Better Homes and Gardens host Johanna Griggs revealed on Monday that she had a debilitating health battle with chronic fatigue syndrome at the age of 17.
The TV personality, 50, said the condition almost derailed her swimming career after she won her first Commonwealth Games medal in 1990.
The following year, she received her heartbreaking diagnosis and was forced to put her competitive future on hold, reports say Prevention magazine.
Johanna spent two and a half years recovering, following a very limited, bland diet that was free of wheat, yeast, eggs, malt, sugar, dairy, herbs, spices and caffeine.
“You learn more about yourself during a tough time than during a great time,” she said of those few years.
Johanna Griggs, 50, host of Better Homes and Gardens (pictured) revealed on Monday that she had a debilitating battle with chronic fatigue syndrome at the age of 17
“One of the most important things it taught me was that I could be alone and feel 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 poached by Seven Network producers and said goodbye to her life in the sport for good.
The TV personality said the condition almost derailed her swimming career after she won her first Commonwealth Games medal in 1990 (pictured)
It comes after Johanna had surgery last month to clean up ‘a few tears and years of damage’ to her knee.
She shared a photo of her leg covered in blankets, taken from her hospital bed, on Instagram with an update on her recovery just days before Christmas.
“Not the most exciting photo I know, but I’m happy to report that the surgery on my knee to clean up a few 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 huge thank you to orthopedic surgeon Dr Julian Yu who lived up to his legendary reputation, and to all the staff at Northern Beaches Hospital Sydney who looked after me beautifully,” she continued.
‘Enforced rest is a great way to start any holiday. I’m so glad I finally did this and look forward to being pain-free (and whining-free) again. Woohoo. This really was an early Christmas present!’
Johanna also expressed her gratitude to her husband Todd Huggins, acknowledging him as her “hospital Uber driver.”
Additionally, she included the hashtag #feelinglucky in her post.