Kerry Katona has been diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

She revealed in her column for new! magazine: "I was in hospital over the weekend, which wasn't ideal. I've been having stomach problems and I initially thought the pain might have been something to do with the cyst in my ovary that I discovered last year.

"But it turned out it was IBS. My stomach swelled up and was hurting badly. It's been happening a lot - and I get these horrible, eggy burps. My stomach looks so big, I could pass for regnant.

"It's so painful at times - I feel like I want my belly to rip open. I've been so busy I put off going to the doctor - but the pain became unbearable, so I had to go to hospital.

"Thankfully, everything is fine. But staying in A E on a Friday night was an experience. It was scary, sad and traumatic.

"NHS nurses and doctors need a pay rise. The things they have to deal with is unbelievable and people take it for granted."

The 41-year-old star is planning to study her reactions to different foods in a bid to ease her symptoms.

She added: "I've now ordered some tests to find out what food reacts badly in my stomach and what I can't eat."

Kerry - who is engaged to Ryan Mahoney and has six kids from previous relationships - first revealed on Instagram she had been taken to hospital.

Without going into detail, she said in an Instagram Live video: "I was in hospital at the weekend, I'm absolutely fine. It was my stomach - but it's all good, nothing to worry about."