Big Brother icon ‘praying for speedy recovery’ after coughing up blood -Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Imogen Thomas has warned her followers not to ‘mock’ the flu (Picture: Instagram)

Big Brother icon Imogen Thomas has detailed her ‘savage’ ordeal with the flu which has left her ‘coughing small amounts of blood.’

The 42-year-old said earlier this week she was advised to call paramedics because she ‘couldn’t breathe’ after contracting the viral infection.

Imogen also issued a warning to those ‘mocking’ the flu to take it seriously as it can be ‘deadly and scary.’

On Instagram, the former TV star explained she had spent six days in bed with the illness and was ‘praying for a speedy recovery.’

Imogen wrote: ‘Day 6 in bed. For those mocking the flu this case has been all over the news of how savage it is.

‘I couldn’t breathe so I called my doctor and he called the paramedics.

She said she was ‘coughing blood’ and had spent six days in bed (Picture: Instagram)

Imogen has been sharing her recovery on Instagram (Picture: Instagram)

‘Drastic I know but I’m so grateful he did because this viral infection has been deadly and scary.

‘Today I’m coughing small amounts of blood. I’m assuming it’s from straining as the cough has been continuous.’

The property investor expressed her relief she had contracted the flu before spending time with her mother who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Imogen continued: ‘It’s been so painful but I feel grateful it’s happened now and not Christmas when my mum is with me who is vulnerable.’

Imogen first shot to fame on Big Brother in 2006 (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

Imogen invested in property after the Channel 4 reality show (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

‘I woke up not shaking today so I’m praying this is the start of recovery. I will try and eat today too it’s been impossible to keep anything down for 6 days!’

‘My girls have also had it but not as bad as me so u can imagine my household.

‘Pray for me for a speedy recovery so I can enjoy my time with my family.’

Imogen appeared on Channel 4’s Big Brother in 2006 alongside fellow housemates including Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace and the late Nikki Grahame.

Imogen asked her followers to ‘pray for me for a speedy recovery’ (Picture: Brett Cove/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)

When she joined the show she was a 23-year-old waitress and lasted nearly three months in the house. She came in sixth place with Pete Bennett ultimately winning the show.

After Big Brother, Imogen invested wisely after earning huge sums with photoshoot offers and other TV shows and now has a property portfolio worth £10 million.

She now owns two houses in Wales, a flat in Notting Hill and two town houses in Chelsea, one of which she lives in with her two daughters, Ariana, 11, and Siera, nine.

‘Because I own properties I have a lot of passive income, so I don’t technically work,’ she said when previously speaking to The Sun.

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