Even after 12 hrs sleep a night, I’m still tired. It is like being a teenagain
Presenter Anna Richardson on her quest to figure out what is wrong with her
GLAMOROUS, candid and quick-witted, Anna Richardson is the last person you’d expect to find at a loss for words. But over the last 18 months, the presenter of The Sex Education Show and Naked Attraction has been struggling to remember people’s names and sometimes even words for everyday things. The 48-year-old was also experiencing weight gain, irregular periods and chronic tiredness – which all seemed to point to the menopause.
But when hormone replacement therapy brought no improvement, the TV host and documentary maker became increasingly anxious about her health.
Tests revealed that Richardson has a thyroid problem, although further investigations are ongoing. It has been a tough year. She
said: “I’ve been struggling with what my gynaecologist and I thought were menopause symptoms. “I have weight gain around my middle, irregular periods, aching joints, dry skin and awful brain fog where I can forget the words for the most everyday things. “That’s a nightmare with my job but the worst part is feeling continually exhausted and just under the weather, getting more colds than normal. “I had glandular fever years ago and it’s similar. Even after 12 hours sleep a night, I’m still tired. “It’s like being a teenager again, as all I’m capable of is sitting around in pyjamas, watching telly and going to bed. “Despite taking HRT, there’s been no improvement and in the last month I’ve had to cut back on work, and recently even had to cancel hosting a charity event. I just haven’t got enough energy, and forget having a social life. It’s been really depressing and very worrying, because I couldn’t seem to find out what was really wrong.”
Anna and her doctors are investigating the exact causes of her illness and it pointed to her thyroid, a gland in the throat that produces the hormone thyroxine, which is essential for maintaining a normal metabolism.
She said: “Two months ago, blood tests showed my thyroid was underactive, so not functioning as well as it should.
“I’ve been taking a low dose of thyroxine, which hasn’t helped that much, so when I still wasn’t feeling right, I went back to the gynaecologist.
“I’ve been diagnosed with secondary hypothyroidism but recent blood tests now indicate that the master gland in the brain, the pituitary, may be causing the problem, but it may not.
“One of many possible scenarios is a pituitary tumour.
“They are quite common and apparently around 99 per cent are benign, or there may also be chronic fatigue syndrome.
“It’s all uncertain and up in the air until I get the results.”
Anna, who first found fame in the 90s on Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast, has been with former Great British Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins since 2014.
Having such a strong relationship has made it all easier, even if the backing was hard won.
Anna said: “Over the last 18 months, Sue’s got a bit frustrated with me at times and said, ‘For goodness sake, it’s midday, you should be up. You’re sleeping way too much.’
“I think she thought I’d been struck down by extreme bone idleness. “But since we’ve realised there’s a problem, she’s been so supportive and great at calming me down and reassuring me.
“If it turns out to be a pituitary tumour, it would be a weird coincidence. Sue has a benign pituitary tumour, a prolactinoma (which affects hormones). She’s told me, ‘If that’s what it turns out to be, don’t worry, these things can be managed, we just need to find out what’s going on.’
“In one sense for me, it’s a relief. I can now at least say to people, ‘Please bear with me if I’m feeling a bit fuzzy and I’m not as energetic because I have a thyroid thing going on.’”
There may be the sound of wedding bells in the future.
Anna said: “Sue and I admit we’re both alpha females and so that can cause fireworks in our house if we clash, but that makes it exciting and fun.
“As I smash headlong into 50, I think it would be great to have a permanent commitment, so I would like us to marry.
“I don’t think it even crosses Sue’s mind, but I’m a vicar’s daughter and I’m quite traditional. I’m also thinking quite a lot about having a family and adoption.”
Anna Richardson’s six-part podcast series Health Fact vs Fiction, in association with HCA Healthcare UK, busts myths around healthcare topics, with a range of guests including medical consultants and celebrities who share their healthcare experiences. It’s available on Apple Podcast and all other podcast platforms.
I just haven’t got enough energy, and forget having a social life. It is depressing and worrying