Countryfile star reveals relief at doctor’s u-turn over life-limiting condition after lung collapse
COUNTRYFILE star Charlotte Smith has revealed the joy and relief she felt at discovering she didn’t have a life-limiting lung condition after a misdiagnosis.
The nature enthusiast, 58, spent years believing she had the very rare disease lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) after being diagnosed 12 years ago.
The average survival of people with LAM – which is as a cystic lung disease that primarily affects women – is between 20 and 30 years with the right management, but many sufferers require lung transplants after 10 years.
The initial diagnosis left Charlotte in shock and fearing for her future.
However, after undergoing an operation for a collapsed lung four years ago, Charlotte was told she didn’t have the condition after all.
In an exclusive interview with the Sun, she said: “They had to do an operation this time and they discovered that I am very lucky. I do not have that disease. I was misdiagnosed. Which actually I’m very relaxed about because to be told you don’t have something is much better than being told you do.
“They don’t really know what’s wrong with my lungs, they have holes in them and they don’t really know why. So I have about 80 per cent lung capacity a fit person would, but to be honest I could [do what anyone else could].”
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Admitting it was “joyous” to be told she didn’t have LAM, she was full of praise for the support network that helped her cope when she thought she had the condition.
She said: “There are only about one hundred and something people with it, mainly women, here in the UK, so they have a fantastic network and self-help group, which I found an absolute lifeline when I did think I had it, so I am very aware of how lucky I am. I count my blessings for that.”
It’s not the only health challenge Charlotte has faced in recent years.
The presenter had a full knee replacement two years ago, which occasionally causes problems when she’s filming Countryfile.
“Since I had my knee done I don’t like stiles,” she says. “I find them very difficult because my bionic knee, my replacement knee, doesn’t bend quite… so that’s very inelegant. Another presenter you might see doing the stiles but for me it’s too embarrassing so we cut that out.”
Fortunately Children In Need’s much-loved Countryfile Ramble didn’t require her to navigate any tricky obstacles when she recently filmed the annual charity special.
Charlotte met up with autistic 10-year-old Isabella, from Wakefield, who has an assistant dog called Storm to help with everyday life.
Together they had a ramble in the Peaks and enjoyed seeing cows, woodland and a toad.
What is Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)?
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis, also known as LAM, is a very rare lung disease that most commonly affects young women.
The LAM Foundation summarises it as “an abnormal growth of smooth muscle cells, especially in the lungs, lymphatic system and kidneys.”
It goes on to say: “Unregulated growth of these cells can lead to loss of lung function, accumulation of lymph rich-fluid in the chest and abdomen and growth of tumors in the kidneys.”
The Foundation explains how the condition can “cause blockage of the small airways leading to lung tissue damage that compromises airflow and oxygen transfer to the blood.”
Charlotte says: “I’m really proud to be part of it. She’s a lovely kid. She’s really into nature. She just bounds off and finds something and brings it back and talks about it. Just hearing from her family about the change the dog has made, particularly to Isabella, but to their lives was amazing. When you have a child with additional needs, that can have a real impact across the family.
“Getting your children up in the morning when you’ve also got your own deadlines going on is a real flash-point in a family. Particularly for Isabella, she hated getting out of bed, she didn’t want to put the school uniform on, so before they’d even got to getting in the car to go to school everybody had lost their temper and everybody was cross.
“So now Storm the dog goes in and wakes her up and she’s all happy and lovely because he’s a big beautiful dog and all slopping and gorgeous ,and then he bounds off and gets her uniform and then she’s up and on her way to breakfast and not one has had an argument.”
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The ramble has become a much-loved part of Children In Need with people all over the country taking part.
Charlotte recalls its origins, saying: “I remember when this was just an idea and we were like will everyone do it, because the calendar has been so successful over so many years and the idea of introducing something else is always a bit nerve-wracking but people have really taken it to their hearts.”
The Countryfile Ramble for BBC Children in Need will be broadcast on BBC One on Sunday 6th November at 17.05.