots of symptoms, I was absolutely exhausted and could barely walk up stairs, my body odour changed and funny things like that," Williams recounted. After seven months, she received a diagnosis of polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).
PMOS, a hormonal and metabolic disorder previously known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), became an unexpected catalyst for Williams' future success. "If I hadn't got that in 2013, I wouldn't have started baking," she stated. "If I hadn't started baking and carried on baking, I wouldn't have gone on Bake Off five years later and my life wouldn't be what it is now."
A Career Flourishes
Since her debut on the Great British Bake Off, Williams has established a successful career as a television presenter, appearing on BBC One's Morning Live and Escape To The Country, as well as Channel 4's Food Unwrapped.
Following her diagnosis in 2013, Williams began a treatment regimen and was able to return to work within two months. She now manages her PMOS symptoms through a combination of medication and diet. Her personal experience has inspired her to advocate for increased public awareness of PMOS and improved diagnosis rates.
Understanding PMOS
According to the NHS, PMOS affects how women's ovaries function. The condition is primarily characterized by three features, any two of which can lead to a diagnosis:
- Irregular periods
- High levels of androgen hormones, which can cause excessive facial or body hair
- Enlarged ovaries containing fluid-filled sacs around the eggs
Other potential symptoms include weight gain, fertility difficulties, oily skin, and thinning hair. While there is no cure for PMOS, its symptoms are treatable, and most women with the condition can conceive with medical assistance.
The name change from PCOS to PMOS, enacted on May 12, aimed to address concerns that the original term placed undue emphasis on "cysts" and ovaries, despite the syndrome's broader range of symptoms. The fluid-filled sacs often associated with PMOS are not, in fact, true cysts. The International PCOS Network expressed hopes that the new name would enhance understanding and facilitate better treatment and diagnoses.
Williams expressed mixed emotions about the name change, reflecting on her own diagnostic journey. "I got quite emotional when I found out [about the name change] because I thought if it had this name back in 2013, would I have got a diagnosis quicker?" she pondered. However, she also acknowledged the serendipitous nature of her delayed diagnosis, which ultimately led to her television career. "If [the delay] hadn't have happened, then so many other wonderful things wouldn't have happened," she concluded.