BBC star Amy Dowden has been opening up about a painful health condition she’s battled for years that can cause her to lose consciousness.
The Strictly pro dancer is one of approximately 650 people across the UK who are affected by Crohn’s disease. Amy, 34, spoke to Aimee Fuller on her Monday Mile podcast to raise awareness.
The star said she was keen to get across to fans how the inflammatory bowel disease can harm affect different parts of the body, saying: “Crohn’s disease in an inflammatory bowel disease, it’s inflammation to the bowel, but it starts from the mouth right through to the gut and you can develop narrowing to the bowel, ulcers, inflammation (and it) can become life threatening to some.”
Amy then shared some of her own experiences living with the condition, and revealed the pain has been so excruciating in the past that it’s led to her blacking out, reports Wales Online.
She went on: “Symptoms for myself is severe vomiting, constipation, pain, which is excruciating pain, which makes me pass out.
“Which if you think, a woman is designed for childbirth, you don’t pass out during childbirth, I can have four to five black outs, because the pain is that much that my body can’t control (it).
“I get swollen eyes, inflammation to my joints, my skin, but I’m very very lucky that I work with the most incredible team and a lot of my severe symptoms are now under control and in remission. I’m so blessed to have such an incredible team, but unfortunately, Crohn’s disease is a chronic illness that I will live with for the rest of my life.”
Amy joined the Strictly Come Dancing cast in its 15th series back in 2017 and quickly became a fan favourite.
In 2023, Amy was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and a mastectomy, and in February 2024 announced that tests showed she had “no evidence of disease”.
For additional details concerning Crohn’s disease, please consult the NHS website here.
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