Andrea McLean, 55, was diagnosed with acute kidney injury, sepsis and severe pneumonia after brushing off her symptoms as just flu

Andrea McLean has issued a heartfelt message to fans following her life-threatening health ordeal. The Loose Women star, 55, was suffering from severe flu-like symptoms before she collapsed in the bathroom last December.

After being rushed to hospital, doctors revealed that she not only had acute kidney injury and sepsis, but severe pneumonia too, having lost ‘80% capacity’ in one lung. She stayed here for several days, describing the experience as a ‘sensory overload’ with bright lights, screams, shouting and the ‘smell of poo’ almost constant.Now, Andrea is back at home, opening up about her diagnosis and recovery journey in a candid Substack blog on Sunday. Although life isn’t quite ‘back to normal’ yet, she expressed gratitude for the well-wishes she received and shared a selfie on Instagram.

“Just wanted to say thank you for being so nice,” she said to her 300,000 followers, before adding: “This photo was taken 60 seconds ago. I didn’t realise my hair looks so crazy and my chin gets so red when I rest it on my hand.”

Unsurprisingly, her snap was soon flooded with even more supportive messages, including one from TV show host, Lisa Snowdon. She wrote: “Huge love & hugs darling.”

Meanwhile, another user penned: “So sorry to read how poorly you have been and your adventurous stay in hospital. Wishing you a full recovery very soon,” as someone else commented: “Get well soon. Sounds awful. Sending love and best wishes.”

Beyond her diagnosis, the star was also left ‘terrified’ by the behaviour of other patients in her ward including six women who appeared to have dementia. A few of whom were incredibly distressed by her presence, with one demanding to know why Andrea was there and repeatedly yanking on her ‘flimsy’ bed curtain.

Andrea was suffering from severe flu-like symptoms before she collapsed in the bathroom ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

She struggled to sleep at all in this ward and even asked hospital staff if she could continue treatment at home. While there was some pushback on this, medics eventually said she could go there to sleep but must return every day for drips, tests and medication.

“It’s now February, and I’m still not well enough to handle normal stuff like getting up and rushing out the door to do the jobs I’d been booked to do,” Andrea wrote in her blog. “…because every part of that process would end with me falling down, or at the very least sitting on a tube station floor feeling very unwell and embarrassed at the stares.

“I’m still having ‘funny turns’ while out for a walk, or attempting the mildest of exercise. It means I haven’t really started 2025 yet.”