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ITV star shares update on 'horrific' health ordeal after hitting 'rock bottom'

The former Loose Women star shared an update after battling a series of health issues over the years which not only affected her physically but also financially

[Denise and Andrea]

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Andrea McLean left Loose Women in 2020 (Image: PA)

Former Loose Women star Andrea McLean has shared an update on her health after battling serious illnesses in recent years. The 56-year-old has previously suffered from Covid as well as severe pneumonia, kidney failure and sepsis, which doctors said had almost cost her her life.

She previously told The Mirror: "I didnt realise how severe my illness was at the time. But the doctors had told my husband, Nick, that had I not got to hospital when I did, had we waited another 24 hours to call for help, I may not be here now."

Andrea's struggles not only took a physical toll but also affected her financially, as she was running her own business at the time.

Speaking about how she is feeling now, Andrea admitted she is "grateful" to finally be healthy again, as she launches her new book Shameless.

She told Bella Magazine: "I'm not dead! I had all the symptoms of lupus, but it was Covid. It was horrific and debilitating. You discover that rock bottom has a trap door and there's still further you can fall.

"I lost my business because we were running into problems that all start-ups have, but because I became ill and couldn't work, we couldn't fix them," she added.

[Andrea McLean with her husband Nick Feeney ]

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Andrea McLean with her husband Nick Feeney

Andrea, who is married to her third husband Nick Feeney, continued: "We ran out of runway. But then I contracted pneumonia and had kidney failure and sepsis. It's hard to explain - normal life was carrying on for everybody else, but you've entered this parallel universe.

"It's really weird but I'm really grateful that I'm healthy now."

The former weather presenter went on to say that although she is now in good health, she still has days where she wakes up feeling aches and pains, which she largely puts down to getting older.

In a bid to avoid becoming ill again, Andrea said she has learned to listen to her body and recognise when she needs to slow down.

Speaking to the Daily Express in 2024, she explained: "I just try and take care of myself and it's really basic things [such as] getting enough sleep, making sure I eat well and when I get to the point of overworking, which I have a tendency to do, it's recognising that, 'Right you're going back to working 18 hour days, stop it! Go for a walk and calm down a little bit' and it's making myself not doing that."

[Andrea with her former Loose Women co-stars ]

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Andrea with her former Loose Women co-stars

Andrea left Loose Women in 2020 before launching her own app, Girl Is On Fire, which ultimately struggled to gain traction.

After recovering from long Covid, she relaunched herself as a media trainer, using her more than 20 years of broadcasting experience to help nervous CEOs, spokespersons and brand ambassadors communicate more effectively.

However, needing to supplement her income, Andrea revealed she later began applying for part-time jobs online.

"Not a single person answered any of my job applications including Starbucks, and other different coffee houses and shops," she told the publication.

"You never think any of this will happen to you, but if fell off the cliff, it was embarrassing and humiliating."

The journalist has since released her new book, Shameless, which is described as a guide to breaking free from shame and finding the courage to keep going through lifes toughest moments.

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