Vanessa Feltz reveals she almost died after ‘brutal’ gastric band embedded itself into her liver

VANESSA Feltz has revealed she almost died after her gastric band embedded itself into her liver.

The star, 57, says her weight loss journey was brutal - but she doesn't regret any of it, even though it nearly killed her.

She told Best magazine: "It was pretty much hell before I had my gastric bypass in January.

"The gastric band I had fitted in 2010 would have been alright for some, but for me it was brutal. Your food can get stuck in the band - and you puke it up. It's very unpredictable."

Vanessa got the problem fixed earlier this year - but her family were worried she wouldn't survive the surgery when she went under the knife.

She added: "I went down to theatre at 8.30am.

"They said it would take 45 minutes, ut at 1.30pm, I was still there.

"I was told after that my family were terrified they'd los me.

"Surgeons had discovered that the gastric band has embedded itself into my live - that's why I was feeling so bloody awful!

The star has previously admitted her gastric band has caused her hell and she had to decide whether or not to get it removed.

She said last year: "It's started acting up something chronic.

"I wasn't even sure it had anything to do with the band.

"I was fast asleep and woke up and felt like I was drowning.

"My whole mouth, nose, ears, eyes seemed to be full of liquid.

"I don't want to have it taken out. I’m scared I'll suddenly eat and entire camel and a heard of elephants.

"It's been restricting me for eight years. I can walk into any shop and buy a dress that fits.

"Plus I don't want an operation for something I don't want.

"But the alternative sounds extreme. A bypass feels like a big deal.

She has also been honest about her relationship with food.

She said: "After my husband left I was properly heartbroken, and couldn't eat, and for the first time I lost a hell of a lot of weight and I began to get happier again.

"So the more I ate again and the weight went back on, and it was that yo-yo thing."

Vanessa has been engaged to singer-songwriter Ben since 2006.

Although they were due to marry in 2007, and then again in 2011, no wedding has yet taken place, with Vanessa explaining that her previous marital experience was holding her back.

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