Martine McCutcheon On Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Depression: "Life Felt Like Hell Every Day"

Martine McCutcheon has spoke out about the seven years of her life she has lost due to chronic fatigue syndrome, depression and financial hardship.

In detail, McCutcheon, 37, was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome ME 18 months ago after she was confined to a wheelchair, struggled with depression and stayed at home for a month because she did not want to meet anyone.

Martine, who rose to fame at age 18 portraying Tiffany Mitchell in the BBC soap opera, revealed how she collapsed 20 times and gained weight as medics were confused by her condition.



Martine, who has just completed a television move "The Home Office", became so exhausted she could not work and was declared bankrupt in January 2013.

McCutcheon explained to The Sun on Sunday: "I've had the worst seven years ever. Life felt like hell every day. It's just been one thing after another. I have not been in a nice place in my head, financially nor with my career."



Martine also stated that she thought of committing suicide, claiming: "I would pray to God that I wouldn't wake up. I would just say: "Please, whatever this is, it is making me feel so bad, just let it kill me.""

Martine noted that while filming ITV dramas "Marple and Echo Beach" she began having difficulty in keeping up with her busy schedules, nodding off in filming breaks with producers trying to wake her.

While medics were baffled about the cause of Martine's disease, she kept on collapsing and recounts that she fainted more than 20 times.

McCutcheon also noticed her weight increase by two stone to 11 and a half stone, which she insists added to her depression.





Martine told the newspaper that after the 2003 "Love Actually" blockbuster she was disappointed that she had to refuse "amazing" offers because she was so ill.

With her hospital bills mounting she relied on a profitable commercial deal with yoghurt makers Danone but they had to axe the star because they could not insure her.




Martine declared herself bankrupt in January after owing £187,000 with £157,000 owed to the taxman and the rest to Lloyds Bank.

Martine was quoted as saying: "I want to give hope to ME sufferers, even people who don't know what they have got. I want them to know that they are not going mad and that they can get better. You can live a normal and good life again."


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