Prue Leith Loses Sight

Prue Leith, a judge on The Great British Bake Off, was hospitalized after experiencing a severe migraine that caused her to lose her sight and speech. The 86-year-old TV personality was staying in Yorkshire, England when she experienced the migraine.

According to Leith, her speech became an 'incomprehensible jumble of disconnected words' during the migraine, and she saw 'only half of whatever I'm looking at' and a 'bright circle of flickering, coloured lights in the upper right field of vision'. Her husband, John Playfair, was convinced she was having a stroke and called for an ambulance.

Leith has experienced similar migraines before, including one as a child where she tried to tell her mother she wanted to be sick but said 'I want fish' instead. She recalled that her husband insisted she do a CT scan after her speech became coherent again, due to her age and the risk of a mini-stroke.

Leith was discharged from the hospital at 2 a.m. after the CT scan showed no signs of a stroke. She waited hours for the test and another hour for the result before being cleared to leave. The health scare will be detailed in her upcoming column for The Oldie magazine.

## What happened next After being discharged, Leith was able to reflect on the experience and the measures taken to ensure her health. The incident highlights the importance of medical attention, especially for older adults who may be at risk of more serious conditions.

## Why it matters The incident is a reminder that migraines can be a serious health issue, especially for older adults. Leith's experience shows that even familiar symptoms can be a cause for concern, and that seeking medical attention is crucial in such situations. The fact that Leith was able to recover and be discharged is a positive outcome, and her decision to share her experience will likely raise awareness about the importance of health checks and medical care.