Ehler's-Danlos Syndrome

Halsey Shares Sjögren’s, Ehlers-Danlos Diagnosis

Halsey has shared that she’s been diagnosed with several chronic health conditions. (Photo by Nina Prommer, courtesy of Rolling Stone Magazine)

Halsey recently took to social media to share that she’s been diagnosed with several chronic health conditions.

The Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, who was recently hospitalized for anaphylaxis — a severe allergic reaction — said that her hospitalization and subsequent doctor’s appointments led to her being diagnosed with several chronic health conditions, including Sjögren’s Syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome, and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

“My health has changed a lot since I got pregnant and gave birth,” the 27-year-old mom-of-one explained. “I started getting really, really, really sick — I’ve been kind of sick most of my adult life, but it started getting really bad [after pregnancy],” she said.

Sjögren’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s own exocrine (or moisture-producing) glands. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of connective tissue disorders that impact the skin, bones, blood vessels, organs, and other tissues. Mast cell activation syndrome occurs when the body releases too much of certain types of chemicals, such as histamines, in the body, resulting in repeated allergic or anaphylaxis episodes. POTS is a blood circulation disorder of the autonomic nervous system.

Halsey has previously shared details about her health struggles, including her battle with endometriosis. Back in 2017, she underwent multiple surgeries to help her with the condition.

She commented, “For those of you who have followed this battle of mine or who may suffer with it yourself, you know the extremes to which it can be mentally exhausting and physically painful.”

Halsey says she won’t let her health conditions stop her from living a full life or having a successful career, however. “If you suffer from chronic pain or a debilitating disease, please know that I have found time to live a crazy, wild, rewarding life AND balance my treatment and I hope so much in my heart that you can too,” she said.

Pop Singer Sia Reveals Battle with Autoimmune & Other Chronic Conditions; Philippines Leader Rodrigo Duterte Says He Has Autoimmune Disease

October 8, 2019January 19, 2020IsabelLeave a comment

Pop Singer Sia Reveals Battle with Autoimmune & Other Chronic Conditions

Pop singer Sia recently revealed in a Tweet that she is battling chronic pain as a result of an autoimmune disease and another genetic condition.

In the Tweet, Sia said, “Hey, I’m suffering with chronic pain, a neurological disease, [and] ehlers danlos and I just wanted to say to those of you suffering from pain, whether physical or emotional, I love you, keep going,” she wrote. “Life is fucking hard. Pain is demoralizing, and you’re not alone.”

Sia suffers from an autoimmune condition called Grave’s disease, which occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the thryoid gland. This results in hyperthyroidism, which is the overproduction of the thyroid hormone. Without treatment, the disease can result in heart problems like irregular heartbeat, blot clots, stroke, and heart failure, as well as eye health issues, like double vision, light sensitivity, eye pain and vision loss. It can even lead to thinning bones and osteoporosis.

In addition to Grave’s, Sia has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetic condition and connective tissue disorder that can affect one’s bones, joints, skin and blood vessels.

Sia’s Tweet has garnered over 170,000 ‘likes’ on Twitter and has many fans responding with well-wishes and sharing their own experiences with chronic illness. One fan tweeted, “We love you so much Sia, you’re not alone either, please take care ❤ sending you lots of love and healing vibes.”

Her Tweet also draws similarities to Jameela Jamil’s Instagram message, in which she also revealed that she has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and another autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, which causes hypothyroidism (the opposite of Grave’s Disease).

To learn more about Grave’s Disease, visit the American Thyroid Association.

Philippines Leader Rodrigo Duterte Says He Has Autoimmune Disease

The President of the Philippines, 74-year-old Rodrigo Duterte, says he suffers from an incurable autoimmune disease. The condition, called myasthenia gravis (MG), is a neurological disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The disease can also affect eyelid movements, facial expressions, talking, chewing and swallowing.

Myasthenia gravis occurs when the body’s own immune system attacks the neurotransmitter receptors on one’s muscles. This prevents the neurotransmitters responsible for muscle contraction from binding to nerve endings, thereby preventing muscle contraction. This results in the widespread muscle weakness that is the hallmark of this disease.

Duterte believes that he inherited the condition from his grandfather, who had myasthenia gravis as well. “One of my eyes is smaller. It roams on its own,” he said, according to a transcript released Sunday by his presidential office.

Although Duterte appears to be in relatively good health, and myasthenia gravis can be managed with treatment, about 20% of the people with the disease will experience a health crisis at some point in their lives.

To learn more about myasthenia gravis, visit the MG Foundation of America website.

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Actress Jameela Jamil Describes Life with Autoimmune Disease

July 7, 2019July 20, 2019Isabel4 Comments

British actress and model Jameela Jamil struggles with daily living with two chronic illnesses, including an autoimmune disease.

British actress and model Jameela Jamil took to Instagram this week to describe her struggle of living with an autoimmune disease. The 33-year-old suffers from Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease in which one’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing hypothryoidism (an underactive thyroid). This, in turn, can lead to symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue and depression.

Jamil wrote, “Living with an autoimmune condition is a real pain in the arse, and it irrationally makes you feel like a failure for not being able to “live it up” like other “normal” people. Shout out to all of us who struggle with this, and go through all of the incredible shitty days, and make it through each one. Even if it’s just by the skin of our teeth. We are LEGENDS for our strength of character.”

In addition to Hashimoto’s, Jamil also revealed that she has Ehler’s-Danlos syndrome (EDS) type 3. While this chronic illness is not autoimmune, in causes various painful symptoms, such as joint hypermobility, loose joints, poor wound healing and easy bruising. Like Hashimoto’s, there is no cure for EDS. Jamil confirmed her condition after a fan asked her why her arm was overextended in a photo on Twitter, then subsequently posted a video stretching her skin.

Jamil also described how hard it is to take care of herself, while others around her experience few health problems, even if they don’t care for their health. She wrote on her Instagram page, “Shout out if you are so fucking tired of having to protect yourself in a bubble while so many other people are able to just eat what they want, take drugs, stay out all night, drink a lot, take risks, do sports….etc. But you make one less than perfect choice and your day/week is ruined. The envy is real…I see you. I hear you. I feel you. I’m with you.”

To read more about Jameela Jamil and her fight against Hashimoto’s and EDS, click here.

Autoimmune Warrior

Sharing the stories of those affected by Autoimmune disease