21 June 2023 , 12:35
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Andrea McLean has given fans a health update after being bedbound for six months.
The former Loose Women star has opened up about her health struggles after contracting coronavirus three times and then the flu.
After contracting Covid, the 53 year old said that she got "absolutely throttled" by flu around Christmas time, leading to her being tested for lupus.
However, she explained that doctors found that she had long Covid, but she wasn't sure what to do with this diagnoses.
Andrea said the last few months have been "rough" for her but she is starting to feel better and is able to exercise again now.
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Andrea McLean had Covid three times (Ash Knotek/REX/Shutterstock)Speaking to Bella magazine, she said that she has been recommended vitamins by her friends: "I've got lots of friends in the health space, so I take everything that they recommend.
"Any vitamins of supplements that people say 'try this' I take them. I currently take a lot of vitamin D, vitamin C and so on."
Andrea said she was shocked that she became so ill due to being "already healthy".
She explained: "I was doing everything that you're supposed to do, which was particularly unfair. But what I am really appreciative of it my leisure, because until you have something that is so debilitating you cannot walk the length of yourself.
"People say 'Oh I'm exhausted', but what I've experienced defies the definition of tired. I'd no energy - it's really hard to feel energised. The simple things like going for a walk - I'd be getting further and further behind Nick, to the point where I'd have to say 'can you stop for a minute' it's things like that."
Andrea said she had put on weight while she was unwell due to not being able to exercise as much.
She explained that she didn't know how much weight she gained due to not weighing herself but she could "feel it".
She said she got to the point where she accepted the way she was feeling was her "life now" and it wasn't a case of how long it was going to last but instead called it a "life lesson".