Ben Askren's wife admits he was ‘too close' to dying ‘a few times' as ex-UFC star leaves hospital after eight weeks
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BEN ASKREN'S wife admits he was 'too close' to dying after the former UFC star left hospital.
Askren, 41, was rushed to the ER last month with a severe case of pneumonia.
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Ben Askren is back home after spending eight weeks in hospital
Credit: https://www.instagram.com/benaskren/?hl=en
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The ex-UFC star underwent a double lung transplant after contracting pneumonia
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
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His wife Amy claims Askren came 'too close' to dying
Credit: Instagram @amyaskren1
The UFC legend was forced to undergo a double lung transplant.
And Askren revealed 12 days ago that he 'died four times' on the operating table.
The former welterweight star had been in hospital for eight whole weeks as he recovered from surgery.
But Askren has now been released back home after a gruelling time away.
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He appeared with wife Amy to give fans an update on his condition.
And Askren's other half revealed that he had been 'too close' to passing away throughout his ordeal.
Askren first said: 'What's up guys? Day 59, I'm out.
'That was a long journey and it's not over because I still can't really walk, gotta re-teach myself to do that among many other things.
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'I guess I can make light of it because it was me… and I don't really remember it, but Amy, how close was I to dying?'
Wife Amy replied: 'Too close, a few times.'
Ex-UFC star Ben Askren in tears as he reveals he 'died four times' during double lung transplant
Askren added: 'Hopefully I'm not in this situation again for a really, really long time. I plan on living a while.'
Askren's emotional message came a week after he opened up on his lungs getting 'stolen.'
He said: 'I'm gonna plead guilty, I felt bad for myself one time.
'And that doesn't do anyone any good. 'Man, I never smoked one cigarette.' Never smoked any weed, why did my lungs get stolen from me?
'Why isn't this happening to someone who smokes? Then I realised, it happened. I can be bitter and angry, I could whine and cry, but that's not going to help anybody.
'I am where I am now and I'm going to move forward the best that I can.'
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Scottish Sun
43 minutes ago
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Does the Pill harm fertility and do spicy foods actually induce labour? Expert busts 13 myths you probably believe
Including a common hair dye misconception and how long you should really wait to have sex after childbirth MAYBE BABY? Does the Pill harm fertility and do spicy foods actually induce labour? Expert busts 13 myths you probably believe Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MOST of us know not to believe everything we read on the internet. But somehow, many old wives' tales manage to stick. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Many of us believe pregnancy and fertility myths Credit: Getty 6 NCT expert Katherine Walker separates fact from fiction Credit: Katherine Walker/National Childbirth Trust This is especially true when it comes to fertility and pregnancy. It's naturally an exciting but worrying time, and parents-to-be are often desperate to do everything 'right'. But should you really eat a spicy curry to induce labour? And will sleeping on your back while pregnant actually harm your baby? Here, Katherine Walker, service development manager and practitioner at the National Childbirth Trust, separates fact from fiction. 1. The pill harms your fertility - FALSE NO matter which one you use or how long you've been taking it, contraceptive pills do not harm fertility. It can take several months for your periods to return to normal, but there is no long-term impact. In fact, research by Wolkite University found 83 per cent of women get pregnant within 12 months of coming off the pill. Katherine tells Sun Health: 'The pill is an effective contraceptive if used correctly. It does not cause infertility.' 2. Pregnant women should avoid all fish - FALSE BRIE, salami, pâté and certain mushrooms - the list of foods to avoid while pregnant can seem endless. But there are still plenty of options, including fish. Dancing on Ice star shocked as she discovers bizarre reason for her 'unexplained infertility' Many women assume they need to cut all seafood from their diet once they realise they're expecting, however that's not true. 'It is actually recommended that pregnant women eat two portions of fish a week, including oily fish such as salmon, sardines or mackerel,' Katherine says. Cooked shellfish, such as mussels, lobster, crab, prawns, scallops and clams are also fine. However, certain fish should be avoided. 'This includes shark, swordfish and marlin due to concentrations of mercury,' Katherine says. 'Cold-smoked or cured fish such as smoked salmon or gravlax, including sushi, should also be avoided unless it has been cooked until steaming hot because of the risk of bacteria or parasites.' 3. Sleeping on your back can harm your baby - TRUE WE all have our preferred sleeping positions. But where possible, mums-to-be should avoid sleeping on their backs. Katherine says: 'From 28 weeks onwards, the safer position to go to sleep in is on your side. 'Sleeping on your back after this time slightly elevates the chance of a stillbirth.' Scientists at Auckland University found the weight of the uterus when back-sleeping could restrict blood flow to the baby and 'add extra stress'. While unlikely, it is possible to become pregnant if you have sex during your period Katherine Walker Separate research by the University of Huddersfield estimated that going to sleep lying on your back from 28 weeks increased the risk of stillbirth by 2.6 times. And a study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology warned expectant mums who lie on their back rather than their side during their third trimester were three times more likely to have a baby with a low birth weight. 'Pillows can help support you to get comfortable side sleeping,' Katherine says. 'If you have a night waking and find yourself on your back, just return to a side-lying position.' 6 Taking the contraceptive pill does not harm your fertility Credit: Getty 4. Stress causes infertility - FALSE 'STRESS causes an increase in hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which may in turn affect the hormones related to fertility,' Katherine says. 'However, plenty of people still become pregnant during stressful times, and it is unlikely to be stress alone causing fertility problems.' Feeling stressed can also impact your sex drive, perhaps reducing your chances of conception. But again, stress isn't directly impacting your physiology - rather your behaviour. 5. You can't dye your hair during pregnancy - FALSE DESPITE most research showing it is safe to do so, content regularly appears online warning women not to dye their hair during pregnancy. 'Although the chemicals in permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes may cause harm, this is only in very high doses,' the NHS says. 'When you use hair dye, you are only exposed to very low amounts.' Katherine adds: 'It is possible that these could be absorbed via the skin on your hands or head, or breathed in, but this would be at a very low level. 'Risks can be minimised by using gloves or only having highlights as these don't touch the scalp, as well as being in a well-ventilated room.' 6 Despite popular belief, you can dye your hair while pregnant Credit: Getty 6. You can get pregnant on your period - TRUE MOST women have periods around every 28 days. 'The most fertile time of the menstrual cycle is during ovulation, which usually occurs around 14 days after the start of the last period,' Katherine says. This is when an egg is released from the ovaries. And it can be fertilised when it meets a man's sperm. Theoretically, there is only a short window when you can fall pregnant, and it's around this time. However, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when this happens, and it varies between people. Fertility facts you probably didn't know Around one in seven couples may have difficulty conceiving About 30 per cent of fertility problems are due to a man, 30 per cent due to a woman, and 30 to 40 per cent to both or unknown causes More than eight out of 10 couples, where the woman is under 40, will conceive naturally within a year if they have regular unprotected sex (every two or three days) For couples who have been trying to conceive for more than three years without success, the likelihood of getting pregnant naturally within the next year is one in four, or less A woman's caffeine intake can impact how long it takes to get pregnant A man's weight can affect a couple's ability to have a baby A 30-year-old woman with a normal reproductive system has about a 20 per cent chance of conceiving in any given month. This drops to five per cent over the age of 40 A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have Freezing eggs before the age of 30 will probably provide the highest number of healthy eggs Around 52,500 patients had IVF and 3,000 had donor insemination (DI) treatment at licensed centres in the UK in 2022 The average age of first-time IVF patients is just over 35 One cycle of IVF can take three to six weeks Between 1991 and 2021, there were more than 390,000 births as a result of fertility treatment More than 70,000 donor-conceived children were born between 1991 and 2020 Source: NHS, British Fertility Society, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Sperm can also survive in the fallopian tubes for up to seven days after sex. 'Menstrual cycles vary in length, so some people ovulate earlier in their cycle, and some women experience a period which lasts for several days,' Katherine says. 'Sperm can live in the woman or birthing person's body after ejaculation for several days after sex, so conception is possible over a window of around a week and doesn't necessarily happen on the day of sex but can happen a few days later. 'While unlikely, it is possible to become pregnant if you have sex during your period.' 7. Pregnant women should always eat for two people - FALSE YOU often hear expectant mums talking about 'eating for two'. While the body is working hard and many women will feel hungrier than normal, you don't need to double all your portions or force yourself to eat. 'Pregnant women do not need to eat for two people, but having a healthy, balanced diet with a wide variety of food is important,' Katherine says. 'Those in early pregnancy should also consider taking a vitamin D and folic acid supplement to help reduce the risk of the baby having a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida. 'To support the baby's growth during the final three months of pregnancy, most people may need an extra 200 calories a day.' 6 Unfortunately, spicy food does not induce labour Credit: Getty Images - Getty 8. Eating spicy foods induces labour - FALSE JENNIFER Aniston tries it while playing a significantly overdue Rachel Green in Friends. 'But no, spicy food does not induce labour,' Katherine says. 'It used to be a bit of an urban myth that perhaps this would stimulate the cervix, but there is no evidence that this is the case. 'It can also cause diarrhoea which irritates the intestines.' 9. You can't have sex for a long time after you give birth - FALSE DESPITE popular belief, there is no required waiting period before you can have sex after childbirth. However, waiting until after your six-week postnatal checkup - and when you feel physically and emotionally ready - is a good starting point. 'It is up to the people involved when to have sex again after birth,' Katherine says. 'Most women will feel sore and need time to recover from the birth, however, there are other ways to remain intimate during this time. 'You can become pregnant again just three weeks after giving birth, so people might want to consider which contraception to use.' How to increase your chances of getting pregnant Have sex every two to three days without using contraception, making sure sperm enters the vagina Try to have sex around the time you are ovulating – this is usually 12 to 16 days before your period starts Maintain a healthy weight Stop drinking alcohol Do not smoke Take folic acid every day Eat a healthy diet Stay physically active Stop using any illegal substances Cut down on caffeine if you drink a lot Source: NHS 10. Pregnancy will make you gain weight - TRUE IT is normal and expected to gain weight during pregnancy. 'Everyone is different, but most people will gain 22 to 28lbs (10 to 12.5kg) over the course of the pregnancy – mainly from 20 weeks onwards,' Katherine says. 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Scottish Sun
43 minutes ago
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Cancer devastated me – but I started shaking when I realised my 20-year-old TATTOO could be to blame
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Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
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