BBC Countryfile star feared she would die after receiving ‘fatal’ misdiagnosis: ‘They don’t know what’s wrong’
BBC Countryfile presenter Charlotte Smith has revealed how she spent nearly a decade believing she only had years to live following a devastating misdiagnosis.
The broadcaster was told in 2010 that she had Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a rare and potentially fatal lung condition.
For eight years, Smith lived with the belief that she might need a lung transplant or face death, until emergency surgery revealed doctors had got it wrong.
The shocking diagnosis came after she experienced severe symptoms following her brother’s wedding, which were initially dismissed as a chest infection.
“When I heard I probably had this very rare, potentially serious disease with an unpronounceable name I went into shock,” Smith told The Sun.
The doctor was brutally honest about her prognosis, sharing statistics that suggested she had around 10 years between diagnosis and needing a lung transplant or facing death.
LAM, while not always fatal, can severely impact quality of life, with many sufferers becoming short of breath even on flat surfaces.
Some patients become completely housebound due to the condition, which causes abnormal tissue growth in the lungs.
Smith described leaving the consultation feeling like her world was collapsing.
“My kids were just five and three then and I was worried that I wouldn’t be around to see them grow up,” she revealed.
Her husband Mike’s response provided some comfort during the difficult time.
“When I told Mike about LAM, he was so calm and reassuring,” Smith said.
The presenter faced years of uncertainty about her future, believing she might not live to see her young children grow into adults.
The truth emerged during emergency surgery for a collapsed lung, bringing unexpected relief.
“They had to do an operation this time, and they discovered that I am very lucky. I do not have that disease,” Smith revealed.
She expressed that being told you don’t have a fatal condition “is much better than being told you do”.
However, Smith still faces health challenges. Doctors remain puzzled by her current lung condition.
“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% lung capacity a fit person would,” she explained.
Beyond her lung condition, Smith has faced additional health challenges affecting her work on Countryfile.
Following knee surgery, she particularly struggles with certain aspects of filming.
“Since I had my knee done I don’t like stiles,” she confessed. “I find them very difficult because my bionic knee, my replacement knee, doesn’t bend quite… so that’s very inelegant.”
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The knee complications have impacted how scenes are filmed for the programme.
“Another presenter you might see doing the stiles but for me it’s too embarrassing so we cut that out,” Smith explained.
Smith has also opened up about her family’s experience with dementia while working on a documentary about rural communities.
“My grandmother had dementia,” she disclosed, highlighting the personal connection to the condition.
She explained the particular challenges faced in rural areas: “Dementia is horrific for sufferers and their families wherever they live but if you’re somewhere rural it’s a lot harder to get support.”
The presenter noted specific risks in farming communities, where hazards are abundant.
However, she found hope in community spirit, adding: “It was really heartening to see how many lovely people in rural communities make it their business to come out and help people.”