For years, I existed in a state of survival. Each day was a battle against symptoms no one could explain, doctors who didn't believe me, and a healthcare system that seemed designed to dismiss rather than diagnose. If you're reading this, you probably know this exhausting reality all too well.
This is my story of transformation—from a patient barely surviving to someone who learned to advocate, persist, and ultimately thrive despite chronic illness.
It started subtly. Fatigue that coffee couldn't fix. Pain that moved through my body like an uninvited guest. Brain fog that made simple tasks feel impossible. At first, I dismissed these symptoms myself—maybe I just needed more sleep, better vitamins, less stress.
But as months turned into years, I could no longer ignore what my body was screaming. Something was fundamentally wrong.
What followed was a four-year odyssey through eleven different doctors. Each appointment felt like a test I was failing:
"Your labs look normal."
"Have you considered that this might be anxiety?"
"Maybe you just need to exercise more."
"Are you sure you're not just stressed?"
The worst part wasn't the physical symptoms—it was the creeping doubt. Was I imagining this? Was I crazy? The medical professionals I'd been taught to trust were telling me nothing was wrong, yet I could barely function.
This is medical gaslighting, and it's devastatingly common.
Studies show that patients with complex or invisible conditions see an average of 7+ doctors over 4+ years before receiving accurate diagnoses. For those with rare diseases, this journey is even longer. But knowing the statistics didn't make my experience any less isolating or painful.
Everything changed when I stopped waiting for someone to save me and started saving myself.
After yet another dismissive appointment, I sat in my car and cried. But this time, something shifted. I realized I had two choices: give up or fight smarter. I chose to fight—but differently than before.
I began treating my diagnosis journey like a project. I: