Better Homes and Gardens host Johanna Griggs revealed on Monday that she suffered from a debilitating health problem called chronic fatigue syndrome when she was 17.
The 50-year-old TV personality said the illness almost derailed her swimming career after she won her first medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.
The following year, she received her heartbreaking diagnosis and was forced to put her competitive future on hold, reports Prevention magazine.
Johanna spent two and a half years in recovery, eating a severely restricted diet that was free of wheat, yeast, eggs, malt, sugar, dairy, herbs, spices and caffeine.
“You learn more about yourself in a difficult time than in a great one,” she said of those few years.
Better Homes and Gardens presenter Johanna Griggs, 50 (pictured), revealed on Monday that she suffered a debilitating battle with chronic fatigue syndrome when she was 17
“One of the most important things it taught me was being able to be alone and being comfortable in my own skin,” she added.
In 1993, Johanna's swimming career was back on track when she won the 50m backstroke at the Australian Swimming Championships.
It was around this time that she was headhunted by producers at the Seven Network and said goodbye to her sporting life for good.
The TV personality said the condition almost derailed her swimming career after she won her first medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games (pictured).
This comes after Johanna underwent surgery last month to repair “a few tears and years of damage” to her knee.
She shared a picture of her blanket-covered leg from the hospital bed on Instagram with an update on her recovery just days before Christmas.
“Not the most exciting picture I know, but I'm happy to report that surgery on my knee to repair some tears and years of damage went extremely well,” she wrote in the caption.
The following year, she received her heartbreaking diagnosis and was forced to put her competitive future on hold for two and a half years, reports Prevention magazine
“A big thank you goes to the orthopedic surgeon Dr. Julian Yu, who lived up to his legendary reputation, and to all the staff at Northern Beaches Hospital Sydney who took wonderful care of me,” she continued.
“Enforced rest is a great way to start your vacation.” I'm so glad I finally did it and look forward to being pain-free (and whining-free) again. Yay. That really was an early Christmas present!'
Johanna also thanked her husband Todd Huggins, referring to him as her “hospital Uber driver.”
Additionally, she included the hashtag #feelinglucky in her post.