“I was terrified of what my future would look like. I vomit in my mouth at least three times a day, and I can’t drink water. My migraine never went away. It’s been over 80 days without relief. The answers are out there.”
‘It’s obviously psychological.’ Doctors dismissed my pain. I lost over 20% of my bodyweight in 8 months. I felt like a zombie.’: Chronic illness warrior finds hope, ‘I’m still fighting for answers’
‘I think I’m going to die.’ My body was shutting down. If I closed my eyes, they wouldn’t open again.’: Chronic illness warrior battling Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome says ‘hope keeps us alive’
“I went into the hospital, screaming how intense the pain was. The staff took my parents out of the room to ask, ‘Is she pretending to be ill for attention?’ I thought once I was diagnosed, all this would change.”
‘What have I done to deserve this?’ I’d wake up hoping the drugs and alcohol had killed me in my sleep. The pain was unbearable’: Man with Crohn’s disease celebrates 8 months sober
“At age 20, I had two feet of my small bowel removed. I’d be straining my stomach acid out. I didn’t tell anyone about how much it was affected my mental health. I started drinking in the daytime. I wanted to end my life.”
‘The doctor said, ‘Something is brewing, but I just can’t put my finger on it.’ I went from a ‘migraine’ to blacking out for two months.’: Teen battling chronic illness urges ‘let the worst inspire the good’
“I spiked a 108-degree fever. I was stripped naked, covered with cold cloths, and had fans blasting my body. Soon after, I went psychotic. Nothing I said made sense, and everything had a twisted meaning. HGTV sent me into full-blown panic.”
‘You’re faking it for attention.’ THIS is why we’re afraid to ask for help. I put my energy into finding answers. I’m worth fighting for.’: Chronic illness warrior struggles for diagnosis, ‘It won’t stop me from achieving my dreams’
“I thought I was crazy. I KNEW something was wrong, but after being told it was ‘all in my head,’ I started to doubt myself because of the medical gaslighting. Now, I’m FINALLY getting help.”
‘THIS is my wake up call. I took charge of my health once and for all. NO MORE dismissive doctors being the drivers of my journey.’: Chronic illness warrior advocates for herself, ‘I can only control my attitude’
“I never thought the ‘pesky problems’ would become an illness. I felt like I was going CRAZY. No one believed me! I can’t control my circumstances, but I CAN control how I handle them.”
‘My life is over and I’m only 28!’ How could I raise my son? He’d grow up learning to take care of me.’: Mom battles Multiple Sclerosis, ‘It’s about finding the silver linings’
“Would my son end up taking care of me? I went from moments of being emotionally sound to breaking down. It took MONTHS, but I finally understood my life was NOT over.”
‘You’re extremely complicated.’ My doctor apologized profusely. After a decade of being told it was in my head, my pain was real.’: Woman battles chronic illnesses, ‘I’m still here and still fighting’
“I was constantly told I was a hypochondriac. ’Just drink more water.’ But the pain didn’t go away. I looked in the mirror and realized just how sick I was. I barely recognized myself.”
‘Everything looked normal to the surgeon.’ I felt helpless. My fight to find what was wrong was nowhere near over.’: Woman finally diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, ‘Be your own advocate’
“I woke up in the recovery room. ‘Did they find anything?’ My heart broke when the tests came back clear. I’d been relying on this surgery to give me answers. My body was struggling.”
‘There’s ALWAYS something wrong.’ I’d sleep for 14 hours and still be exhausted. My body was clearly trying to tell me something.’: Woman battles chronic illnesses, ‘I changed my perspective’
“I was labeled a ‘hypochondriac.’ I’d get home and sleep without being able to do basic things like chores. ‘It’s all in your head!’ My worst fear was looking weak.”
