28 February 2023 , 10:17
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Embattled Andrea McLean last night revealed that she is nervously awaiting test results after a mystery illness left her bedridden.
The mother-of-two said she has been 'poorly for so long' and is suffering from 'absolute exhaustion' that has left her unable to function.
She told how she went out to support former co-star Brenda Edwards at an event to mark the anniversary of her son Jamal Edwards ' death, but fell ill soon after.
"Unfortunately, I ended up poorly in bed for three days afterwards. I had pushed myself at the gym that day, which was too much for my tired body," Andrea, 53, told her Instagram followers.
Andrea McLean has faced a series of health battles (andreamclean1/Instagram)"So, another episode of one step forward, three steps back.
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"I am now awaiting blood tests to see why I have been poorly for so long now - it's over three months of absolute exhaustion. The thinking is that it is Covid/autoimmune related."
Andrea - who left Loose Women in 2020 after 13 years - has been open about her health battles, having suffered from a slew of debilitating medical problems.
A lifelong sufferer of 'shingles-like viruses', she turned to a 'vegan-ish' diet to help manage irritable bowel syndrome.
Andrea also suffered from agonising endometriosis which started in her 20s.
The disease, affecting one in 10 women, sees womb tissue grow outside the organ, causing fertility problems and severe pain.
She also spent five years battling the perimenopause, the transitional stage before menopause, with side-effects including hot flushes and heart palpitations.
And the 'constant pain' of both often left her in agony before hosting the ITV daytime talk show.
Andrea previously said: "I was doubled up on the sofa. I was trying hot water bottles, paracetamol, Nurofen, anything I could get over the counter, but it didn't work.
"I had numerous scans. They found out one of my kidneys was enlarged and twisted and veins from my kidney down to my bladder had become varicose.
"I was sitting in a corner constantly holding my stomach before going on air.
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Andrea McLean with Loose Women co-stars Nadia Sawalha, Vicky Pattison, Gloria Hunniford and Jane Moore (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)"I'd do my job with a big smile then come off going: 'Oh my God, I feel absolutely rotten.'
"The pain kept getting worse and I had a period lasting for weeks. That was the point where I decided I can't do this any more."
Andrea - who is married to fitness trainer Nick Feeney - was left with no choice but to have a hysterectomy, ending any hope of having children with Nick.
"I was just getting into a really, really happy relationship with a lovely man, so it was a big thing. I knew I'd be an older mum, but it was thought we could still maybe have children if we wanted to," she said.
"But I was also in constant pain and couldn't carry on any longer. Luckily, he just said, 'If you're okay, I'm okay, that's all that counts.' So we had a big hug and counted our blessings."
Andrea has been married to Nick for seven years (Instagram)In a cruel twist of fate, it was during surgery that Andrea was diagnosed with a rare life-threatening blood disease.
Andrea was having a consultation after her 2016 op when doctors revealed she had medium vessel vasculitis, one of the rarest and most dangerous types of the disease.
It causes blood vessels to inflame and can stop blood going to organs, making them fail. It made sense of why when she got a rash, she was left exhausted and bed-ridden.
Andrea admitted that her fear of dying immediately changed her outlook on life.
"When you think life is coming to an end, you've never wanted to live so much," she explained.
Doctors removed an affected area and after months of tests she was given the all-clear.
The TV presenter quit her high-profile hosting duties on Loose Women after 13 years (WireImage)
Nick has supported Andrea through her health woes (Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)Then in 2019 she suffered a a nervous breakdown, prompting her to step back from Loose Women.
The popular host aleft colleagues and friends Linda Robson, Brenda Edwards and Saira Khan in tears with her emotional exit speech.
Andrea explained that her devastating breakdown, where she heartbreakingly suffered from suicidal thoughts, had a profound impact on her life.
She told how she had been in a hotel room for work when months of money worries and stress culminated in a sudden onslaught of suicidal feelings.
"Unless someone's been there it’s impossible to describe," she told The Mirror. "It lasted a night and it was the longest night, dark and horrible. I was on the floor, pacing the room and crying."
Andrea McLean with ex-partner Steve Toms and children Finlay and Amy
Andrea quit Loose Women after suffering a breakdown (WireImage)"The next morning I got up off the floor and went to work. I spent a whole day pretending everything was fine. By the time I got home I thought, 'It's passed. I still don't feel right but I don't want to think about it any more.' So I never mentioned it."
Andrea has previously opened up on suffering from panic attacks when she started her TV career as a GMTV weather girl in 1997.
The first happened when a man knocked her flying on the Underground, but by her 40s she had learned to control most attacks with breathing techniques.
"Nobody helped and I had a panic attack on the platform. It feels like you're having a heart attack," she said. "It took years to know what they were," she said.
*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch
Have you suffered from an illness that doctors couldn't get to the bottom of? Share your experiences in the comments section below...