12 February 2024 , 11:16
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Louise Thompson has shared a harrowing account of her recent stay in hospital following a medical emergency during a family holiday.
The former Made In Chelsea star, who has fought numerous health battles since almost dying during childbirth in 2021, today let fans know she is home following almost three weeks in hospital but admitted her brain still feels "too tangled" to form full sentences as she delivered her health update.
Louise, whose hospitaliston was made public by her fiance last week, explained to her Instagram followers this morning that she fell ill during a recent family holiday but tried to ignore her symptoms due to a desire to make memories with her young son and begin the year on a positive note.
The star, 33, shared how she was "losing cup fulls of blood" when going to the toilet almost every 20 minutes during her break abroad and eventually confided in her loved ones. Due to Louise's past medical issues, the mum-of-one booked an early flight home to the U.K and went straight to A&E.
Louise Thompson shared this image with her fans as she gave them a health updateSparing her followers what she describes as "some of the grittier details", Louise confessed she has become "desensitised" to her chronic pain and admitted "most people would have been in A&E on day one" had they experienced what she was going through last month.
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Captioning a picture of herself lying in a hospital bed, Louise told her Instagram followers this morning: "Bit of an unexpected turn of events, but gotta bridge the gap somewhere, so let’s start with some good news - I’m home after two and a bit weeks spent in hospital AND I’m feeling v grateful for home and for life.
"A quick blast recap as my brain is too tangled for full sentences, but hoping this might save some time in the long run… Flew to the other side of the world (Antigua) Survived Just Plastered myself in makeup Rode the wave of steroid highs - if you know, you know… these are potent drugs.
"Used up every iota of energy I could pretending I was going to be ok. But deep down inside I knew I was really sick. I wanted the best for Leo and my family and memories. Holiday had been in the pipeline for yonks. 2024 was ma YEAR... Had many exciting campaigns lined up and the announcement of one of the biggest and most transformative healing (and career) moments of my life : the announcement of my book, and other positive things to cling onto mentally."
Louise continued: "I also thought that having clawed out of the mental health hell hole i’d been through that nothing could bring me down. Nothing would compare to that… right?" She then listed the following: "Mental is worse than physical. No physical worse surely. Both are agony and can leave you powerless. Difficult to have one without the other. They’re intrinsically linked . Anyway, I thought I could handle anything. How shortsighted. My resilience had skyrocketed. And i’d become de-sensitised."
The mum-of-one went on: "Most people would be in A&E day 1 with my symptoms, I have no qualms in saying that because I know what my symptoms were and they were not ok, I’ll spare you some of the grittier details, but I became a little ‘too used’ to my chronic condition
"Whilst away I fell asleep lots randomly in the car and in the middle of the day and on the beach. Couldn’t really walk or pick up Leo. Poor Ryan had to compensate. Was disorientated a lot. Pushed through. Thought my body would hold up. Revelled in bed when Leo would sleep at 7pm. Survived to make it through to see another day. That’s what it felt like anyway."
The reality TV star then continued her statement in the comment section underneath her post. Louise wrote: "But the fear kept escalating when I was going to the loo every 20 minutes losing cup fulls of blood. My body was ‘surviving’, ‘masking’ and ‘compensating’ but probably only because I’m young and I’ve got a good ticker. Bit of a miracle really.
"Raised alarm bells to my family. Especially given other things I’d been through. I couldn’t cope anymore. Nothing was getting better on its own. Way beyond the point of self healing, wellness, eating right bla bla bla. Too much inflammation . Things felt a bit dangerous I couldn’t risk deteriorating further in a foreign country with a lack of adequate health care and without my notes."
Louise continued to recall how she and her family booked an early flight home and headed straight to A&E. "Bloods taken. Admitted. Things got worse quite quickly. Thank goodness for safety. Thanks goodness for the NHS," Louise wrote when addressing her health scare.
She went on to say "I am alive and in good care" - declaring her recent stay in hospital has seen her receive some of "the best care" she has ever experienced - and shared how she has cried "cried over how compassionate and good the care has been. I will have quite some thanking to do. Lots of letters. Lots of things I can hopefully help with in the future. I’m nowhere near that place yet though. Let’s walk first.
"Tried medical intervention, then surgical intervention," Louise wrote as she continued her health update in the comment section. "There have been several ups and downs and some scary stuff in-between. Cos hospital IS JUST scary when you’re lying on that side of the curtain." The mum-of-one, who gave birth towards the end of 2021, went on to recall how scary being put to sleep is, before adding: "Gosh I have huge respect for medical staff."
Louise, who was diagnosed with PTSD after welcoming her first child into the world, then confessed: "The fear creeping in... It’s only really until you’ve spent some decent time here under what feels like emergency circumstances that I would expect you to get the fear.
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"PTSD doesn't help. Further worsened by the feeling that things aren’t moving in a ‘linear direction’. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY BLOOMING BODY!!! Why do I keep forgetting my questions. Why are things getting worse before they get better? The fear of the unknown is arguably the worst part of recovery. The waiting. Especially when coupled with 10/10 pain. "
The resilient star concluded her statement on a positive note, vowing she will not allow herself to "slip back". "I am a STRONG COOKIE and I am working hard on a speedy recovery," Louise declared. "And there will be a silver lining. I promise I’m already searching for it. Already found a few nuggets."
She rounded off her lengthy statement writing: "A nice little reminder that health is everything. It must always come first first first. Along with my family and my son. I want to continue with life 'as normal' as much as possible as much as possible as I think that staying connected and grounded and present is really good for my head. And I still maintain that 2024 is going to be the best yet!"
Louise has struggled with her health since becoming a mother (louise.thompson/Instagram)
The Made In Chelsea star's fiance shared this update with fans on Friday night (Instagram/ @ryan.libbey)The update follows Louise's partner Ryan Libbey telling his Instagram followers on Friday [2nd February] night that his fiancee was "coming home". Ryan was the one to announce Louise had been admitted to hospital, telling fans earlier this month that she had been away from the family home for over two weeks.
Louise, who rose to fame on Made In Chelsea, has suffered with multiple health battles since becoming a mother at the end of 2021. The mum-of-one, 33, almost died when giving birth to her son and was diagnosed with PTSD, lupus and other conditions following the traumatic birth experience.
Ryan posted a picture of his kitchen on his Instagram Stories on Friday night and wrote: "Louise is coming home." Before this, he said their little boy Leo-Hunter had only seen Louise once in the hospital during her long stay. Ryan shared online earlier this month: "We just got back from visiting mummy in hospital. That was the first time Leo has seen her in 13 days."
"It was a difficult, emotional and confusing experience for him, but fortunately after a few minutes, Leo was cuddling up in bed with his mummy singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. The video I took is probably the most precious thing I now own now. Louise is recovering well. Thank you all again for so much for your messages of support."
On Sunday, Ryan shared a photo of himself and Leo, revealing that the little one was missing his mum. "Louise has been in hospital for 12 days now," he began as he broke the news to his followers. "We don't know when she will be ready to come home yet. But thank you to everyone who has sent messages of love and support to our family. It does help." Ryan then posted a picture of himself and son Leo-Hunter, two, admitting: "We're missing mummy everyday."
Louise hasn't updated her Instagram since January 29, when she posted a series of photos of her little son enjoying a luxury holiday abroad. In her lengthy caption, the reality star said: "When you have kids, stress, illness, age, or anything against you, you might find yourself in a position where you have to start using your resources a little more wisely" and share how she is learning to "learning to lean into and be grateful for those imperfect in-between moments because nothing lasts forever."
Louise and Ryan were overjoyed to welcome their first "little miracle baby" in November 2021, but the birth was fraught with drama, leaving both mum and baby "dancing with death". Despite giving birth in November, Louise almost didn't make it home for Christmas due to serious complications.
The former Made in Chelsea star was confined to a wheelchair and spent a month in hospital recovering. She kept the arrival of her first child private for five weeks before sharing her experience with fans. Doctors worked tirelessly to save Louise's life - with the grateful star later admitting that she doesn't know if she would be alive without the NHS. Just two days before Christmas 2021, Louise announced the arrival of her baby on Instagram.
She also shared the happy news that she was being discharged from hospital to continue her recovery at home. "5 weeks ago I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy Leo-Hunter Libbey weighing in at 7lbs. Unfortunately it wasn't the easiest start for either of us. One ended up in NICU and the other ended up in ICU," she told her many Instagram followers at the time.
Louise continued to recall how little Leo-Hunter got better quite fast, but she had to fight "so many bad things" and the experience left her looking at life differently. "To dance with death twice brings a whole new view of the world," she shared openly in her message.