Latest news with #invisibleIllness
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Multiple sclerosis: 'I was told I was far too young to have MS'
Amy Thompson was only 21 years old and living her dream life working in Paris as an intern for a fashion consultancy when everything "turned upside down".She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) despite being told she was "far too young" to become one of the estimated 150,000 people in the UK living with the incurable years later and Amy, a French and business management graduate from Worsley in Salford, Greater Manchester, is determined to raise awareness of MS, which affects the brain and spinal 28-year-old, who regularly posts updates on her Instagram account But You Don't Look Ill, spoke to BBC North West Tonight as part of a six-part series about invisible disabilities and and in her own words, she shares her story. I don't look ill!I started to experience numbness in my left leg, and I ignored it for a few I went to the doctor, and he kind of dismissed it a little bit.I asked him: "Do you think it could be MS? I'm really concerned as I've now got this other symptom" and he replied: "No - you're far too young."But things progressively got I went to see a neurologist and straight away she said "you've got MS". My main symptom is fatigue - just feeling absolutely exhausted all the time, no matter how much you are other symptoms like eye problems including optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve), some numbness, and unusual sensations in difficult knowing there's no I told people about my diagnosis they said things like:But you don't look illYou look so wellYou're too young to have MSI don't understand - I thought you'd be in a wheelchair?And so I was inspired to start an Instagram account called But You Don't Look I was first diagnosed I could not find anyone that was young that was talking about having I decided to just try and be that person for someone sharing my story I realised there were so many other young people in the same boat that were just looking to find others that they could relate I decided to start looking into the process of setting up a the end of 2022 we got the official registration for MS now provide lots of different services to people and we focus on people aged 18 to 35 who are living with MS. What has been amazing through this whole thing is that I've just found such an amazing purpose that I really didn't I first got diagnosed, I was so terrified about it changing my life in a lot of negative have been a lot of bumps along the road and it hasn't always been easy, but so many amazing things have come from is quite cheesy, but it probably is a bit of a superpower. And I am really grateful for it because I now have such a passion for what I story features in a special six-part BBC North West Tonight series about invisible disabilities and conditions. You can watch it on BBC One in the Northwest of England and the Isle of Man from 18:30 BST on Friday 4 July. It will also be available on the BBC iPlayer. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I was 20 minutes from death after an 'invisible illness' ravaged my body - I thought my life was over but now I'm GLAD it happened, reveals Tom Speight
Tom Speight was 20 minutes from death and thought that his life was over after his 'invisible illness' ravaged his body - but has admitted that he's now glad it happened. The 38-year-old singer, who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when he was 19, opened up about his journey with the condition to Cat Deeley, 48, and Ben Shephard, 50, on Tuesday's episode of This Morning. 'Crohn's disease is a long-term condition where part of your gut becomes inflamed. It cannot currently be cured,' according to the NHS. Tom, who is an ambassador for Crohn's and Colitis UK, is due to take part in a charity challenge this weekend to raise awareness for the disease. He explained: 'I've had Cronn's for 20 years which is crazy. It's been a roller coaster. I was thinking about it the other day, first time in two years, where I haven't been in hospital every year, I wrote largely most of my first album in hospital. 'To do this challenge, raising money for Crohn's and Colitis UK, I'm super proud.' The 38-year-old, who was Crohn's disease when he was 19, opened up about his journey with the condition to Cat Deeley, 48, and Ben Shephard, 50, (pictured) on Tuesday's episode of This Morning Recalling what happened when he was diagnosed, Tom said: 'It came out of nowhere, I was at university, I was having diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss. 'I didn't know anything about it. 'It's important, if I can speak about it. At the time, there wasn't much awareness of Crohn's, it's important we get the word out there. 'It's an invisible illness, as well.' Ben pointed out how serious it is as he was 20 minutes away from death at one point. Tom said: 'Yeah, that was four years after diagnosis. 20 minutes from dying, basically. yeah. Which sounds really dramatic. And then I woke up with a stoma.' According to the NHS, 'a colostomy is where part of your large bowel (colon) is brought out through an opening made in your tummy. The opening is called a stoma.' Ben asked: 'Coming to terms with that must have been really, really difficult. 'How old were you at the time?' 'I would have been 23/24,' Tom replied. He continued: 'I had a record deal, publishing deal, I remember thinking at the time when they said that they were going to have to put me in surgery, I was more worried about all of that disappearing, than the actual surgery itself. 'I just thought it's over for me, I don't know any musicians that have these things. 'I didn't really speak about it until my third album, where I thought if I have a platform I can do it for my younger self and say "It's going to be alright". 'We've toured the world, I've got back from Brazil and Argentina, done Glastonbury, living the dream, on Radio 2. 'I'm here to say to people at home, if you're struggling to get out of bed today, you can do it, this idiot has signed up for an army challenge.' They then touched upon him posing topless with his stoma. Tom joked: 'Let's be honest, two days later, you [Ben] were on Men's Health... I was like some budget version of Ben Shephard for a couple of days. 'That was nerve wracking. 'I hadn't taken my top off ever, since surgery, I wear a support band. 'To be standing in front of a cameralense, was daunting really. I did it to own the disease and having a stoma. 'I recently became single in the last year, I kept on thinking it was a stumbling block of like having these conversations so now I'm just going to have it as my Tinder profile.' He added: 'I think there is misconceptions, I started going to the gym and people working out with asking "can you do this, can you do that?" 'I didn't play football for like 10 years because I was worried about getting injured. This is why I want to do the challenge to say nothing will hold me back. 'Having stoma or Crohn's, it's like my super power, it gave me a whole lease of life. 'Since diagnosis to that surgery, I was just existing really. I'm thriving.' This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV. CROHN'S DISEASE EXPLAINED Crohn's disease is a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system. Inflammation most commonly occurs in the last section of the small or large intestine but it can affect any part of the digestive system. Common symptoms can include: diarrhoea abdominal pain fatigue (extreme tiredness) unintended weight loss blood and mucus in your faeces (stools) Remission occurs when people with the disease go long periods of time without symptoms however these periods can be followed by flare ups of symptoms. Why it happens The exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. However, research suggests a combination of factors may be responsible. These include: genetics – genes you inherit from your parents may increase your risk of developing Crohn's disease the immune system – the inflammation may be caused by a problem with the immune system that causes it to attack healthy bacteria in the gut previous infection – a previous infection may trigger an abnormal response from the immune system smoking – smokers with Crohn's disease usually have more severe symptoms than non-smokers environmental factors – Crohn's disease is most common in westernised countries such as the UK, and least common in poorer parts of the world such as Africa, which suggests the environment has a part to play
Arab News
13-05-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Bella Hadid describes ‘excruciating pain' of living with Lyme disease
LONDON: Dutch-Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid has described living with chronic pain due to Lyme disease in an interview with Vogue. Hadid, 28, was first diagnosed with the disease in 2012. Her mother Yolanda and brother Anwar were also diagnosed. The supermodel told the magazine that she suffers from headaches, brain fog, light and noise sensitivity, inflammation and joint pain. Lyme disease can also cause depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which Hadid has also reportedly suffered from. The condition is a bacterial infection that can spread to humans through infected ticks. Hadid said she often feels down on herself 'for being so sensitive,' adding: 'I think nobody really understands chronic illness. It's hard to take a shower most days, which I promise, guys, if you're reading this, I shower every day. 'But sometimes, if I have one day off, if I can get in the shower and make myself breakfast, I see that as an accomplishment.' In 2020, Hadid used Instagram to describe the illness as an 'invisible disease.' She shared a diagram outlining the symptoms, saying: 'Everyday I feel at least 10 of these attributes without fail ... since I was probably 14, but more aggressively when I turned 18.' Symptoms often subside months after an infection, but a minority of people who are diagnosed can experience them for years. Hadid told Vogue: 'Our interview today was at 3 p.m. I was in excruciating pain until 11 a.m. and had a very tough morning.' The illness is usually treated with a course of antibiotics prescribed by a GP. Those experiencing severe symptoms may be given stronger antibiotics.
