Here's Why Leah McSweeney Was Admitted to a Hospital on RHUGT

It’s been a whirlwind of drama for Leah McSweeney on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, as illustrated by the New York ‘Wife’s recent health woes in Thailand. What happened?

Leah, of The Real Housewives of New York City, felt unwell early on the ladies' trip to Phuket. Throughout RHUGT Season 3, she complained of suffering from PMS symptoms — later telling producers she lives with PMDD [premenstrual dysphoric disorder], which commonly produces a more severe manifestation of womanly issues.

Leah was vocal about having “the runs,” headaches, and feeling generally unwell, causing her to miss out on several activities.

Why Did Leah McSweeney Go to the Hospital?

Things seemingly came to a head when, in Episode 5, which aired Thursday, April 6, the ladies headed to Phuket’s Old Town for a day of shopping. It was an especially sweltering day, with Leah telling The Real Housewives of Potomac’s Gizelle Bryant that she’d already taken “a bunch” of antacids before they left Villa Aye.

Leah visibly suffered in the heat before collapsing in a retail store just moments after saying, “I can’t feel my legs.”

The ladies, including The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s Heather Gay and Whitney Rose, The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Porsha Williams, The Real Housewives of Miami’s Alexia Nepola and Marysol Patton, and The Real Housewives of Potomac's Candiace Dillard Bassett and Gizelle Bryant, all ran to Leah’s aid. Lead concierge Pepsi was also there to the rescue.

Producers stepped in, helping Leah lay down before she cried for Pepsi, saying, “I don’t want to die.” Leah was ultimately escorted off with wet towels on her head and later found back at Villa Aye after Gizelle held court at lunch over her missing tequila.

Things seemed to get better for Leah — at least for a while — until the next day, when the New York fashion designer ran from the breakfast table, saying she was “gonna throw up.” Those left in the dining room were left to wonder if perhaps she’d taken medication on an empty stomach.

But things only got worse when emergency personnel had to enter Leah’s bedroom against the backdrop of Leah retching in her en suite.

Despite administering electrolytes and missing an important visit to the Buddhist temple with the rest of the ‘Wives, Leah told producers that she had to be transported to the emergency room, telling them she had to be “extra sure” that nothing was seriously wrong.

Tapes rolled at the hospital after Leah was hooked up to IVs and monitors. In selfie video recorded by Leah, she told nurses her headache was “so bad” and not going away.

Later in the evening, Candiace — with whom she’d grown closest throughout the season — had a video chat, with Leah saying she felt worse since arriving at the hospital. She hoped a good night’s sleep could help.

On the RHUGT season finale, which aired Thursday, April 20, Leah quietly returned to Villa Aye while the girls were away for an exotic lunch.

So what was wrong with Leah?

“I have a viral infection of some sort,” she told Candiace while alone in Leah’s room.  

She later showed up for the group’s last event, which included the women dressed in beautifully-sewn, traditional Thai dresses, entering to a friendly round of applause. Although the exact source of what led to Leah feeling under the weather might remain a mystery, thankfully, she was back to her old self to enjoy the last leg of the trip.

Catch up on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip, streaming only on Peacock.