Loose Women presenter Andrea McLean was rushed to hospital after collapsing in her home and being found by her husband.
The 55-year-old, who has previously struggled with her health, was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, acute kidney injury and sepsis, after undergoing a series of tests.
“I didn't see THAT coming...,” McLean wrote in a post on Instagram. “How I discovered riding in an ambulance isn't as much fun as you'd think.”
She added: “I collapsed in the bathroom, and like the adverts you see on telly with the elderly, I lay there for an hour before my husband found me.”
McLean and her partner sought medical help, as she detailed how she was rushed to hospital and underwent a series of tests.
“We rang the GP who told us to call 999 immediately. The ambulance team were amazing. My blood pressure was so low I couldn’t stand, and I was in a lot of pain.”
She continued: “Then my X-ray and CT scans came back. I had severe pneumonia, acute kidney Injury and sepsis.
“Things happened quickly; drips, super-strong antibiotics via IV and orally, and I was transferred to the Emergency Assessment Ward.”
McLean spent the next four days in hospital, and reported that her husband’s life stopped completely as he looked after her in the ensuing weeks. She was tasked with returning every day for antibiotic drips.
She said she has not recovered completely, adding: “I’m still having ‘funny turns’ while out for a walk, or attempting the mildest of exercise.”
Last year, the presenter shared a health update after leaving the show in 2020 after 13 years to focus on her mental health.
Pneumonia fact box
- Pneumonia is an inflammation of lung tissue, typically caused by a bacterial or viral infection. It can affect anyone but is more serious in young children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions or weakened immune systems.
- Symptoms include cough, difficulty breathing, fever, rapid heartbeat, shivering, loss of appetite, and chest pain. Less common symptoms include coughing up blood, headaches, and fatigue. Symptoms can appear suddenly or develop over several days.
- Contact a GP if experiencing pneumonia symptoms. Mild cases are often treated at home with antibiotics, rest, and fluids, while severe cases, particularly in at-risk groups, may require hospitalization.
- Read more
“I had pushed myself at the gym that day, which was too much for my tired body,” she explained in the post’s caption. “So, another episode of one step forward, three steps back.”
The Scottish broadcaster said that she is awaiting blood tests to see why she has been “poorly for so long now,” adding that she had been experiencing three months of “absolute exhaustion”.
