Andrea McLean has confessed she's been bedridden for days as she disclosed her health battles to fans on social media. The 53-year-old former Loose Women presenter revealed she recently went to support her famous friend and ex co-star Brenda Edwards at an event on the anniversary of her son Jamal Edwards' death, but ended up feeling "poorly" afterwards.
Andrea was a staple on the ITV daytime show between 2007 and 2020. Prior to that, she had featured on GMTV for 11 years from 1997. She decided to walk away from Loose Women after 13 years following a nervous breakdown and the pandemic which forced her to reconsider her priorities.
The star revealed how her health woes have left her bedridden for days in a lengthy Instagram post. Andrea updated her 301,000 followers, stating that she has been left suffering with exhaustion and is awaiting test results.
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Alongside a selection of images of her and husband Nick Feeney, another picture with her mum and a final snap of her beloved dog, Andrea penned: "Things I did to fill my cup this week, that weren’t to do with work…
"1. I went out with @nickfeeneycoach to support my lovely friend @brendaedwardsglobal on the one year anniversary of the passing of her son Jamal. It was a beautiful, poignant evening.
"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.
"So, another episode of one step forward, three steps back.
"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. It’s a nuisance!
"2. I was luckily well enough to get dressed up and take my mum out on Friday for a pamper day as a belated Christmas present. So nails done and to our local Ivy for a late lunch. It was really lovely.
"3. We went round to mum and dads for another late lunch yesterday, with them and joint friends. It was lots of fun - and crossed three decades, we are in our 50s, our friends are in their 60s, mum and dad are in their 70s! How did that happen?
"4. We took @teddymcfeen for a walk, our usual Sunday thing. Here’s to a happy, healthy week ahead. What did you do to fill your cup this week?"
The telly favourites fans rushed to the comments section to send their messages of support.
One wrote: “Hope you feel better soon, take it from me who was a fitness fanatic (71 now) it's affected me so much so please don't overdo it life is precious."
A second penned: "You [and] your mum are so alike. Hope you get answers from your blood test soon."
Another added: "Hope the blood tests help show what's going on. Sounds so frustrating! Hang on in there."
A fourth commented: "I’m not a doctor by any stretch of the imagination, but like you after Covid, I just never got my energy levels back. Since being diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome by a rheumatologist. You may have the same."
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