Miranda Hart shares chronic illness symptoms after 10 years of being 'misunderstood'

Comedian and actress has opened up about her chronic illness diagnosis for the first time, after being officially diagnosed with Lyme disease and suffering from chronic fatigue

Comedian Miranda Hart has opened up about her battle with chronic fatigue following a diagnosis of Lyme disease. In her latest book, 'I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You', she gives an honest account of the past decade, including her health struggles.

The autobiography also provides a glimpse into her private life, revealing that she tied the knot at 51. Best known for her self-titled BBC show, Miranda, she described the past few years as "tough few years" but expressed her excitement about her marriage and eagerness to return to comedy.

In her TV show, she and co-star Sarah Hadland played childhood friends running a joke shop. Speaking on The One Show, she said: "It’s so nice to be back in television, I feel very excited to be here," adding that being house-bound due to a chronic illness made her miss life.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted through tick bites. It can be treated effectively if diagnosed early, but for a long time, the actor was unaware of what was causing her ill health. Symptoms often start with a circular rash and can progress to flu-like symptoms, nerve pain and sometimes facial palsy.

For most individuals, symptoms are fleeting and can be eased with antibiotics, but for a few, the aftermath includes persistent fatigue and baffling neurological issues. The celebrity opened up about the struggle of being housebound for an extended period.

"Unless you’ve had fatigue [like that], you don’t understand what literally not getting off the floor is," she shared with BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "I was basically bed-bound - and housebound. There’d be times where I'd look at a glass of water, and think ‘I don’t know how to pick that up'."

She expressed the deep human need for recognition and support, especially in health crises: "All anyone wants is to be heard, accepted, loved and seen... and when you’re not - particularly in a medical situation - it’s the worst."

She penned her book to share the wellness strategies that aided her recovery.

"I thought I need to research this whole wellness expertise and dialogue that's out there, but I was at bed at home alone, the doctors didn't know what to do with me and I couldn't have a cold plunge or go on a yoga retreat."

She delved into what she terms the universal truths, resulting in her book's '10 keys', which she calls her treasures, to living well. "And they've really genuinely [helped]. I feel like despite the suffering it came from, that I’m living a life of joy and meaning and fulfilment in a way I never have before."

The actor candidly reflected on her self-discovery journey: "I feel like I know who I honestly am, in a way that I never knew I needed to, which is just incredible."

She traced her health issues back to her teens, saying: "Probably when I was about 14 or 15, I got a tick-borne illness... and that's when my symptoms started," Hart expressed the comfort of finally being understood: "It was such a relief. I mean, being misunderstood and misjudged is one of the hardest things about these kind of conditions. For sure."

Best known for playing Miranda in her hit comedy series, which ran from 2009 until 2015, Hart found personal joy, getting married at 51 during the pandemic: "Getting married in mid-life is a full injection of joy and fun," she beamed. She treasured her partner's companionship: "He's my best friend, we have the best fun... The fact that I could meet somebody - it's not a rom-com story but it’s hope, and that's why I think, whatever situation you're in, there's always hope that things really do change."

Having rested and with new-found strength from her spouse's support, Hart hinted at a return to her comedic roots: "I’m really keen to get back to some silliness now, I miss the studio floor, I miss laughter."

Following her appearance, Amy Hart expressed how moved she was by her fans' reactions to her update. In a video posted on an external platform, she said: "I've got my best friend to do life with and it's wonderful, and I'm also utterly thrilled to be back in telly land and having a book out, so thanks so much for all your support."

At the end of the clip, Hart shared a high-five with her husband—his hand being the only part of him shown—which she humorously referred to as an "exclusive".

Her book, 'I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You', is set to release on 10 October.