Lisa Snowdon Reveals Ongoing Meningitis Struggle Leaves Her Bed-Bound
Former I'm A Celebrity star Lisa Snowdon has opened up about her lengthy battle with viral meningitis, which has left her bed-bound and in "almost unbearable pain." The 54-year-old television personality contracted the virus back in 2010 and continues to suffer from lingering health issues over a decade later.
Social Media Post Details Crippling Symptoms
Snowdon took to Instagram to share her current condition, explaining that she has been unable to leave her bed due to intense headaches. "The pain in my head is so intense all I can do is try to sleep," she wrote. "The after effects of meningitis come back every so often through stress and extreme fatigue and the headaches are almost unbearable."
Her post was accompanied by a photo showing her reclining on pillows with her eyes closed, visibly struggling with the symptoms. She expressed frustration at having to cancel events and let people down due to her health condition.
Near-Fatal 2010 Experience Recalled
Earlier this year, Snowdon recounted the terrifying experience of her initial illness to the Mirror. What began as what she thought was persistent flu or a winter virus quickly escalated over three weeks until she reached a critical point while hosting a Christmas Lights switch-on event for London's Great Ormond Street Hospital.
"It was a Thursday night. It was raining and I remember not being able to see properly," she recalled. "Then I had to get onto a taxi bike... and the driver kept grabbing my hand and saying, 'Hold on,' and I just couldn't."
Snowdon described feeling so desperate that she considered letting go during the ride, thinking "What if I just let go right now?" because she didn't want to endure the pain any longer.
Hospitalization and Diagnosis
After her agent witnessed her barely able to walk, Snowdon was admitted to hospital on Friday 17 November 2010. Doctors discovered her liver, gallbladder and brain were swollen and immediately contacted her parents with grave concerns.
"They said, 'We don't know what's wrong with your daughter yet, but you both need to come to the hospital quickly because she might not make it. Your daughter is a very, very poorly young lady,'" Snowdon revealed.
It took several days for doctors to diagnose her with viral meningitis, along with glandular fever - what she calls "a double whammy." She spent ten days in hospital receiving treatment via drip.
Long-Term Impact and Awareness
Snowdon noted that at the time of her diagnosis, meningitis in adults wasn't widely understood, with the condition typically associated with babies, toddlers and infants. Her experience highlights the serious and lasting impact the virus can have on adults as well.
The star described her hospital stay as "a bit of a blur" but remembers her parents' frightened faces and being wheeled around in a wheelchair to different wards. "It was really scary," she admitted.
Today, Snowdon continues to manage the after-effects of her illness, which resurface during periods of stress and extreme fatigue. Her candid sharing of her experience brings attention to the long-term consequences of meningitis and the importance of recognizing symptoms in adults.
