Claire King, 57, who’s played Kim Tate on ITV’s Coronation Street since 1989, has been open about various health issues she’s suffered in the past. But speaking to Mirror.co.uk in 2015, the star revealed she’d suffered a common but lesser-known condition in 2010 which caused her agony. She said: “I was in agony with fibroids. I was told in no uncertain terms by my doctors that time had run out for me on the baby front.
Even the idea of using a donor egg was gone because I needed a radical hysterectomy
Claire King
“Even the idea of using a donor egg was gone because I needed a radical hysterectomy.”
Fibroids is said to affect one in three women and some point in their life, and often occurs in women aged 30 to 50.
They are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb, made up of muscle and fibrous tissue.
The NHS explains: “Many women are unaware they have fibroids because they don’t have any symptoms.”
Women who do have symptoms may experience the following, according to the health body:
- Heavy periods or painful periods
- Tummy (abdominal) pain
- Lower back pain
- A frequent need to urinate
- Constipation
- Pain or discomfort during sex
Alongside fibroids, Claire suffers with rheumatoid arthritis, a condition she developed in the early 90s.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease that causes inflammation of the joins.
As a result she’s had joints removed and plates put in her fingers.
Speaking to National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, Claire explained: “I struggled to go to work and do the things I love, like horse-riding, because of the terrible pressure it put on my knees but to anyone watching me this wouldn’t have been obvious.”
As part of one of its awareness week’s, the charity labelled the condition as an “invisible disease”.
Claire added, back in 2014: “I can certainly relate to this year’s theme, ‘invisible disease’, because although my symptoms may not always show, it doesn’t mean I am not in pain or feeling exhausted.”
The actress first realised something was wrong when she woke up to a throbbing pain in her fingers, three days in a row. Her GP then diagnosed her with rheumatoid arthritis.
To treat her arthritis, Claire has found supplements to be effective, taking omega-3 and B vitamins.
She also takes methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a naturally occurring form of sulphur that is believed by many to help maintain cartilage and joints.
The star doesn’t follow a special diet, but tries to eat a balanced one, and finds exercise really makes a difference.
She said: “I love walking, I live in the Dales so I’m out hiking every weekend. I’m lucky enough to have a second home in Spain with a pool so when I’m there I’m swimming every day.
“I do some stretching without fail every morning too which sets me up to feel better for the rest of the day.
“Exercise helps keep the joints mobile and just doing a little of what you can manage and what you enjoy can make a difference long-term.”
Another Emmerdale star who’s spoken about their health in the past is Jeff Hordley.
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