An EastEnders star battling a chronic condition has opened up about a “mad” and hellish flight which ruined her lovely holiday.
Melissa Suffield, who played the role of Lucy Beale on the BBC soap opera from 2004 until 2010, was previously diagnosed with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) after experiencing “horrible nausea”.
This has reportedly had a massive impact on her life, making any good days she can spend with friends and family all the more precious.
However, she said that a recent flight she took after a holiday undid all the fun and rest she had.
EastEnders star battling chronic condition opens up about hellish flight
Taking to Instagram, the EastEnders actress said: “I’ve been a bit quiet because life has been a LOT. The trip away was so restorative, but honestly, the act of getting home undid it
“The ship didn’t make it into the final port of my trip due to very bad weather, but obviously my flight was booked from there!
“So booked a flight home from the next available port very last minute, which was a midnight flight, which was delayed by 2 hours because of weather again, and then the ENTIRE three-hour flight was mad turbulence and lightning out the window, I s*** you not.
“I’m not a nervous flyer, but I was on that flight.
“Honestly, not a fun experience, followed by only 4 hours of sleep and then a three-hour train journey home with River and all my luggage.
“On the list of things I simply do not need in my life, this experience was a high-ranking one.”
The BBC star added: “Not aided by the fact that towards the end of the trip, my symptoms started getting worse.
“I think the combination of not eating anything other than steak and potatoes, as well as the stress of making a new very last-minute plan and the childcare and everything that went along with that is probably what did it.
“Also, my period always makes everything worse – I’ve actually just had a test arrive that looks at your DNA and hormones to see if I can pinpoint anything I’m missing.
“But anyway, I am home now safe and sound, I have done all the washing, I’ve got full control over my diet again, and I’ve got my boy back. But I am feeling rough in a way that I haven’t in a while, so l’m focusing all my energy on resting.
“I’ve got a really busy week next week too, so I’ve really got to try and get back on top of things quickly tbh. But when your nervous system is frazzled, that time limit way of thinking is completely counterproductive.”
Recommended Reading:
What is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)?
According to the Mayo Clinic, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition that occurs when there is an “abnormal increase in the overall bacterial population in the small intestine.”
It added: “Particularly types of bacteria not commonly found in that part of the digestive tract.”
This is often diagnosed when circumstances like surgery or a disease slow the passage of food and waste products in the digestive tract, creating a “breeding ground” for bacteria.
This can often cause diarrhoea, weight loss and malnutrition.
