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Privacy NoticeCharlotte Smith will be returning to our screens on tonight’s (8 June) Countryfile as she looks into farming with co-host Joe Crowley. But away from the hit BBC show, Charlotte, 60, went through a devastating ordeal after being misdiagnosed with a life-threatening condition. Thirteen years ago, Charlotte was told she had lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a cystic lung disease that primarily affects women, and can have a huge impact on the lives of those suffering from it. The average life expectancy following diagnosis is between 20 and 30 years, but many of those with this condition require a lung transplant after 10 years.
Charlotte Smith was misdiagnosed 13 years ago with a life-threatening lung condition
(Image: BBC)
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However, during surgery for a collapsed lung four years ago, doctors realised that Charlotte didn’t have LAM after all. Speaking to The Sun, Charlotte expressed her relief: “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.” She added: “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].”
The TV presenter was joyous to be told of her misdiagnosis
(Image: BBC)
The TV star described feeling “joyous” upon learning the truth and didn’t forget to acknowledge the incredible support network that stood by her when she believed she had LAM. She added that only about one hundred people in the UK suffer from this condition, so while help may be difficult to find at first, these individuals have set up a network and self-help group for their fellow LAM sufferers. Speaking to the Daily Mirror in 2016, Charlotte discussed her LAM diagnosis and said: “When I heard I probably had this very rare, potentially serious disease with an unpronounceable name I went into shock. “The doctor was honest and told me all the stats, including it being 10 years, on average, between diagnosis and needing a lung transplant or even death.” “He went on to say that this was the worst case scenario and probably wouldn’t be me. But all I could focus on was the thought that I could die in 10 years.”Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnHealth
