Louise Thompson reveals details of nightmare hospital visit
Louise Thompson said she was 'losing a cup of blood every 20 minutes' before hospital stay
Louise Thompson's fans and friends have rallied around her as she broke her silence on her two-week hospital stay.
The 33-year-old former Made In Chelsea star, her fiancé Ryan Libbey and their two-year-old son Leo returned home early from their glorious getaway to Antigua early after she said she was "losing a cup full of blood every 20 minutes".
Many have headed to Instagram to pen supportive comments on the last post shared by Thompson, who has been open about battling health problems since suffering life-threatening complications during Leo-Hunter’s birth.
What did Louise Thompson say?
Thompson broke her silence on Instagram as she returned home after her hospital stay. She told fans: "Bit of an unexpected turn of events, but gotta bridge the gap somewhere, so let’s start with some good news - I’m home after two and a bit weeks spent in hospital AND I’m feeling v grateful for home and for life. "
She added: "Used up every iota of energy I could pretending I was going to be ok . But deep down inside I knew I was really sick . I wanted the best for Leo and my family and memories . Holiday had been in the pipeline for yonks . 2024 was ma YEAR... Had many exciting campaigns lined up and the announcement of one of the biggest and most transformative healing (and career) moments of my life : the announcement of my book, and other positive things to cling onto mentally.
"I also thought that having clawed out of the mental health hell hole I’d been through that nothing could bring me down . Nothing would compare to that… right? Mental is worse than physical, No physical worse surely, Both are agony and can leave you powerless. Difficult to have one without the other, They’re intrinsically linked, Anyway, I thought I could handle anything, How shortsighted , My resilience had skyrocketed, And i’d become de-sensitised .
"Most people would be in A&E day 1 with my symptoms, I have no qualms in saying that because I know what my symptoms were and they were not ok, I’ll spare you some of the grittier details, but I became a little ‘too used’ to my chronic condition . Whilst away I fell asleep lots randomly in the car and in the middle of the day and on the beach .
"Couldn’t really walk or pick up Leo, poor Ryan had to compensate, Was disorientated a lot, Pushed through, Thought my body would hold up, Revelled in bed when Leo would sleep at 7pm, Survived to make it through to see another day, That’s what it felt like anyway."
In the follow up Instagram comment, she elaborated: "But the fear kept escalating when I was going to the loo every 20 minutes losing cup fulls of blood. My body was ‘surviving’, ‘masking’ and ‘compensating’ but probably only because I’m young and I’ve got a good ticker. Bit of a miracle really.
"Raised alarm bells to my family. Especially given other things I’d been through. I couldn’t cope anymore. Nothing was getting better on its own. Way beyond the point of self healing, wellness, eating right bla bla bla. Too much inflammation. Things felt a bit dangerous I couldn’t risk deteriorating further in a foreign country with a lack of adequate health care and without my notes. I panicked. So we booked an early flight back to UK
"Made it… struggled on the way back but a small price to pay for making it home Went straight to A&E. Bloods taken. Admitted. Things got worse quite quickly. Thank goodness for safety. Thanks goodness for the NHS. Fast forward… I am alive and in good care. I have experienced some of the best care I have ever received, especially in ITU. I have cried over how compassionate and good the care has been. I will have quite some thanking to do. Lots of letters. Lots of things I can hopefully help with in the future. I’m nowhere near that place yet though. Let’s walk first."
Thompson had a positive message for her followers though as she vowed to continue with her life as normally as she possibly could. She said: "I want to continue with life 'as normal' as much as possible as much as possible as I think that staying connected and grounded and present is really good for my head. And I still maintain that 2024 is going to be the best yet!"
What has Ryan Libbey said?
Libbey posted a message on his Instagram Story last weekend saying that Thompson had been in hospital for several days at that point. He later followed it up with a post saying that he had taken their son to see his mum. “We just got back from visiting mummy in hospital,” he wrote.
“That was the first time Leo has seen her for 13 days. It was a difficult, emotional, confusing experience for him but fortunately after a few minutes Leo was cuddling up in bed with mummy singing twinkle, twinkle little star. 'The video I took is probably the most precious thing I now own.”
“Louise is recovering well,” he added, thanking fans for all of their messages. He was then delighted to be able to share his love had returned home.
Louise Thompson's past health struggles
Thompson has been open about her health struggles in the past. In 2018 the reality TV star was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, which the NHS says is “a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed”.
Then she was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after suffering complications while giving birth to Leo-Hunter in 2021.
Speaking about it in 2022, she told fans on social media: “Mental health is the most cruel, invisible disease out there but I want you to know you are not alone.”
Talking about what she had been through, Thompson said: “I was scared of everything in my house…I was scared of my body, I couldn’t look at my body, I couldn’t look in the mirror… I couldn’t see, I couldn’t smell, I couldn’t talk… when I would talk I would panic because every word that came out of my mouth didn’t make sense.”
“I was not alive, I couldn’t have a normal thought,” she said. “My brain basically shut down as a result of nearly dying twice. When something really traumatic happens to you your brain can’t process it properly and your memories get stuck and it means that you live in fear.”
Fans have sent messages of support to star
The TV star has been inundated with messages from well-wishers after Libbey explained that she was in hospital. Many have posted messages on Instagram telling her they miss her on social media and urging: “Stay strong.”
“Sending love, Louise,” said one. “Hope you are OK.” “Missing your presence!” said someone else. “Sending healing vibes!” “Come on Louise you have this, fight strong beautiful girl!!” said someone else.
Another fan chimed in: “Sending you and your beautiful family warmth and strength, hope you feel better soon dear Louise.”
“Sending you all my positive thoughts and energy to you Louise,” added another fan. “I hope you feel better soon.”
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