News | Entertainment
29 Mar 2024 19:11
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Jeannie Mai says her battle with epiglottitis was a “traumatic experience”

    The TV presenter had to quit 'Dancing with the Stars' earlier this month due to being admitted to hospital for the operation, after she was diagnosed with the potentially life-threatening condition that can cause swelling and block airflow to the lungs


    And now, Jeannie has opened up on the events that led to her surgery, revealing she was “misdiagnosed” by two doctors, whom she visited after she found she was battling strep throat whilst juggling her hectic schedule, including attending ‘DWTS’ rehearsals and shooting ‘The Real’.

    She recalled: "I got some steroid shots and continued on with that same chaotic schedule. [My doctors] misdiagnosed me and kept me on steroids, which allowed me to keep going with my taxing schedule.

    “I left rehearsals early because ... I couldn't breathe. I was wearing my mask, so sometimes [when] I couldn't breathe, I thought it was the mask, but it was really my throat cavity closing.”

    On the night of November 1, Jeannie woke up “gasping for air”, and was rushed to hospital, where she was told a "huge abscess was growing” in her throat, which she needed to have surgery on immediately.

    She added: "My sore throat turned out to be strep throat that quickly turned into a parapharyngeal abscess. I was breathing like Darth Vader. It was a traumatic experience.”

    Following her surgery, Jeannie was told she couldn’t do “any form of respiratory work” including walking fast, laughing, or getting excited, meaning she had to drop out of ‘DWTS’ for good.

    And although the news was devastating, Jeannie knew it was for the best, because she still “couldn’t breathe” even after her operation.

    She said: "The alarming thing is, I still couldn't breathe afterwards. It was even worse because now - because of extreme surgery, where he had removed my tonsils and also completely cut open the abscess in my throat in order to funnel the liquid out - my throat is swollen. I couldn't eat anything for two weeks, so I was tube feeding there in the hospital for a week, and I had a nurse come in every two hours just to make sure I was breathing.

    “Having to be on extreme critical care watch was really scary. That was another scary part, when you realise how fragile you are coming out of surgery even though everything was removed. After I left the hospital, for a week being at home, I still had to be on an IV and I could not move, because anything you do that raises your blood pressure causes your throat to tighten up.”

    Now, Jeannie says she’s “96 percent better”, and is “so thankful” to the medical team that operated on her.

    She told People magazine: "I can speak. I can't yell, but I can speak. I’m so thankful, so I'm definitely coming out into the clear now."

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     29 Mar: Queen Camilla hosted authors and actors at a star-studded event in London to celebrate reading
     29 Mar: Simon Cowell has adopted another puppy just months after he brought home a new German Shepherd called Pebbles
     29 Mar: Tracee Ellis Ross has paid a glowing birthday tribute to Diana Ross
     29 Mar: YouTube star Ninja has been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 32
     29 Mar: Pierce Brosnan has given his seal of approval to Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the next James Bond
     29 Mar: Katie Price has warned young women to avoid filler and Botox and urged them to think twice about cosmetic surgery
     29 Mar: Anne Hathaway created a "protective layer" between herself and her 'Mother's Instinct' character
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Chiefs are backing young first-five Josh Jacomb to step up in tonight's Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    New Zealand Food Safety is supporting Matakana Smokehouse in its recall of a specific batch of two of its salmon products because of the possible presence of Listeria More...



     Today's News

    Rugby League:
    NRL Good Friday: Bulldogs take on desperate Rabbitohs, Broncos renew rivalry with Cowboys 19:07

    Rugby:
    The Chiefs are backing young first-five Josh Jacomb to step up in tonight's Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch 18:57

    Entertainment:
    Queen Camilla hosted authors and actors at a star-studded event in London to celebrate reading 18:53

    Law and Order:
    A man's due in court tomorrow facing a murder charge, after a body was found in a burnt-out car in Longlands, Hastings 18:47

    Business:
    New Zealand Food Safety is supporting Matakana Smokehouse in its recall of a specific batch of two of its salmon products because of the possible presence of Listeria 18:37

    Entertainment:
    Simon Cowell has adopted another puppy just months after he brought home a new German Shepherd called Pebbles 18:23

    Entertainment:
    Tracee Ellis Ross has paid a glowing birthday tribute to Diana Ross 17:53

    Cricket:
    Cricket's best female all-rounder has led England to a 4-1 T20 series win over New Zealand 17:27

    Entertainment:
    YouTube star Ninja has been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 32 17:23

    Rugby League:
    The South Sydney rugby league team is ready to lift itself off the canvas and floor the Canterbury Bulldogs in their Good Friday NRL contest 17:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd