Navigating Life With Multiple Chronic Illnesses
Hi, I’m truly glad you’re here. Sharing my story hasn’t been easy, but I felt called to do it—not just for myself, but for anyone walking a similar path. For a long time, I lived in confusion, fear, and pain with no answers. My symptoms didn’t make sense, and my life was changing faster than I could understand. If you’re here because you’re searching for support or connection, I hope my words and my story make you feel seen and less alone.
Where It All Began: When My Body Started Whispering… Then Crying Out
My journey began in 2023 with what I thought would be a turning point. I underwent surgery for a herniated disc believing it would relieve my pain and help me get back to my normal life. Instead, my health began to decline shortly afterward in ways that were frightening and unexpected.
The pain grew, fatigue became overwhelming, and new symptoms appeared that no longer fit the simple explanation of a back injury. By 2024, my mobility had worsened so much that I needed a walker just to move around. Losing independence so quickly and so dramatically was heartbreaking. I felt like my world was shrinking around me, and I didn’t understand why.
The Journey to Diagnosis: Fighting for Answers, Searching for Hope
Throughout 2024 and into 2025, the search for answers became its own exhausting journey. My symptoms continued to worsen, and daily life became harder than I could have imagined. In March of 2025, my health forced me to leave my job—a decision filled with grief and fear, but also one I had no choice but to make.
Finally, in July 2025, I received my first major diagnosis: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Suddenly, the dizziness, rapid heart rate, weakness, exhaustion, and the unpredictable crashes finally made sense.
Then, in November, everything became clearer when I was also diagnosed with Celiac disease and POS. Each diagnosis connected pieces of the puzzle that had been haunting me for years. It was validating, but also overwhelming—it meant the illnesses were real, but also lifelong.
I’m still going through further evaluations and awaiting more potential diagnoses. I remain hopeful that I will find a physician who understands the full picture of my symptoms and can help me manage the ongoing pain.
New Challenges: Searching for Understanding and Support
Even with answers, a new set of challenges appeared. One of the hardest parts of living with multiple chronic illnesses is the deep loneliness that comes with it. I often struggle to find a community of people who truly understand what it feels like to wake up every day in a body that drains your energy, your independence, and sometimes even your hope.
Managing my mobility has been especially difficult. I started using a cane, then transitioned to a walker 24/7, and now rely on a wheelchair mostly at night. Each step in this process has been a reminder of how much my body has changed and how much support I need just to get through the day.
Finding the right doctors has also been incredibly difficult. I’m still searching for specialists who not only recognize the complexity of my symptoms but also take the time to listen. The journey can feel isolating, and some days it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed.
I have also struggled with my faith during this journey. As a Christian, I’ve wrestled with questions about why this is happening to me and how to trust God in the midst of pain, uncertainty, and loss of control. Some days are filled with doubt, others with hope—but I’m learning that faith doesn’t always mean having all the answers, and that God’s presence can still be a comfort even when life is hard.
Learning to Live With Chronic Illness
There’s no guidebook for this life. Every day is a lesson—sometimes gentle, sometimes harsh. I am still learning how to live with these conditions, how to care for myself, and how to find joy even in small moments.
Living With Celiac Disease
I had to rebuild my relationship with food from the ground up: avoiding gluten, learning about cross-contamination, reading every label, being careful at restaurants, and grieving the foods I once loved. But honoring what my body can handle has given me moments of relief I never expected.
Living With POTS
Managing POTS is a full-time job: drinking more fluids, increasing salt, wearing compression garments, pacing myself, moving slowly, and planning every activity around my symptoms. It requires patience, understanding, and a level of self-awareness I never had before.
Emotionally
The emotional weight is heavy. I had to learn to give myself grace, to rest without guilt, and to stop apologizing for a body that is doing its best to survive. I still struggle daily, and some days are harder than others—but I am learning and growing, even in the midst of the challenges.
What I’ve Learned Along the Way
Chronic illness has taught me powerful lessons—lessons I never asked for, but ones that changed me:
Your body isn’t broken—it’s asking for care.
Invisible illness is still real.
Rest is not weakness.
Advocating for yourself is necessary, not rude.
You’re allowed to grieve the life you lost.
Healing isn’t linear.
Community matters more than people realize.
You are stronger than you think—especially on the days you feel weakest.
Faith can be messy, but it can also give strength even in uncertainty.
A Glimpse Into Daily Life
Life now looks different than it once did. Some days, I can move around more freely, laugh, cook, and feel like I’m finding little bits of myself again. Other days, standing makes me dizzy, eating causes pain, and I run out of energy before I’ve even begun.
I’ve learned to celebrate the small victories, forgive the difficult days, and listen carefully to the quiet signals my body gives me. I’m still learning how to navigate life with chronic illness, and I know it will be a journey that continues every day.
Advice for Others on Their Own Journey
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or still searching for answers, here are a few things I want you to know:
- Take your symptoms seriously.
- Rest without guilt—your fatigue is real.
- Track your symptoms; patterns matter.
- Advocate for yourself even when it feels uncomfortable.
- Find people who understand—it changes everything.
- What helps others may not work for you, and that’s okay.
- Celebrate every small step forward.
- Your faith, your hope, and your courage matter—even in the hard moments.
Why I’m Sharing This Story
I’m not sharing this for sympathy—I’m sharing it because stories connect us. They remind us that we’re not alone in our struggles, our fears, or our healing.
My goal is to create a space that feels safe, comforting, and supportive. A place where people with chronic illnesses can see themselves reflected, feel validated, and find hope.
A Final Message of Support
If you’re reading this while struggling, please hear this:
You are not imagining your symptoms.
You are not overreacting.
You are not weak.
You are not alone.
Your pain is real.
Your story is valid.
Your strength is extraordinary.
You deserve care, answers, understanding, and relief. And even on the hardest days, you are doing an incredible job simply by surviving.
I’m walking this path too—and I’m here with you. I’m still learning, still struggling, and still holding onto hope—and that’s enough.
