Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page will enter the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! jungle while managing an "invisible" health condition that requires lifelong medication. The Swansea-born actress, best known for playing Stacey Shipman in the hit sitcom, will join the ITV show when it returns on Monday, November 16, alongside footballing legend Wayne Rooney, soap star Claire Sweeney and Paralympian Ade Adepitan.
Living with an underactive thyroid
Page, who also appeared in the festive rom-com Love Actually, previously spoke about "losing her signature energy" one year and experiencing bouts of chronic fatigue, as well as a tendency to shiver. She will likely continue to manage her underactive thyroid, known as hypothyroidism, during her time in the jungle.
According to the NHS, the condition is common and requires medication for life to "prevent symptoms returning". An underactive thyroid is widely described as an 'invisible' health condition because many of its most severe symptoms cannot be seen by others.
"In slow motion all the time"
Speaking to Wales Online, Page said she constantly felt like she was "in slow motion all the time." She added: "I just had no energy. I'd get out of bed, load the washing machine, and then be so drained I'd have to sit around staring into space for the rest of the day. I was continually freezing cold. I'd have the central heating on full blast, be wearing three layers of clothing including thermals. My husband James would have to walk around in shorts because it was so hot in the house."
Symptoms and treatment
Symptoms of an underactive thyroid are often similar to those of other conditions, and they usually develop slowly, so you may not notice them for years. For example, if you are at an age where you may be expecting the menopause, you may think you have started the menopause rather than having an underactive thyroid.
Treatment involves taking daily hormone replacement tablets, called levothyroxine, to raise thyroxine levels. Regular blood tests are needed until the correct dose is reached. Once on the correct dose, patients usually have a blood test once a year to monitor hormone levels. People usually need treatment for the rest of their life, but are often able to lead a normal, healthy life.
