Bachelor Nation was relieved when former “The Bachelorette” star Joe Amabile revealed that doctors successfully removed a tumor from his brain in August. Amabile first shared the news that doctors discovered “a blueberry-sized lesion” in his brain in an Instagram post on July 13. Since then, he and his wife, Serena Pitt, have kept family, friends, and fans updated on his journey, including how he’s been feeling in the days and weeks following his surgery.
Since his surgery, Amabile has shared updates ranging from photos of the 23 staples in his head to getting back to running. However, he’s also been open about some of the challenges he’s experiencing during recovery, including minor speech difficulties and the fact that he will have to take “a pill every day for the rest of my life to put the bad cells to sleep” after being “diagnosed with a very low grade astrosytoma.”
Now, four weeks after surgery, Amabile shared the five things he’s struggling with the most.
Joe Amabile Shares 5 Things He’s Been Struggling With Since Brain Tumor Surgery
GettyJoe Amabile continues to update Bachelor Nation on life post-brain tumor surgery. In an Instagram post shared on Saturday, September 5, marking four weeks since his major procedure, Amabile opened up about the things that have affected him the most as he continues to recover.
“I wanted to make this video mainly because, overall, I’m doing wonderful, but has it all been great? No. There are things I struggle with,” he begins. “Number one: Overstimulation. If I’m scrolling too much on social media. If, I have a big TV in this room, if I watch it for too long I do get a little lightheaded. I have to go in my bedroom, turn the lights off.”
Amabile shared that “socializing” is another aspect that he’s been struggling with and is “hesitant to do.”
“I’m starting to get back into it — next week there is going to be a lot of people in New York. I’ve been on the more cautious side,” he shared.
“Three: anxiety,” he says. “Is something I have been dealing with my whole life, but it’s definitely ramped up now,” he continued. “Any time I read anything about the certain tumor that I have I just get — my hands sweat, I get anxious.”
The reality TV star’s fourth down since surgery was “overdoing it,” adding, “I feel 100 percent at times and then I do tend to overdo it. I’m an over-doer. I’m struggling making this video, is what I’m doing.”
Amabile’s last struggle has been sleeping, telling his followers, “I’m someone that has always been able to operate on very little sleep — I can’t do that anymore. At least not right now, so I need — my sleep is really important. And I think that’s it really.”
GettyFans in the comment section praised Amabile for his honesty and vulnerability, while those who have also gone through similar major surgeries shared their own experiences and insights into recovery. Their messages helped remind Amabile that recovery isn’t also a straight line and that there will be both good and bad days.
“Thinking of you. I had brain surgery 9 years ago for a large vestibular schwanoma. There will be good days there will be awful days and it’s ok to welcome them all. One foot in front of the other one day at a time I’m here if you ever want to talk ❤️,” a comment read.
In fact, Derek Hough’s wife, Hayley Erbert, who underwent emergency craniectomy surgery in December 2023, also took to the comment section to share an uplifting message.
“I’m almost 3 years post brain surgery and still can relate to all of this. One day at a time 🤍 So happy you’re mostly feeling great!” She wrote.
Amabile Shares Heartfelt Thank You to Wife Serena Pitt Who Has Been By His Side
Amabile and his wife, Serena Pitt, recently celebrated their third wedding anniversary, with the star sharing a touching and heartfelt message about how supportive Pitt has been throughout his entire health journey.
“To my lovely wife 🤎 Happy anniversary to the most beautiful, caring, perfect, person that I know,” Amabile began his caption to his post, which featured a black-and-white photo of the couple on their wedding day.
“These past few months have been pretty tough to say the least. You have been there with me every single step of the way, taking in all the good and the bad news. You cried alone in our bedroom because you didn’t want to bring me down. You cleaned, you cooked, you podcasted, you went to every doctor’s appointment, you dealt with the doctors and nurses, made sure all my medication was taken on time, and if I woke up at 2:30 in morning so did you…you did it all. I couldn’t be more lucky to have you as my wife, my partner, and my best friend. I love you forever and always ♥️,” he added.
Amabile also shared a photo of the couple holding hands and exiting the hospital after his successful surgery, and a third that showed the pair at brunch, joking, “The last pic was about 10 days after surgery we went for brunch. Way too soon lol.”
In the comment section, Pitt wrote, “I love you more than ever ❤️ happy anniversary!”
