Jonathan Ross reveals his rarely seen daughter Betty, 30, is currently using an electric wheelchair

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Jonathan Ross has discussed his daughter Betty’s battle with fibromyalgia, saying she is currently using an electric wheelchair.

The chat show host, 62, opened up about Betty’s long-term illlness, revealing she can’t walk too far but has been ‘showing some improvement.

Betty, 30, also suffers from chronic fatique syndrome and Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) which causes an abnormal increase in the heart rate after sitting or standing.

Jonathan Ross reveals his rarely seen daughter Betty, 30, is currently using an electric wheelchair

Interview: Jonathan Ross has discussed his daughter Betty’s battle with fibromyalgia, saying she is currently using an electric wheelchair

Speaking on Friday’s Loose Women, Jonathan said: ‘She has fibromyalgia and she has chronic fatigue syndrome and POTS syndrome as well, which is where your heart rate shoots up.’

On Betty’s current treatment, he added: ‘We found a good… there’s a thing called the Perrin treatment. The guy who invented it, he came to talk to me about it and she looked it up online because she’s a smart young woman, so she has to want to do the treatment.

‘You know, I mean, I can’t just say to her ‘try this, try that’ if she thinks it’s wrong in some way and if she’s not going to enter it one hundred percent, of course it’s not worth doing. 

‘But we’ve been having that treatment going on and she’s definitely showing some improvement.’

Family: The chat show host, 62, opened up about Betty's long-term illlness, revealing she can't walk too far but has been 'showing some improvement

Family: The chat show host, 62, opened up about Betty’s long-term illlness, revealing she can’t walk too far but has been ‘showing some improvement

Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body.

Aside from pain, other symptoms can include muscle stiffness, headaches and problems with mental processes, known as ‘fibro-fog’.

Jonathan, who is also father to Honey, 30, and Harvey, 28, with his wife Jane Goldman, revealed the impact it’s had on both his daughter and their family’s life.

He said: ‘She still can’t walk very far. We got her an electric wheelchair in the summer, so we can at least go out and go for walks with the dogs and that’s lifted her spirits a lot.

‘Because that’s the problem, if anyone out there who knows or who’s got someone with a long term illness, you know, it’s the depression. Being stuck indoors and not being able to join in with things because even stairs are a challenge to her.

Jonathan: 'She still can't walk very far. We got her an electric wheelchair in the summer, so we can at least go out and go for walks with the dogs and that's lifted her spirits a lot'

Jonathan: ‘She still can’t walk very far. We got her an electric wheelchair in the summer, so we can at least go out and go for walks with the dogs and that’s lifted her spirits a lot’ 

Jonathan added: 'If anyone out there who knows or who's got someone with a long term illness, you know, it's the depression'

Jonathan added: ‘If anyone out there who knows or who’s got someone with a long term illness, you know, it’s the depression’

WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition defined by widespread pain and fatigue.

It affects up to 2.7 per cent of people worldwide, with three women suffering for every one man, studies suggest.

Fibromyalgia is often triggered by a trauma, such as a car accident or childbirth, as well as infections. Why this occurs is unclear.

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The discomfort tends to be felt as aches and burning from head-to-toe.

And the fatigue ranges from feeling sleepy to the exhaustion of having the flu.

Severe sufferers are often unable to work or socialise. 

The pain can be worse at some times than others and may change location, such as becoming more severe in parts of the body that are used the most.

Other symptoms can include headaches; IBS; diarrhoea or constipation; poor concentration; dizziness; allergies and stimuli sensitivity, such as to light or heat.

Studies suggest the average patient waits five years to be diagnosed, which is thought to be due to X-rays and other medical tests not picking the condition up.

It is generally defined as pain that lasts for more than three months and affects 11 or more out of 18 tender points when pressed.

Treatment aims to relieve pain and aid sleep.

Source: Fibromyalgia Action UK  

‘So if we’re going out we have to give her plenty of time to get ready, get downstairs and then have a rest before we go to the next step, you know.

‘It does have an impact but the good news is she’s definitely showing improvement and feeling better in herself. So we’re relieved and we’re happy with that.’

Jonathan agreed with Loose Women co-host Kaye Adams who candidly admitted: ‘As a parent you just want to fix your children, don’t you?’

He said: ‘I’m terrible at that as well, even if my wife [Jane Goldman] tells me something’s wrong in her day, I have to try and remind myself that sometimes I just need to listen. 

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‘Because as soon as she tells me something, I go ‘Well, I’ll phone this guy and I’ll do this’ and she goes ‘Okay, I don’t… I’m not interested, I just wanted to tell you I had this bad day.’

Jonathan said: 'It does have an impact but the good news is she's definitely showing improvement and feeling better in herself'

Jonathan said: ‘It does have an impact but the good news is she’s definitely showing improvement and feeling better in herself’ 

‘And I go ‘Well who did that and why…’ and sometimes we don’t communicate… Because my immediate instinct and I think this is common to a lot of people, men in particular, is if there’s a problem, fix it. 

‘Not – there’s a problem, share it. Because I don’t really want to be in an unhappy place ever.

‘So I really struggle and I have to remind myself that sometimes what she needs in a partner is someone to listen and share it. So it’s a learning thing.’

Jonathan jokingly added: ‘And I’m still a very young man, so I’ve got plenty of time… to master it!’

Appearance: Jonathan was interviewed by Kaye Adams, Frankie Bridge, Kelly Holmes and Denise Welch

Appearance: Jonathan was interviewed by Kaye Adams, Frankie Bridge, Kelly Holmes and Denise Welch

Celebrities with fibromyalgia

1. Lady Gaga

2. Sinead O’Connor

3. Morgan Freeman

4. Kyle Richards 

5. Janeane Garofalo 

6. Michael James Hastings

7. Mary McDonagh 

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