Gemma Oaten has shared details of her life threatening illness on Lorraine.
The soap star was interviewed by Carol Vorderman on today's edition of the ITV chat show. The 38-year-old is renowned for her roles as Isla Haywood in Coronation Street and Rachel Breckle in Emmerdale.
Gemma told Carol about how she had been suffering with nausea and stomach cramps for some time, but she put it down to anxiety and stress. However, she was isolating after testing positive for coronavirus in April when her mum urged her to seek medical help.
READ MORE: ITV Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid thanks fans as she announces 'last day'
Gemma was subsequently rushed to hospital and diagnosed with a serious kidney condition called milk alkali syndrome. She said she found out in hospital it was due to years of taking calcium carbonate through indigestion tablets.
Gemma has been previously opened up on her 13-year battle with anorexia and bulimia. The soap star explained how she took the tablets to help with acid reflux.
She added: "I was so scared of relapsing and being sick that I used to take those and I started to take magnesium about four weeks before I went to hospital because, yet again, I was tired stressed and there's calcium carbonate in magnesium.
"I had no clue that any of this was happening but my calcium levels went to a dangerously high point and also that turns the acid base to alkali. Effectively my body was poisoning itself and I had no idea until the ambulance came."
Gemma's kidneys were functioning at 8% and her oxygen was at 20%. Gemma was treated in hospital and she is now on the road to recovery.
Gemma is the manager and patron of SEED charity, which provides support and empathy for people with eating disorders. She opened up on the difficulty of battling the illness. She said: "Early intervention is so key and vital and if it were implemented more people wouldn't be suffering for as long as they are. I share my story because I don't want anybody to go through what I have.
"Even though I've been well for 15 years. This past year I have found out I don't know if I can have children, I've had the milk alkali syndrome because I was trying to do something that was right but it actually wasn't. Tomorrow I go in for major dental surgery because my teeth are falling apart from years of damage."
Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here
READ NEXT
Iceland boss issues warning over worrying new trend as food prices rise
Michael Owen breaks silence on rumours he will enter Love Island villa to see Gemma
Mum and dad fined after 'top of the year' pupil misses school
Full list of days when Ryanair and easyJet staff plan to strike in Spain
Coronation Street's Ryan Thomas announces return to our screens
