Gemma Oaten almost died during battle with milk-alkali syndrome

OHMYGOSSIP — Gemma Oaten almost died during her battle with milk-alkali syndrome.
The former ‘Emmerdale’ star was hospitalised earlier this year before being diagnosed with the rare kidney condition, which sees a high level of calcium in the body and can lead to kidney failure and even death.
Appearing on ITV’s ‘Lorraine’ on Thursday (14.07.22), Gemma told guest host Carol Vorderman “My calcium levels went to a dangerously high point…
“Effectively my body was poisoning itself.
“It was only two months ago that this all happened really.”
Gemma, 38, had “no idea” about the severity of the situation until she was taken to hospital, where she had 8 per cent kidney function and 20 per cent oxygen.
She said: “I had not been feeling well for a while to be honest but I didn’t practice what I preached and I just put it down to one side.
“We’d had a big funding cut for the charity that I am CEO of and I’d put it down to stress and the pressure of that.
“I was also doing a morning breakfast radio show so I was getting up early at half past four and doing my full time job and then auditions so I just put it down to nausea, feeling tired.”
She attributed symptoms – such as stomach cramps – to anxiety and stress, and after being struck down with COVID-19 she found out she had milk-alkali syndrome.
In hospital, she was told it was caused by years of taking too much calcium carbonate through Rennie tablets.
Asked why she was taking so many, she said: “I was poorly from the age of 10 with anorexia. That anorexia then led into bulimia and I was struggling for 13 years.”
Although she is now in recovery, there are some after effects which could be permanent, as she may not be able to have children due to the syndrome, while her teeth are “falling apart” after years of damage.
She added: “It’s such a difficult and toxic illness to battle. It’s a mental health illness. I think people think that it’s about vanity and just social media.
“It’s not, it’s about human beings struggling with pain.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online

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