Amy Dowden has revealed she can suffer 'four to five black outs' a day from pain caused by Crohn's disease. 

The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 34, was diagnosed with Crohn's aged 19 after suffering from bouts of illness since the age of 11.

As she discussed her battle with the chronic condition on Aimee Fuller's Monday Mile podcast she described the level of pain that she endures.  

Amy explained: 'If you think, a woman is designed for childbirth, you don't pass out during childbirth. 

'I can have four to five black outs, because the pain is that much that my body can't control it.

'I get swollen eyes, inflammation to my joints, my skin, but I'm very, very lucky that I work with the most incredible team and a lot of my severe symptoms are now under control and in remission.' 

She added: 'I'm so blessed to have such an incredible team, but unfortunately, Crohn's disease is a chronic illness that I will live with for the rest of my life.'  

The lifelong condition causes parts of the digestive system to become inflamed. For Amy this caused here to suffer with swollen eyes, mouth ulcers, constipation, pain, sickness and fatigue.

She now takes eight steroids a day to stay out of hospital.

In an interview with WalesOnline in 2020, Amy recalled how Crohn's affected her in her teenage years. 

She confessed that is was a 'roller coaster of emotions' and the 'hardest time' of her life.

At the start of her dance career Amy said potential dance partners considered her a 'risk' to work with, over concerns that her Crohn's disease would impact their careers if she needed to take time out.

She told Crohn's & Colitis UK that it was a relief to receive a diagnosis and added that 'Crohn's was never going to hold (her) back'.

'I just have to look out for the signs, which for me start with swollen eyes. Then I call my doctor,' she told the charity.'

Amy added: 'I have learnt to listen to my body, and to notice when things start getting out of tune. I know when I need to rest, and when I have to eat simply and drink lots of water.'

The Welsh star has returned to the dancefloor after being rushed off the BBC flagship show three months ago when she was 'taken ill' and it was later revealed she had suffered an insufficiency stress fracture in her shin.

Speaking to MailOnline about her return, she said: 'I feel like Amy again in 2025. My energy levels are different, I'm super excited. 

'To be back on tour, to be able to dance with JB again after our journey was cut so unexpectedly short, but also to be part of a team it's just a great way to start 2025.'

Amy collapsed off-stage during Week Six - Halloween Week - after her performance and was taken to hospital as a 'precaution' but was forced to drop out of the show and Lauren Oakley, 33, stepped in.

She had returned to Strictly last year for the first time after having a mastectomy following her diagnosis with breast cancer, making her injury and having to pull out of the show all the more painful.