Peter Andre’s wife Emily, 36, shares health update with fans after revealing she was diagnosed with shingles that left her with painful symptoms

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Emily MacDonagh, Peter Andre’s wife, recently told fans she has shingles and provided an update on her health.

Dr. Emily Andre, 36, who is married to singer Peter Andre, 53, used Instagram on Friday to address frequently asked questions from her earlier video. She covered topics like what to look for in terms of symptoms, how the condition is treated, when to see a doctor, and how it spreads.

Shingles happens when the varicella zoster virus, which is related to the herpes family and usually causes chickenpox in childhood, becomes reactivated.

After infection, the virus remains inactive within the body, but it can become active again if the immune system becomes weakened.

In a video message to her followers, she expressed gratitude to those who watched her previous video about shingles. She was happy it proved useful and helped spread awareness about the condition.

I noticed some great questions in the comments, and I wanted to take a moment to answer a few of them.

Someone pointed out that in England, you can usually get help with minor health issues quickly from a pharmacist.

Oh my gosh, Emily actually responded to my comment! She said I was totally right to point something out, which, like, I knew I was, and she said if you’re over 18 and think you might have shingles, you should definitely go see your pharmacist. I’m seriously freaking out right now – she noticed me!

She explained that if specialists believe treatment is necessary, they can prescribe the same medications or therapies a patient’s regular doctor would.

Someone else mentioned that the lingering tenderness from shingles can last a surprisingly long time, even after the rash has healed. They had it as a teenager and still experience occasional sensitivity in the same spot decades later, highlighting how the body seems to remember. They also stressed the importance of thorough handwashing if you’ve been in contact with the affected area.

They added that they didn’t understand what it was at first and kept touching it, thinking it was just back acne. It took a while to get a proper diagnosis.

Emily replied to the comment, suggesting it might be postherpetic neuralgia. She explained that this condition often happens after someone has shingles and causes pain in the area where the shingles rash was.

Postherpetic neuralgia causes long-term pain, but it typically improves over time, and various treatments are available to manage it.

Postherpetic neuralgia typically begins while the shingles rash is present or shortly after it heals. However, it can sometimes develop weeks or even months after the rash disappears, though this is uncommon.

You’re right to emphasize handwashing. Someone with shingles can spread chickenpox to people who’ve never had it, so it’s crucial to avoid touching the rash, wash your hands thoroughly, and not share personal items like towels.

One person also mentioned that children can get shingles, sharing that their 10-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed.

Emily responded, confirming that anyone can get shingles, but stressed the importance of immediately contacting a doctor or calling 111 if you think a child under 18 might have it.

I was really struck by one comment I read. This person said stress definitely triggered their back pain, starting around age 48, and they’d never experienced anything so intense. It wasn’t just on one side, but a full band of pain across their lower back. Now, they live in fear that even a little tiredness or a cold will bring it back – it’s something they worry about constantly.

I really appreciated what they said next. It was like they could sense the emotional toll everything had taken on me. They gently reminded me to be mindful of my own well-being, to slow down and prioritize self-care. They were so right – my daughter being sick had definitely added a lot of stress, and I hadn’t been looking after myself at all.

Emily was happy to receive the comment and responded with thanks. She explained that anyone who has had chickenpox could potentially get shingles.

The chances of getting shingles, and how bad it is, generally go up as you get older because your immune system naturally weakens over time. Shingles often happens when your immune system is down, like after being sick with something such as the flu, or during times of significant stress or emotional difficulty.

One person wondered if babies vaccinated against chickenpox would still be at risk for shingles, hoping the vaccine would offer extra protection against both diseases.

As a wellness expert, I often get asked about the shingles vaccine, and it’s great you’re thinking about this! Basically, the vaccine is really effective at lowering your risk of getting shingles. While it’s possible to still get it after being vaccinated, it’s not common – it’s considered quite rare.

‘But if you do get it, the chances are the symptoms will be much milder.’ 

She ended her video by giving followers a health update, thanking them for their questions and letting them know she’s feeling much better.

I recently finished a week of treatment that’s been really effective. I’m still dealing with a little pain, but I’m feeling much better overall. Thank you to everyone for your kind words and support.

This news follows Emily’s recent announcement that she has shingles, which she shared with her followers after experiencing painful symptoms.

The doctor shared a candid video last Friday where she discussed her painful symptoms.

Emily shared a health update in her latest post, explaining that she was recently diagnosed with shingles. She created a short video to explain the condition and raise awareness, hoping to help those who might not know much about it.

Oh my gosh, she was wearing the cutest pink sweater, and she just casually mentioned it in her video! She said she first felt this weird pain and just…strange feelings under her arm, and then, like, a couple of days later, this rash showed up on her back, only on one side. I immediately paused it like, ten times to make sure I hadn’t misheard! It was so concerning, but she seemed so calm explaining it… I just want to know what’s going on!

She added that this wasn’t a situation she anticipated, but she hoped by speaking out, she could bring more attention to the issue.

The mother ended her video by saying she’s hoping to feel like herself again soon.

‘I hope that as helpful, stay well everyone.’ 

Emily received many supportive messages from fans, with many wishing her a quick recovery and thanking her for sharing information about shingles.

‘Hope you get well soon Doc.’

‘Thank you for sharing and get well soon.’ 

‘Get well soon Emily. I have had this 3 times in the last year it’s painful.’

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2026-04-04 13:34