A woman has left doctors baffled after suffering crippling pain, hair loss and extreme fatigue, which they've been unable to link to an illness.
Grace Almey, 21, is desperate to get to the bottom of the symptoms and has been in and out of hospital for five months. But despite multiple tests and examinations by specialists, she remains without a formal diagnosis. She said: "This has been the darkest period of my life. It has completely taken over my life and put everything on hold for me."
"I have had extensive time off work, missed concerts, two holidays and any social events that I had planned. For a long time, I couldn't go to the shop or leave the house. It's isolating and depressing. It has made me feel extremely hopeless."
Grace says the ordeal has been 'the darkest period' of her life (Jam Press/@graciemayalmey)Grace, from Manchester, first reported issues in January when a two-day-long sharp pain in her back and hip prompted her to visit A&E for help. An ultrasound found she had endometrioma - a cyst filled with blood - on her right ovary. She was sent home with pain relief as doctors said the cyst would resolve itself.
Grace said: "I went home, but I became more unwell as time went on. Eventually, I went back to the hospital where they said the cyst had gone, however, my symptoms remained. I'd spoken to doctors at least five times within a six-week period. My time in the hospital was traumatic. I was put on strong pain relief which caused me to vomit and feel dizzy. My friends and family could only visit at certain times and I was extremely scared and lonely."
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Grace was soon referred for a colonoscopy but chose to opt for private healthcare due to a nine-month wait on the NHS. She forked out £2,000, but her results came back normal, leaving doctors baffled. She said: "I have experienced severe abdominal and back pain, excessive bloating, bowel disturbances, extreme fatigue, hair loss, weight loss, joint pain, vomiting and mouth ulcers. They could not explain my symptoms."
Grace has had multiple tests but is yet to be diagnosed (Jam Press/@graciemayalmey)It was then suggested that Grace may be suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a chronic condition that affects the digestive system and causes stomach cramping. But when she was treated for it, her symptoms persisted. In a desperate effort to rid herself of pain, the 21-year-old has taken matters into her own hands by transforming her diet and cutting out gluten, dairy and refined sugars.
She now only consumes whole foods, along with vitamin B12, vitamin D and supplements designed to aid gut health. She said: "I stopped eating processed foods and my diet consists mainly of fruit, vegetables and organic meat. I would say these have helped some of my symptoms, such as joint pain and fatigue, but the stomach pain has stayed the same."
Grace's friends, family and boyfriend have continued to support her through the ordeal, but she says she's been left with trauma which has hugely impacted her life. She said: "I would just like to advise anyone going through the same thing to keep fighting as you should not have to live a life in pain with no answers. I feel as though I have had little help and was just being put on tablet after tablet which is not ever going to fix the problem. I won't ever give up fighting for my health. Only you know your body best."
After posting about her health struggles online in a post viewed by 224,000 people, users rushed to share their messages of support. One wrote: "Sorry you have been so poorly. I'm undergoing tests. It's such a stressful experience. I hope you find your diagnosis." Another said: "This sounds like how I was with endometriosis before my laparoscopy! Definitely worth investigating."
"Hope you get answers soon," wrote a third user, while one person said: "I am also suffering with a chronic mystery illness and really feel for you!!!! It can be beyond frustrating and isolating."
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