First Dates Fred Sirieix's fiancée Fruitcake shares 'excruciating' diagnosis with shocking pictures
Fred Sirieix's fiancée, known as Fruitcake, has opened up about the "excruciating pain" she experienced due to her Bell's palsy diagnosis. The First Dates maître d'hôtel is engaged to Fruitcake, who prefers to keep her real name private.
The couple, who have been together since going public with their relationship in 2018, faced a health scare when Fruitcake was struck by "sudden, temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face". Initially fearing a stroke, she was quickly taken to A&E after consulting the NHS helpline with her symptoms, reports the Mirror.
Since being diagnosed, Fruitcake has been dealing with "some ongoing issues", including visual disturbances and ear and jaw aches. She also confessed to her large social media following that she struggled to recognise herself in the mirror, which has led her to avoid public appearances. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter
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In a heartfelt post, she shared images showing the swelling in her face caused by the condition. She shared with her followers: "I've been away for the past couple of months due to a diagnosis of Bell's palsy. For those who may not know this condition causes sudden, temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face. Initially, I experienced excruciating pain, facial distortion (check out my pics - last one is most recent), and discomfort in my ear and head, which was incredibly painful and challenging to manage.
"The symptoms of Bell's palsy are similar to a stroke. And so when I called the NHS helpline, I was rushed to A&E by ambulance for immediate care. Now, I'm managing some ongoing issues like visual disturbances and aches in my ear and jaw. One of the toughest challenges has been not recognising my reflection in the mirror, which made me retreat from social situations."
She added: "However, each day brings new blessings, and I'm starting to look more like myself again. Since my diagnosis, I've delved into researching the condition - something I hadn't even heard of until now. Hearing the stories of others in similar situations has been incredibly inspiring."
"I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude - my family and friends have been incredible throughout this journey. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to check on me; your support means the world! Thank you also to everyone at the NHS who looked after me. You guys are brilliant x I feel truly blessed that my recovery is progressing faster than I initially anticipated."
Bell's palsy is described by the NHS as a temporary weakness or paralysis affecting one side of the face. Key symptoms include facial weakness on one side, a drooping eyelid or mouth corner, difficulty swallowing resulting in drooling, a dry mouth, taste loss, and an eye that is either dry or excessively watery. Anyone displaying these symptoms should contact 111 immediately.
Fred proposed to Fruitcake in 2020, but the couple had to postpone their wedding due to the pandemic. During his appearance on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, the TV personality shared the story of how they met: "The way I met Fruitcake, I met her in Peckham...I was walking up and she was smiling at me and I was smiling at her and I liked her eyes... I just had to talk to her. I asked for her number, I said: 'Shall we go for a drink tonight?'. That was nine years ago."
