'I felt like I was dying': Teresa Giudice discusses filthy prison conditions during interview on Watch What Happens Live

Teresa Giudice a few months ago likened prison to 'a low budget spa' where she 'worked out a lot' but it appears that she's backing off on those claims.

In her first interview with Andy Cohen since her release from prison The Real Housewives Of New Jersey sar painted a far more bleak image of the whole experience.

'I felt like I was dying, in reality, that's how I felt,' she told Cohen on Watch What Happens Live on Tuesday night in the first of a two-part episode.

In the clubhouse: Teresa Giudice sat down for her first interview with Andy Cohen since being released from prison as she appeared on Tuesday night's episode of Watch What Happens Live

'I was numb, I was going through the motions, when you first get there, they strip search you, you have to bend down, cough, I felt humiliated,' confessed the 43-year-old reality star of her first days behind bars.

While she praised her fellow inmates as 'really nice' she described some filthy conditions.

'There was urine stains and blood stains on the mattress, it was disgusting. The other girls helped me make my bed, I was exhausted,' complained the reality star who has just served an 11.5 month sentence at a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut.

Candid conversation: Chat show host Andy grilled Teresa about her time in a federal prison

She was incarcerated after pleading guilty in 2014 to multiple offenses, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bankruptcy fraud.

Previously she had told her husband Joe, 43, that the prison was like a 'low budget spa' where she had time to 'work out every day'

'I really just told him that so he wouldn't worry,' said the brunette, who left behind four daughters: Gia, 15; Gabriella, 12; Milania, 10, and six-year-old Audriana.

Warm welcome: Teresa and Andy hugged as she joined him in the clubhouse

'It wasn't really like that,' she backtracked.

Giudice was released from prison on December 23 and was kept under house arrest until last Friday.

She wore a burnt orange jumpsuit to the interview.

'I thought you'd never want to see another jumpsuit,' joked Cohen, 47, who is executive producer of the colossal Real Housewives franchise.

Giudice was on the show to tout her new book Turning The Tables.

New book: The reality star was promoting her new book Turning The Tables

Talking of the amount of 'lady banging' that was happening in the prison she said she'd nicknamed one area the 'boom boom room'.

She even had a message for her former convicts.

'I love you girls, I miss you,' she cooed, blowing kisses to the camera.

Mother of four: Teresa left behind four young daughters when she went to prison

'I hope they're watching,' she said, while noting that the Bravo channel was played in the prison 'all the time'.

Still unwilling to admit that she knew about her husband's large scale fraud she said: 'I'm going to make sure I understand fully before signing any other papers in the future'.

'No one is perfect in life, we all fall down,' she frowned, while claiming that she 'never' felt resentful of her husband, who committed the crimes and is due to serve his sentence next.

'I live with the man. I know he didn't mean to harm me in any way,' she said.

No resentment: Andy asked Teresa if she resented her husband Joe and she said that she didn't

She then rebuffed all rumours that Joe had been cheating on her – noting that one 'friend' of theirs had framed her husband with 'a blonde girl' in order to sell the story.

'We found out that he was having money problems,' she explained.

'So you didn't believe any of the reports?' asked Cohen.

'No…If I didn't want to be with Joe I wouldn't be with Joe,' she said.

On release Giudice had come home to a new Lexus from her husband – a flashy move that had caused some controversy with viewers.

Special guest: Teresa was appearing on a two-part special One-on-One on Bravo

The car was decorated with a giant red bow.

'He [Joe] didn't put the bow on it…Lexus did it, they knew a lot of paparazzi would be there so they got a lot of publicity out of that,' she said calling the car makers 'smart'.

The TV personality said that watching the spin-off show Teresa Checks In was traumatic for her.

The miniseries documented how her family was managing while she was locked up.

'Breaks my heart,' she sniffed, wiping her eyes.

Heart breakin: Teresa teared up while watching her family cope in her absence

'I prayed for them every day,' she breathed, while noting that her husband 'did good' at looking after everyone in her absence.

Cohen described his interview with her sister Melissa Gorga – where she said she hadn't been approved for a visit.

'Things weren't the greatest between us,' admitted Giudice, while conceding that she loves her brother 'and Melissa' and appreciates the help they offered to Joe and her children.

While inside Giudice said she crocheted a Jewish star onto a bookmark as a gift for Cohen.

Constant prayer: The reality star said she constantly prayed for her family while incarcerated

'I didn't get it,' he complained.

After eating basic food in the clink she said she was thrilled to have lobster for her first meal as a free woman.

The second part of Teresa One-on-One will air on Wednesday on Bravo.  

Part two: The second part of the One-on-One will air on Wednesday on Bravo