Tony Blackburn, 80, has confirmed he has been suffering from life-threatening conditions including sepsis and pneumonia and tells how serious his recent hospitalization really was
Tony Blackburn has revealed how serious his recent two-month hospitalization really was as he confirmed he was suffering from life-threatening conditions including sepsis and pneumonia.
The 80-year-old DJ retired from his popular Sound of the 60s tour and Radio 2 show earlier this year after falling ill. At that point, however, he said he had developed a chest infection.
But now Tony has opened up about how serious his hospitalization actually was as he revealed he suffered from sepsis, pneumonia and blood poisoning.
He said he had only just fully recovered after being discharged from Wellington Hospital in London in May and continued to have daily injections thereafter.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that results when the body releases chemicals to fight an infection, while pneumonia is an infection that inflames the sacs in one or both lungs.
Health: Tony Blackburn (pictured in August 2022) has revealed the seriousness of his recent hospitalization as he confirmed he was suffering from life-threatening conditions including sepsis and pneumonia
The former I’m A Celebrity star opened up about how he didn’t realize how unwell he was until his entire family gathered around his bed while he was in hospital.
He said he’d been touring with his music and chat show Sound of the 60s Live before and after the Covid-19 pandemic and admitted he overdid it and then got sick.
“I used to work three weeks a week and I forgot that I’m a bit older now. So I ended up in hospital for two months with sepsis, pneumonia and blood poisoning,” he told BBC Radio Scotland.
“And I only realized how uncomfortable I was until one day in the hospital my whole family was gathered around the bed. And I thought, “This is not good.”
“A few weeks ago I went to my specialist and he said, ‘You’re cured,’ so that was nice to hear.”
After a three-month hiatus, Tony has now returned to his tour but will only be doing one show a week instead of the three he had previously planned.
He said, “I didn’t do that.” [tour] I was on the show for about three months because I was told to get some rest. Now I’m back in shape and we’re sold out.
“Instead of doing three a week, I’m only going to do one a week.”
Tony has also returned to BBC Radio 2 after Johnnie Walker took over his show during his illness.
In May, Tony confirmed on Twitter that he had been discharged from the hospital after his health had deteriorated.
Seriously, the former I’m A Celebrity star opened up about how he didn’t realize how unwell he was until his entire family gathered around his bed while he was in the hospital
Recovery: He was discharged from Wellington Hospital in London in May (above) then continued to receive daily injections and has now revealed he has only just made a full recovery
He thanked the team of doctors and nurses who took care of him and then revealed that despite being released, he would still need outpatient treatment.
Tony wrote: “I’ve just been discharged after three weeks in the hospital and am now home to continue my treatment, giving myself an injection every day for a few days from a hospital near me.”
“Thank you to all the doctors and nurses at Wellington Hospital in London who looked after me.” After my treatment and some rest, I look forward to getting back to doing what I love @BBCRadio2 and @BBCLOCALRADIO.
“I just want to thank all my friends for your lovely messages, you are all kind enough to think of me xx”
The presenter also shared a picture of himself holding his Audio and Radio Industry Awards award after he was too unwell to attend the event in person.
SIX MAJOR SIGNS OF SEPSIS
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that results from the body releasing chemicals to fight infection.
These chemicals damage the body’s tissues and organs and can lead to shock, organ failure and death.
Organ failure and death are more likely if sepsis is not recognized early and treated promptly.
An estimated 55,000 Australians contract sepsis each year, killing between 5,000 and 9,000 people. This makes the disease more than four times deadlier than road tolling.
The symptoms can look like gastrointestinal or flu symptoms and can quickly become fatal.
The six most important signs of something potentially deadly can be identified by the acronym “SEPSIS”:
- Slurred speech or confusion, lethargy, disorientation
- Extreme chills or muscle pain, fever, or low temperature
- Squeezing a rash will not cause it to fade
- Severe shortness of breath, rapid breathing
- Inability to urinate for several hours
- Skin that is blotchy or discolored
Children can also have convulsions or seizures and develop a rash that doesn’t go away when squeezed — and more than 40 percent of cases occur in children under the age of five.
Anyone who develops these symptoms should seek urgent medical attention – and the doctors ask, “Could this be sepsis?”
Sepsis is one of the leading causes of preventable death, killing around 10,000 Australians each year
The early symptoms of sepsis can easily be mistaken for milder conditions, making diagnosis difficult.
High temperature (fever), chills and chills, rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing are other signs.
A patient’s condition can deteriorate rapidly if sepsis is overlooked early. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is therefore crucial – but this rarely happens.
In the early stages, sepsis can be mistaken for a chest infection, the flu, or an upset stomach.
It is most common and dangerous in older adults, pregnant women, children under the age of one, people with chronic medical conditions, or people with compromised immune systems.