GLORIA HUNNIFORD, 82, RUSHED TO HOSPITAL AS LIFE-THREATENING SEPSIS BATTLE 'FLATTENED' HER

Gloria Hunniford, 82, was hit with two worrying health scares and has only just been able to return to work.

The Loose Women panellist found out she had kidney stones just before Christmas last year, leading her to get an operation.

The operation blasted the stones and doctors put a stent in, before a second surgery was scheduled to remove it three weeks later.

However, after undergoing the first operation, Gloria started to feel unwell again.

Prior to her second surgery, Gloria recalled doctors reassuring her that she would "feel so much better".

Sepsis has long been an urgent threat in hospitals, known as a 'hidden killer'.

Researchers conducted one of the most comprehensive studies of the disease, in which they found 11 million people around the world die from it per year.

One of the main problems with sepsis is that it's difficult to diagnose. So what are the symptoms? Find out HERE.

The ITV presenter told The Mirror: "The last thing they said before I went to theatre was: 'When I take this stent out you are going to feel so much better'.

"But the next thing I knew coming out of the anaesthetic, was a nurse saying to me, 'Don't worry, don't panic but we are having to transfer you by ambulance to a different hospital because we can't get your blood pressure up'."

She recalled of the terrifying moment she was moved from a hospital in Maidstone, Kent, to an A&E nearby: "It was like somebody had put a tap in my body and just drained all the energy."

Gloria was later informed that she had suffered sepsis of the kidney, which can be life-threatening.

The Rip Off Britain star explained: "Thankfully it hadn't gone beyond the kidney.

"I guess that's why I felt so awful and it did flatten me for a while."

Following her sepsis battle and health ordeal, Gloria had to focus on her recovery, as she lost her appetite and needed more sleep than usual.

Fortunately, Gloria defied medical expectations as she was told it would take her up to six months to fully feel better after going under two anaesthetics.

Despite this, Gloria managed to get back to normal within a few weeks.

Gloria credited her husband Stephen for getting her back on the road to recovery with his cooking skills.

She told the publication: "I set myself little tasks and my [husband] Stephen was marvellous.

"He was chief cook and bottle-washer and my whole wonderful family rallied round."

The presenter now feels she has about "98 per cent" of her energy levels back.

2023-04-01T10:14:41Z dg43tfdfdgfd