Thank you Itza for opening up about your experiences! Itza started a GoFundMe to help with her medical expenses that can be viewed at gofund.me/64810547 and if anybody would like to connect with Itza her social media links are in the description.
@M M @YawnGod When you can see beyond a person's disability and see the actual human being, rather than pretending to sympathize with that person like most of us do, you would act as relaxed as Chris
It sucks that Itza's life experience was full of negative people who gaslit her into believing that her pain wasn't real because she didn't "look" sick. I'm so proud of her for sharing her story, because I feel that it resonates beyond her diagnoses and is so relatable on every level.
OMG, I experienced the same " Your fine, go home" from multiple doctors for years only to finally start getting answers. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia [finally] in 2011, but I still felt like something was wrong. In January, this year, I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome with multiple overlapping connective tissue diseases; my lab test also showed signs of Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. All of this on top of having Keratoconus in both eyes (I was diagnosed at 16yr. old) which I have now had corneal transplants in both eyes, but due to the Sjogren's Syndrome, I have had issues with the healing process. If you don't have a visual deformity, people are extremely mean and rude, and that needs to change.
I had a very similar experience with doctors telling me I was fine, some even telling me I was making all my symptoms up for attention. I became so depressed hearing this until I was finally diagnosed with sjogrens. It was such a relief to finally be diagnosed but it breaks my heart to hear how the “you’re fine” phenomenon coming from doctors is so common towards those with chronic illness.
Thank you for the outpour of pure love and kindness everyone has sent my way. I love this community more than anything and this is one of the many reasons why! Reading suck kind, understanding comments has left me speechless and feeling full of love and most of all heard and seen. If any of my newly made friends would like to reach out, Chris has out all my links in the description of this video. Thank you once again I genuinely appreciate every single one of you
I hope that you’ve seen my other comments and responses that I and others have made about your possible medical conditions. There are real answers out there. Please read everything we have sent you. I hope you’re doing well today, and that will continue in the days ahead. Sending lots of love, and care your way. Thank you for sharing your own story with others, it will help so many of us out here.
Medical gaslighting is the worst and needs to be talked about more. I’m so proud of you. I feel the same way and have suffered from the same negative self thoughts secondary to doctors gaslighting us! I have IBD (UC), Behçet’s disease, anxiety, ADHD and PTSD. I’m so proud of you and at 39y/o have to say I’m proud of your courage. Cheers, Itza Love from CT, Meg
Doctors have gaslit her to believe there was nothing wrong. Now, knowing better, she STILL can't get past the self-doubt put upon her by "experts" I've experienced this, and it's not her 'not being nice' to herself so much as it is the cumulative-self-doubt from years of not knowing what the problem is while hearing "You're fine!" over and over.
This an area of "ability" that doesn't get nearly enough attention. I feel touched by her story. God bless. Edit: not having doctors listen to you is the worst. I lost part of my finger due to this kind of thing. You end up feeling like "everything's all in your head," when they gaslight you. Meanwhile, I had an infection that ate away my bone. Doctors are not 'the end all, be all,' and do not know your body better than you do.
And here I thought it's just thrid world countries doctors who do this "nope you're fine go home, next" thing. I was ailing of tuberculosis two years ago, and it took me the whole 9 months for the doctors to finally diagnose me with it and start the medication. By that time I've lost like 1/3 of my weight and the bacteria has invaded my knee bone and became a tumour. Guys, no one knows your conditions, physically or mentally, better than you. Even the doctors ignored my insistence of always asking for measly lungs rontgen because apparently I just 'had one last week'. If your doctor do this but you never feel better, and if possible, please find another doctor who will at least discuss your symptoms with you.
I have many diagnosis and they still don't care. Something changed with medicare and/or Medicaid in 2016. I think it was medicade. When that happened my doctor sold his clinic and left. Everything changed. I can't explain it. They are just not caring anymore. I was referred to palliative care and was told I had to have Medicaid as primary. I explained I have Medicare and that always is primary when you have both. So how is that palliative care? They don't serve people in my area who are disabled and can't afford private insurance and rely on SSI/SSDI. I can only imagine how many people here have suffered for that.
Yeah i know that too. And it's not always fault of them entirely either. Don't defend duochbag behavior from 'professionals' here. But find a diagnose or link can be extrem difficult. Good doctors send you over to better fitted ones when there knowledge ends to try to help. As for the heart issue i rarely have. It can be anxiety/panic which i have. It's hard to catch happening. Or weaknes tiredness with hard to discribe pain that overcomes me phasewise. Good luck finding help with these when having mentals.. needed long to finaly beginning to search for right therapy with my current psychatrist.
I think it would make a world of difference if doctors (and people in general) would just say, "I don't know," when they don't know something rather than assume, "It's all in your head." Granted, there is way too much out there for one person to know, and symptoms of multiple overlapping diagnoses can be very confusing. Even once you know your diagnoses, a specialist is only going to feel qualified to handle her own particular specialty. With the threat of malpractice lawsuits, it makes it hard for any doctor to try even if she does care.
Hi! I have gastroparesis and dysmotility, endometriosis and fibro as well.. I feel so seen through this interview 🥺 thank you for sharing this incredibly tough journey. I wish I could just sit and talk with her and chill and drink a Kate farms or something with her lol!
Oh btw I have seen that they put Itza‘s socials in the video description. She said herself that people can message her on instagram, so go and do that. :)
I also live with many chronic illnesses. Stay positive as much as possible and absolutely stay pro active of your health journey and don’t let any medical professionals treat you like a complainer or it is all in your head.
@@rubyred6167 you seem like an intelligent woman with her head on your shoulders. I hope you didn’t think I was saying you are not being pro active or allowing medical professionals to bully you I was just keeping that as a fore front of your thinking. I have personally had my ups and downs of actually doubting myself when professionals have insinuated this was in my head and or being treated like I was just complaining or making up things to get attention. I have finally gotten it through my head that I must self advocate because if I don’t then no one else will. I pray for answers some day for both of us. I truly was a complete DNA sequencing to find out the true underlying reason that I have so many chronic issues of comorbidity. Good luck and I hope find a way to live life to the fullest happily even with all your diagnoses.
I am literally crying. I have gastroparesis, and my food digests so slowly that I can barely eat anything at all. Everytime that I eat even a single piece of chicken or something, I feel so bloated and weighed down & nauseous. I am underweight because of it, & I have a hard time getting myself to leave the bed as well, because I'm malnourished. I've been seeing a GI doctor since 2008, and have been told to "take prilosec & miralax". I just went to the stomach doctor again today & they gave me the same "answer" again... I didn't know that it could be even worse than that, & I am so sorry that you have to go through all that you do. It is very upsetting when the doctors tell you to basically just live with it, and they don't help you. I have other chronic problems as well, physical & mental, & I understand how debilitating it can be. I'm so sorry that you have to go through this. You are not a hypochondriac. I hope that they'll eventually figure something out for you to help you.
I’m sorry you have to go through this. I’ve had a gastric bypass and can only eat a small bite. I know mine is self induced and doesn’t compare to your illness. Just wanted you to know that I commiserate with you.
I’m sorry, I’ve been told the exact same thing: « take laxatives everyday, take these supplements and everything will be cured » I’ve been trying so long and it won’t work. No one will test me, no one takes me seriously. Even though I have other conditions that can cause dysmotility. It’s so hard but we can’t give up
Thank you everyone for the kind words. It helps me to know that I'm not just crazy or something, but I also feel bad that others have to go through the same thing that I am. I start feeling like I'm losing it when I keep going to the doctor, but not getting any help. Now I'm even getting run in circles with my insurance. They told me that I have to call my PCP to get bloodwork done at any place other than the one written on my insurance card - so I called the PCP, who said that she has no control over that. But when my PCP called the insurance company, they told her that I have to call the insurance company to get the lab changed - which is what I tried to do in the first place, & the woman had told me that the insurance company can't change my lab & to call my PCP. I start feeling like maybe I'm just crazy & can't understand things or something. It's hard because the doctors give me no answers, I feel so weak & sick all of the time, & my anxiety makes it difficult for me to call a doctor or go to my visits in the first place. It's getting really hard to afford enough ensure to keep up with my daily nutrition, but eating actual food just started to get so difficult that I just can't do it anymore. Food started to feel like it didnt want to go down, my stomach felt like it was full of churning cement, & I just felt so heavy & bogged down that I couldn't stand myself. I miss food in the worst way, but I was getting so snippy & aggravated from feeling so sick, that I just figure it's better this way. I still feel like I'm getting bloated from drinking the ensure, but it's not nearly as bad. I'm sorry for writing all of this. I've just been feeling like a burden due to my issues, because I can't just eat normally like other people can.
Please look for a doctor who doesn't prescribe the typical Pharmaceuticals. A Doctor who practices Herbal Medicine might be exactly what you need. Please don't give up. Chiropractic Doctors are also better than regular MD.s and take you whole body and health into consideration.
@@bonsaipal this is not true and potentially dangerous information. Chiropractors have far less education and training than MDs and while I've seen many bad MDs, i never would be where i am now in managing my conditions without them. There are good ones out there. Chiropractors treat muscle tension and subluxations. That is not the root of gastroparesis.
As someone with about half of the same conditions and another 5-7 different ones, and a wife who's similar, it's cool to see a video like this on this channel. I've probably watched nearly 100 videos and haven't found any yet with someone similar to me. It's so difficult having so many disabilities that are all invisible. I totally get why you doubt yourself. When the people who are meant to be the experts gaslight you and tell you it's in your head instead of admitting they don't know everything it really messes with your head. It's so important to work towards taking your own experiences seriously.
@@itzamarierivera I’m so glad that you got to share your story and that you got to have that experience. Hope you feel all the love this community is sending your way 💛
It's crazy because just before I read this post I happened to start crying when she was getting validated by Chris it was so beautiful here and I just knew that she probably wanted to cry but she was holding it in so hard I don't know what it's like to have so many disorders and things like her I do know I have dyslexia a learning disability but I can still live a very normal life and to see such a beautiful woman with such a beautiful heart and go through all these things really makes me sad because I want her to be able to live a normal life but I know she may never
I've been hoping for this video. Chronic illness can be a raw deal--you're sick, but it can be hard for other people to really understand and believe that. It can be hard to find self-acceptance of your limitations, let alone acceptance from others around you.
I’ve been struggling with disability since I was 10 years old. I can fully understand what this girl is going through. Outwardly I don’t appear what someone may define as “disabled.” It is difficult. I have never worked. I am 41 now and have battled with this my entire life. Parking in handicapped spots, being ridiculed etc. I totally understand that feeling. Chronic disability comes in many forms. I too spend most days in bed, deal with intense pain. You are a fighter woman and this is your journey. Sometimes we have to stand up for ourselves more and defend our disabilities even though it’s not right. Everyone’s journey is different. Your contribution will be profound in ways you won’t even know ❤️.
Hope you're feeling well! It is very strange looking "normal" but having such a weight on your shoulders. I have mental illness that causes physical illnesses
@@eagleone5456 me too. I have many physical conditions but i also have FND and IBS which i think is what you mean by mental conditions (anxiety) causing physical conditions.
This is so similar to my story. I have EDS, Crohn's Disease, POTS, and Gastroparesis with a feeding tube (we have the same pump!). I literally had a doctor tell me for over a year that I was fine, and to "just eat." It breaks my heart to hear other patients go through this as well, but you Itza are not alone either- we're all here for you too!
Ugh I remember people asking if I had aneriexia and told me to just eat more. I was trying to eat but my body couldn't handle that. Dr told me it was just anxiety till I started puking blood. Idk how puking every day is just anxiety but whatever. I somehow got it manageable enough to be able to hold a part time job and be somewhat active but I still got bad days. Hang in there
Some do not comprehend the concept of being in too much pain (nausea is a form of pain to me) to eat. Although I am surprisingly overweight, this may be in part due to use of Dronabinol to control otherwise out of control pain / nausea caused by my having gastroparesis + a really complicated abdominal surgical history. Having a Neurogastroenterologist can be a godsend for such disorders, but they are extremely rare, hard to get appointments to get care, & mine recently retired without a replacement. I do not get a new one until around Christmas, but am a bit on edge as I need to get a balloon dilation of my pyloric sphincter with botox every 3 months, & doubt local docs know how to do that.
The talk of invalidation from others fueling Imposter Syndrome definitely hit home. I've had my conditions and disability invalidated a lot, which often leads me to worry about being "disabled enough" for advocacy circles. It can really be a vicious cycle when you have both physical and mental illnesses.
This is fascinating and you are SO BEAUTIFUL AND STRONG! As a medical professional I am always looking to learn things about unique medical conditions. Thank you for sharing your story!!!!
@@bopperette7260 They aren’t likely doctors. Probably EMTs or similar. And don’t be a jerk? If someone isn’t your patient you can’t give medical advice. Go take a nap.
@@bopperette7260 many people with chronic illnesses don't want to hear that kind of stuff. They probably have already tried a lot of things and hearing "have you tried x thing?" can get very tiring very soon. This person is showing respect by listening, you should try and do the same.
I live with 7 out of all of her diagnosis and I have to say I know how extremely difficult it is to navigate a new “normal” in constant pain, anxiety and weakness it’s truly devastating at times to live with multiple chronic illnesses, especially when you’ve had other’s question your condition and/or call you a hypochondriac… been there myself and it’s very traumatic to experience that, it makes you question everything about yourself 💜 prayers for all who experience any or all of these conditions 🙏🏼
I'm so excited for this episode! I now have multiple autoimmune and chronic illnesses after going through a tough bout of Lyme Disease in 2013 at age 28, which basically sent my immune system into overdrive and my body began attacking itself. I also have C-PTSD and Anxiety as a result of my medical battles. We are warriors, stronger than most people can even imagine. Thank you for advocating for all of us and for making invisible illness, visible!!
I love that you mentioned making invisible illness visible. People gotta understand that a lot of these invisible illnesses can be debilitating. I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation 1 and it feels like I'm drowning inside my own head daily. I'm going deaf, blind in one eye, scoliosis, I'm in pain daily and this condition causes facial palsies, temporary paralysis and now I may have Meniere's Disease by association due to the pressure on my brain. These are the smaller symptoms I've had. None of these can be seen and they are often ignored. I even had to take finals in college with half my brain swollen. I get where you're coming from. Warriors indeed, and I hope you continue to kick your condition in the behind and stay strong.
i’m 21 and have three chronic illnesses; rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, and fibromyalgia. as well as live with social anxiety and depression. i’ve been struggling and going through a really dark time with it all rn, but i’ve been seeing so many more videos of people talking about their chronic illnesses on youtube, and it is making me feel a lot less alone in my struggles rn. thank u guys so much for making and posting this video. 💖
Aspergers/autism have a ton of comorbids, some of what you have mentioned are possibilities. Social media, particularly Pinterest has a ton of information out there if you’re looking to research more about all of this.
I feel for her pain. I have a chronic illness known as Dysautonomia. Its where one's autonomic nervous system doesn't work correctly. That system controls all your involuntary processes such as heart rate, blood vessel dilation, digestion, temperature regulation, etc. You cant even stand for 5 minutes bc your body cant reverse the effects of gravity pushing blood down therefore it all pools to your lower limbs unlike it would in a normal person. This is known as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTs). Unfortunately there is no cure and no standard treatment for symptoms. Everyday I experience over 70 symptoms a day such as gastroparesis, tremors, brain fog, blood pooling, visual disturbances, heat intolerance, tachycardia, breathlessness, dizziness, inability to stand, allergic reactions, etc that leave me severely disabled and debilitated. I went from a 200lb body builder to now 139lb very fragile individual. Now seeing a Geneticist to test for another Chronic Illness known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. I wouldn't wish this condition on anyone. I wish you the best Itza and known you are not alone. There are many support groups if you ever get lonely and you can email or message me anytime. Sticking together and advocating for our health is how we will get through this as my own doctors gave up on me and I had to really go through a lot of primaries before I found the one that knew about my condition.
@@laubowiebass still looking into it. Took being a not so nice person to doctors to finally get somewhat of a diagnosis. But the condition itself is poorly understood and has no cure or accepted treatment. Which makes it even harder to obtain information or to find providers that are educated in that field.
I’m late to this interview but I’ve never seen/met anyone in my life with my exact list of chronic/mental illnesses and this helped me so much to watch. I’m so grateful that this interview exists. I doubt my own reality too, especially not being believed by doctors so often too. It’s exhausting and really lonely. Thank you for choosing to do this interview, it’s helped me and I know so many other people too
We are in VERY Similar circumstances, I have Gastroparesis, IBD(UC), An ileostomy Bag.. Had my Large intestine/Rectum/Bowel fully removed, anemia,migraines, Asthma ect ect the list goes on.. not to mention mental health issues. Watching this video is blowing my mind right now. We're around the same age and everything, it's bizarre..
It is so sad to see the same state of mind in a lot of people with chronic illnesses. I have exactly the same issue with questioning myself and my illnesses although I have them for all my life now. I hope that Itza will get better and see how strong and brave she is and stop listening to people who tell her that she can't be that ill. She should be proud to get through so much stuff other people could not do that!
Itza: I am with you. I totally see and understand. I have many of the same diagnoses. I have been told by so many doctors that I must be sensitive, dramatic, that it's all in my head, even though I have proof it is all real, including a 6 hour surgery to remove all the horrible things wrong (endometriosis) I have PTSD from those appointments.They say don't google or go to social media, but they have no answers for me. So many hugs and prayers to you. ❤️
I do believe and some of my doctors believe that my 2 years of chemotherapy caused my fibromyalgia and a mile long list of other chronic issues. Itza you are awesome and so very well spoken! It was so helpful for me to hear you explain EXACTLY how I feel all the time. You said it all so much better than I ever could!! Thank you! I understand how you feel. Thanks for doing SBSK!! Thanks to you too Chris!! Your show is so important and so helpful. The world needs this!! And Itza...... You've beautiful 😁!!!!!
Aspergers/autism, Ehler Danlos Syndrome, POTS, Dysautomia(not sure if I’ve spelled this one right), and fibromyalgia, these are all Comorbids of autism/Aspergers. The autism spectrum disorder is full of these type of conditions and symptoms. There is information about all of these conditions that can be found via social media. I’ve done a ton of research on Pinterest especially. The answers are there, unfortunately the doctors often aren’t. I wish they would do the same research I’ve done, so the connection between all of these conditions can be seen and they could really give their patients some of the answers they’re looking for. The information does exist, it just needs to be looked for and researched. Why so many think women are hypochondriacs, rather than the incredibly intelligent women they actually are? Why would anyone think that anyone wants to feel this awful all of the time is just ridiculous?!?! All of you doctors out there, give your patients real answers, so that they can find out whatever real knowledge might actually be out there about their conditions that might help them.
As someone who also deals with gastroparesis, its great to see someone bringing attention to it. Thank you for motivating me to keep pushing everyday. 🙏
I can completely relate to the feeling of questioning yourself and if you really are sick. It can be awful, but you have to remember that no matter who you are, if you're feeling bad for any reason then you deserve to feel better. It's always important to remember that
She could write novels of pure, unfiltered pain. I salute her, she is a miracle and deserves to thrive. I hope she finds her way, best of luck and all the love
Itza and SBSD, thank you so much for showcasing these illnesses. I also have many of the same. It's really helpful to hear your story and know this segment is bringing awareness to us. There are many of us and we need science to figure out why this is happening and fix it!
thank you for taking the time to watch the video, i never thought how much love id get and how many people with similar situations id meet. we are all in this together!
@@itzamarierivera amen!! Thank you for responding!! I'm so glad you can see that your willingness to be vulnerable like this helped many of us as well as you! Big hugs! You are important!💖🤩🤗
My heart goes out to you. I have fibro, rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis, chronic lung disease of prematurity, a brain lesion that takes up my right hemisphere. Also, I’m going blind. I have chronic severe depression and anxiety. Your interview with Chris was reassuring that I’m not alone. I feel similar. Thank you.
Gosh, you have it so hard, but you sit there with poise and grace, and describe your situation with the utmost clarity. You’re a really amazing person. I truly hope that you find the right scientist who can give you some answers and solutions to your struggles. For now though, I hope that you realize how much you have touched people through this beautiful interview. Sending love from NY, USA.
I was told literally yesterday by a rheumatologist that my 10 years of joint and back pain, worsening into loose joints, dislocations, and such bad pain that stops me from walking, was all psychological and will "go away by itself" because I'm just "sensitive" from my mental illnesses. he ignored all of my questions and left me with a psych referral so I'm back to square one trying to find someone who can help me figure out why I'm losing my mobility. chronic illness guilt is SO real and it breaks my heart seeing how many other people have been through the same thing. itza is such an angel for going through this and being a voice for all of us, so thank you so much
Being heard is the most important thing about living with chronic illness...I have CFS/ME, fibro, chronic migraine, PTSD, Thoracic outlet syndrome, and several other illnesses. Its so hard to live with the pain from having your health and dreams ripped away from you.
I’m bedridden 23hrs a day, low back pain, no voice, joint pain, and after 13 yrs, no doctor knows why, nor can they diagnose me.Many have said not to come back. Cleveland clinic surgeon laughed to my face and sent me to a psychiatrist.
By the way, when a doctor advises a radical procedure, I HIGHLY recommend you get multiple opinions. I was told that I needed to have a stint put in my urethra permanently because I was experiencing chronic UTI symptoms. I declined. Had I gone through with that procedure, my quality of life would have gone down. You as the patient can always say no, never feel forced to get a big procedure because one doctor says so. Unfortunately medical schooling is very strict and they often only give one possible course of action so the doctors don't look into other alternative routes.
@@ITI-xi5zx I found that certain things trigger my UTI symptoms such as acidic foods or coffee, sugar, alcohol, intercourse, etc. I make sure hygiene is priority. I still have to empty my bladder frequently but I can tolerate that inconvenience. I am not on any meds for it. I take vitamins though and drink lots of water. Symptoms are manageable and subside for periods of time. I only take antibiotics when I have acute UTI pain.
i did get multiple opinions and since most did not know what else to do they agreed with the doctor that suggested surgery. i was not aware of the time it was not the right thing to do and now i cant go back, it cant be fixed.
@@itzamarierivera you do what you can in that moment. That's all you can ask of yourself. Nothing more. Your experiences are real, your feelings are real...YOU are real. Love.
I have a mystery issue/illness, and because I do not fit into a box, doctors have also written me off. I have flares of inflammation (like RA or lupus), but tests always come back negative. But the inflammation is destroying my body. I've had random tendon ruptures and have had to have multiple surgeries to repair them. I've had two spinal surgeries because my spine is disintegrating. My GI system is a mess. The rheumatologist was my last stop, and he said, "I don't know what's wrong with you and I don't know who would." I basically live like this, waiting for things to fall apart, and then have them surgically fixed. All the while getting, "It's not that bad. The tests show that you are perfectly healthy." 🤯🤔😒 You can be brilliant and go to medical school, yet still have no common sense. Clearly something is wrong. 🤦🏼♀️
Were you ever given a fluoroquinolone antibiotic(Cipro, levaquin, etc) before? They are known to cause sometimes permanent disabling effects of the tendons, nerves, and cns, among other things.
Thank you so much for doing this interview, Itza! I'm also 24 with Endo and it's nice to not feel so alone. Sometimes it's easy to forget that other people struggle with the same or similar issues and while i wouldn't wish it on anyone, it is comforting knowing there are people out there who understand exactly how I feel. You are valid in your feelings, and worthy of understanding and respect.
Women's health issues and pain are consistently dismissed, and this happens throughout the world! It's partly because medical education is based on the male body and also medicine has historically been a male dominated profession.
To be honest, I'd say this isn't specific to female or male, this seems to be a widespread issue within the healthcare system that the professional doesn't take your concerns seriously. Just because the person reporting the issues isn't shouting and screaming, it doesn't indicate the level of distress/discomfort.
@@mattnutt2738 no. Literally there’s statistics showing that female patients aren’t taken very seriously. If a male presents with pain in emergency rooms they are more likely to receive pain medication. If female, they’re more likely if anything to be given anxiety meds. Diagnosis criteria itself a lot is based on symptoms in male bodies predominantly. Even when doing lab experiments for medication and tests they will use male lab rats and avoid using female ones because their hormones are too much of a nuisance. So a lot of women get more side effects from medication and are more likely to not have as effective effects. :/
My mom has severe gastroparesis as well. She was almost going to be put on a feeding tube. She can't eat green or leafy vegetables or red meats without feeling sick afterwards. About a year ago, my stomach issues started getting worse, so I had several tests done, including the gastric emptying study (GP test). It's not that bad, its just going to bed early enough and making sure not to eat or drink anything in the morning or in the middle of the night. They give you special food (eggs, toast and water is what I had) and the dye put in the food has no flavor, so you're just eating regular food. The results came back normal. I was later prescribed Scopolamine patches to help alleviate the nausea, and they work really well. I haven't thrown up once since I started using the patches, and have only felt nauseous twice (first time was probably because I ate 50 nuggets at once the night before and the second was due to a new medicine.) It's just a thing that comes along with having EDS.
It's heartbreaking to see how doctors, the very professionals that should have helped and protected her, hammered in her mind the idea that she was basically exaggerating and that nothing happened, doctor are people and they will make mistakes but not taking your patient seriously is not acceptable. You are amazing Itza! This video will bring awareness for these conditions and help make things better for people who have them and their loved ones. Stay strong!
I love that you cover young adults as well as what we consider as kids. Your mission is awareness and acceptance (from what I have seen). It is a beautiful thing.
I have gastroparesis as well as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and many other issues like you! I need friends badly and I too am left with no doctors able to help. I'd LOVE to talk to you and we can help each other through the hard times! 💜 hang in there! We are strong! 💜
It's no fun to live with a chronic Illness and not have any answers. For years and years before it had a name, my mother suffered from full body aches. These days it's Fibromyalgia.
You are so amazing. I can relate with your pain. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Endometriosis, Uterus Didelphis with 2 Cervix, Fibromyalgia, Anxiety & PTSD, Eagle Syndrome, bulging disks, Peripheral Neuralgia, and other types of nerve issues. Life is not normal with these diagnosis. Thank you for being so brave to share your information. 💜
Same. 💖💖💖 I think the hardest part is having people question whether or not you have all the diagnosis. I get accused by family members of being a hypochondriac. Also… the doctors should still provide supportive care. The eff they are out here saying “we don’t want to continue helping you because we don’t have answers.”
This story was so inspiring. I live with chronic illnesses that have no cure as well and because 2 of them are rare, it's hard to get research done for the cures. You're right, in that you battle your mind and what you perceive others may think of you, including your own self. I'll pray for you Itza. You're so special and you have a purpose 💕
You're sooooo beautiful and special. I loved to heard your story. You're an inspiration to a lot of us and you DESERVE to be listened. Don't let your brain full you and tell you that you're not enough, because you're doing a very good job. Keep it up girl, we support you. Thank you Chris for this interview.
Itza is such an intelligent and beautiful woman! 👸🏻✨ i'm the same age as her, but sadly i live in europe. well, i'm totally healthy (if we don't count my depression and anxiety) but i'm pretty sure i would LOVE to be her friend! like watching movies together, hanging out inside maybe playing games, buddy reading books, etc. she's not awkward at all, even tho she says she is. she seems like a really-really nice person and such a lovely, understanding friend. i hope one day she will see herself that way as well! cheer up Itza and chin up so your crown doesn't fall off! *you're a living queen for putting up with everything* 👑🤍
Oh, Italy, I so feel for you! I have stage 4 endometriosis, chronic migraines, a heart condition, 2 types of arthritis, ptsd, gad, and more. I could write you a book, but I won't. I do want to tell you that endometriosis is when the same tissue that lines your uterus grows in other parts of your body, it has been found in people's brains and fingers and in males (though it is rare). There is a group on Facebook called Nancy's Nook (not me, a different Nancy) where there is a lot of information on it. Your pain sounds a lot like mine, and it lasted all month every month; and I was on mass quantities of opiates for years and years after my hysterectomy failed (the dr couldn't remove my uterus because everything from my abdominal wall to my intestines is just a solid mass - which you think would be validation enough, but I still wondered it I was making it worse than it really was at times!) You're so brave! I hope you find a good dr.
With everything she said she had to go through with the stomach surgery and everything and I looked up everything cause I never heard of her chronic illnesses and she’s been through so much and can’t imagine the pain, also!! She is so strong and Chris if you could please tag her on my comment I’d really appreciate it!!! It’s not unnoticed!!! She is so strong and if most seen her walking down the street they would never know, can’t imagine how hard life has been and all the pain!! She’s superwoman ❤️🔥🖤🤍
@@itzamarierivera I would love to be friends with you! I have some similar chronic illnesses and I understand how overwhelming it can be. Very proud of you for doing this video!!
Girl, you're not alone with the imposter syndrome. I have a lot of conditions due to my Ehlers Danlos, but so often I think I'm just being a wimp and it's not that bad. You don't deserve that. You are valid and real! ♥️ Keep going honey!!! We're out here with you!!
After listening for 5 minutes, I can say for certainty you are an absolutely wonderful person, I feel the kindness in you and I would feel blessed to know you ❤
This episode really hit me in the feels... Itza seems truly sweet and lovely. Everyone's obstacle course is radically different through life, but showing this amount of dignity and composure in the face of this particular uphill battle is very inspirational.
Thank you to Itza for sharing your experience, and to Chris for assuring her that her experience is REAL and VALID. More people need to know they can advocate for themselves and this video can hopefully help bring that up in their thinking! I hope you find others who can advocate for you as well 💜
my father got a similar thing. But with the intestines. He had a paresis in his whole intestin, not the stomach. They removed one part, gave him portcats (wich he had to change 3 times). His case, many years ago, was studied all over the world and pieces of his intestine were at our home, ready to be delivered abroad for study. At the end he was waiting for an intestine and liver transplant. Nobody could say what the illness actually was and doctors were studying on him. We were just searching what worked for him everyday. Having a normal life was really difficult by we did the best we could, also going on holiday skiing (even if for having just a walk for him) or other things. He was a great person and a great warrior. you reminded him to me. Go ahead, times are changed, medicine is going ahead and you are a wonderful person!
Girl I barely handle my Bipolar disorder combined with PTSD, anxiety disorder and few others and I’m not having any chronic illnesses… You are my first favorite female superhero 💙 You’re also really beautiful, seriously, keep being yourself, treat yourself kindly and always keep your head up ! 💙
Okay please have this girl reach out to me! This is exactly what happened to me! I got thyroid cancer in 2012, and ever sense my entire health has gone down hill!
Itza, you are seen, heard, and believed! Thank you for this video. Hearing Chris validate her and reassure her of her deserving accommodations and advocacy was very touching, as if he was speaking to me too. I'm also chronically ill with multiple physical and mental diagnoses, and can relate to so, so much of her experience. The impostor syndrome hits so hard, and so does the constant feeling of being robbed of your life and falling behind. So much love going out to Itza, hoping for fewer flares and better days. 🤞🏻
Thank you for this video! Itza, your story helps others. My daughter has severe Interstitial Cystitis. Her Daddy( a surgeon) minimizes her situation which is so hurtful to her. Thankfully she is blessed to have a wonderful physician. It’s so important to be validated and not be treated as a hypochondriac . Please continue to share your story. Thank you Chris! The world is a better place because of people like you!
i feel like every woman i know with an invisible illness has loads of stories about being dismissed by doctors-myself included. we feel like hypochondriacs because that’s how we’re MADE to feel. we get treated like “hysterical girls” and told nothing’s wrong. it’s not right and it’s so damaging emotionally. anyone who has had to put up with that BS is a badass in my book. sending love to all of you. your pain is real, screw anyone who tries to convince you otherwise.
I'm a highly functional person and this sometimes makes struggles invisible, but it helps me a lot to see someone advocating for things that I have, that they are hard to live with and also to be compared to people fully healthy. all my love to you itza! you're incredibly strong!
Hey Itza, as someone who shares some of your diagnosis(es) I just wanted to say I relate a lot to what you talk about. You are stronger than you may know right now. The things you go through SUCK SO MUCH, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. In regards to other people not really believing you; I think people who don’t have chronic conditions are very afraid of the realities of having to live like we do. And so they just block it in their brains and deny even the possibility of it. It’s not bad intentions, but fear. I’m having a migraine right now, so I hope I’m being coherent. But I just had to pop in and comment.
She’s so eloquent and absolutely beautiful, inside and out! I cried when she talked about her imposter syndrome, I thought I was the only one who felt like this (with my chronic illness).
I understand the feeling of “Is this in my head…should I just toughen up.” Don’t listen to that voice because you are strong because of what you’ve been through. Chronic “invisible” illnesses are so difficult to live with. You’re no alone!
What do you love to do when you are well enough to do?? Write a book. I feel a deep story teller vibe in you. You are so so well spoken. Record your thoughts and edit them and send them out to us so we can learn from you! Make up videos?? We will be there for whatever you create and wherever you are physically when you create it.
I just saw your video and at the end I started to cry. I can't say many words right now, I'm not a native speaker, come from Germany and live here. I want to reach out to you right now and don't want to risk to forget about it. Thank you so much. You reaching out to us and telling your story means the world to me right now. I live with endometriosis, fibromyalgia, complex and chronic PTBS, depression, social anxiety, a chronic skin illness and I am 30, can't work for like 3 years and I am in therapy for my illnesses, but I feel stuck and frustrated. Like there is a child inside me I have to take care of all the time. My mind is full of ideas and my body and my mental limits me. For weeks I am writing to many people who make documentaries like this to tell my story because I know nobody who is at my age and has so many chronic illnesses. Nobody has responded to me yet but I want to share my story so bad. There has to be somebody else who understands me. Again thank you so much for telling me I am not alone with all of these. Hug you! ❤️
I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Gastroparesis&dysmotility, and a number of other chronic conditions. I really feel you!! I had some tube feeding two years ago, but right now I am struggling with oral stuff, but I am waiting to get sick enough to need tubes again basically.
This is my story and so many others. Please go find a Lyme Literate Doctor (LLMD) and have them test you for lyme and other co-infections, including bacterial, viral, and fungal. So many of these mysterious chronic conditions and “autoimmune” disorders are caused by stealth pathogens that the average MD knows nothing about. Wishing you healing and strength!
You are truly an incredibly strong person. I pray that your pain will ease and then your illnesses subside. Even if they are chronic, I will pray continuously that you’ll get the energy and life, love and joy that you infinitely deserve. God bless you. Thank you for sharing your story. It is endlessly inspiring!!💕💕
Your video helped me so much Itza! I’m going through cardiac complications from Covid for a year and Docs know almost nothing! It’s truly a mystery for us “youngin’s” in our 20s. My life and future has completely changed. Sending you hugs 💙
This video is fantastic and very informative. Thanks for bringing this awesome human being to camera. Your dialog was very sincere and pure. Wishing so much this person to chill herself more and to break the egg and share her story to the word, she's a great speaker! Greetings from a Cuban living in Barcelona!
"i'm just not as nice to myself as i should be" dang, that right there just broke my heart. i hope this beautiful young lady can build up more her self-esteem and sense of self-worth, she deserves that much at least.
My heart reaches out to this beautiful, articulate, young woman Life is there but very difficult 😢 I hope and pray that she'll find a liferoad that brings her treatments and people that will befriend her in any possible way 😘 I have hope and faith that she will find..... medical help, emotional help, financial help, and spiritual help ♥ ♥ ♥
This sweet girl has been through so much and I feel for her so deeply. I, too, have a chronic illness and spent much of my life under the care of invalidating medical "professionals". Also, I can't help but acknowledge the influence of the mind on the physical body and vise versa: When Itza said she has panic disorder, PTSD, depression, and OCD it reminded me so much of my child-self, completely stricken with trauma and psychological stress but only having my physical manifestations of chronic illness treated. It is no coincidence that there is so much comorbidity between these trauma-induced diagnoses and multiple physical chronic illnesses. We are sick of being weighed down by our physical experience and just being told to "take X, do more, do less...". Itza, I wish you peace and hope that you one day feel able to thrive despite the struggles of the body you exist within. You are worthy of so much joy and thank you for taking the time to convey your experience to us :) It is so important to share these stories.
Thank you for sharing! I have fibromyalgia and IBS. I wish fibromyalgia was talked about more like you’re doing here, I feel very lonely and isolated sometimes because I don’t know anyone else who has it. Friends and family don’t even understand it or can relate. Would also be nice to have support groups even to just vent with others who get it. Blessings to you ❤️
I had chronic illness for over twenty years!!! First started when I was forty walking across a street and was hit by a taxi cab. Having had ten surgeries below my waist. I have chronic pain on daily basis. Because I'm allergic to anti inflammatory drugs. I can only take extra strength tylenol!!! I was diagnosed with RSD, Crohn's Disease, Hypothyroidism, IBD, Sciatica, and Retroverted Uterus & SAD. But, I'm very thankful for everyday of life!!! I will have the spirit of gratitude instead of complaining. Thankful that I can drive, cook for myself, wash my clothes, pay my bills and talk with friends & neighbors & family. It is a very hard life!!! But you must keep a positive mindset!!! Trying to be proactive concerning eating better, talking with others, praying for others & myself and being outside and enjoying nature and sunshine.
Thank you for sharing your life with us! Your illnesses are incredibly difficult to deal with. You ARE dealing with them! You are a strong person. Please keep enduring. Your problems are real. You didn't cause them and you do not deserve them. You are a lovely young woman. You have encouraged me today!
Congratulations being in remission! Just like Chris said you deserve help, you deserve sharing your story and im so glad you shared your story thank you you're educating so many people and making other people feel less alone
Itza, the experience of regularly falling into a fog of self-doubt despite obvious evidence confirming your reality is SUCH a normal effect of being gaslit (especially by Experts and people who have power over you, like Drs). I have invisible chronic illnesses and I relate to everything you experience with that. When I talk about my illnesses, if people don’t specifically affirm that they believe me in some way, I start going into that self-doubt state. When you’ve been questioned so much, it can take a more-than-average amount of affirmation to you rebuild your sense that your reality exists and can ever line up with other people’s perceptions of reality. And a lot of the time for us the experience of being disbelieved is relentless, so it’s hard to heal when that wound is just being constantly reopened.
I am so glad I found this video. I am currently in the “no one has answers” phase. Been in and out of the hospital the past 2 months with endless tests and no answers as to what is going on. This video really gave me the push I need to keep going. Love these!
It was absolutely no problem to reach the end of the video. I hope one day you'll be able to feel yourself that you're worthy, because you definitely are
I am speechless and hearing to this amazing woman makes me feel so sad.I hope she will receive so many people contacting her, perhaps some socialisation could help her out to think about others and getting better.
Thank you Itza for opening up about your experiences! Itza started a GoFundMe to help with her medical expenses that can be viewed at gofund.me/64810547 and if anybody would like to connect with Itza her social media links are in the description.
Thanks again for doing this. And I just have to say how glad I am again that the comments are back on.
SUBTITULOSSSSSSSSS
Thank you Itza and SBSK 💞❤️🤗
Wouldn't SSI take care of most of the expensive why would you need to go fund me SSI takes care of all my medical stuff.
@M M @YawnGod When you can see beyond a person's disability and see the actual human being, rather than pretending to sympathize with that person like most of us do, you would act as relaxed as Chris
It sucks that Itza's life experience was full of negative people who gaslit her into believing that her pain wasn't real because she didn't "look" sick. I'm so proud of her for sharing her story, because I feel that it resonates beyond her diagnoses and is so relatable on every level.
thank you for your kind words
@@itzamarierivera Itza, do you have a way I could message you? Facebook or anything?
I'm the same I'm depleted completely I feel done can't do it anymore
@@juliannewman8720 it’s all in the description box.
the word gaslit didn't even cross my mind, but you are 100% correct... doctors who can't do their job properly.
"I don't practice what I preach" got me. Itza is such a beautiful person, she's more than worthy
This resonates with me, because I feel the same way. I'm grateful for Itza sharing her story & being so candid. 💓
She hot no cap
Same.
OMG, I experienced the same " Your fine, go home" from multiple doctors for years only to finally start getting answers. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia [finally] in 2011, but I still felt like something was wrong. In January, this year, I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome with multiple overlapping connective tissue diseases; my lab test also showed signs of Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. All of this on top of having Keratoconus in both eyes (I was diagnosed at 16yr. old) which I have now had corneal transplants in both eyes, but due to the Sjogren's Syndrome, I have had issues with the healing process. If you don't have a visual deformity, people are extremely mean and rude, and that needs to change.
Wow I’m glad you finally got a diagnosis! Hope you are feeling better with proper treatment.
I had a very similar experience with doctors telling me I was fine, some even telling me I was making all my symptoms up for attention. I became so depressed hearing this until I was finally diagnosed with sjogrens. It was such a relief to finally be diagnosed but it breaks my heart to hear how the “you’re fine” phenomenon coming from doctors is so common towards those with chronic illness.
@@LechLecha893 Just no. You don't know what you're talking about.
@PMB you’re a problem.
Search about keto / meat only diets. They have helped people with chronic illnesses. It may help you.
Thank you for the outpour of pure love and kindness everyone has sent my way. I love this community more than anything and this is one of the many reasons why! Reading suck kind, understanding comments has left me speechless and feeling full of love and most of all heard and seen. If any of my newly made friends would like to reach out, Chris has out all my links in the description of this video. Thank you once again I genuinely appreciate every single one of you
I hope that you’ve seen my other comments and responses that I and others have made about your possible medical conditions. There are real answers out there. Please read everything we have sent you. I hope you’re doing well today, and that will continue in the days ahead. Sending lots of love, and care your way. Thank you for sharing your own story with others, it will help so many of us out here.
Medical gaslighting is the worst and needs to be talked about more. I’m so proud of you. I feel the same way and have suffered from the same negative self thoughts secondary to doctors gaslighting us! I have IBD (UC), Behçet’s disease, anxiety, ADHD and PTSD. I’m so proud of you and at 39y/o have to say I’m proud of your courage. Cheers, Itza Love from CT, Meg
Thank you for sharing your story, you were so strong through your whole life, I really wish you the best
to everybody dealing with chronic illnesses, you all are stronger than i could ever imagine.
THIS!
Doctors have gaslit her to believe there was nothing wrong.
Now, knowing better, she STILL can't get past the self-doubt put upon her by "experts"
I've experienced this, and it's not her 'not being nice' to herself so much as it is the cumulative-self-doubt from years of not knowing what the problem is while hearing "You're fine!" over and over.
Well said. I agree
It’s easier for the doctors to say “it’s all in your head” than “i am not skilled enough to help”.
Love this comment só much, 🧡
Yes that’s why a lot of people call it invisible illness
Couldnt have summed it up better. Trauma from being told over and over again that you're fine. You start to believe it.
This an area of "ability" that doesn't get nearly enough attention. I feel touched by her story. God bless.
Edit: not having doctors listen to you is the worst. I lost part of my finger due to this kind of thing. You end up feeling like "everything's all in your head," when they gaslight you. Meanwhile, I had an infection that ate away my bone. Doctors are not 'the end all, be all,' and do not know your body better than you do.
And here I thought it's just thrid world countries doctors who do this "nope you're fine go home, next" thing. I was ailing of tuberculosis two years ago, and it took me the whole 9 months for the doctors to finally diagnose me with it and start the medication. By that time I've lost like 1/3 of my weight and the bacteria has invaded my knee bone and became a tumour.
Guys, no one knows your conditions, physically or mentally, better than you. Even the doctors ignored my insistence of always asking for measly lungs rontgen because apparently I just 'had one last week'. If your doctor do this but you never feel better, and if possible, please find another doctor who will at least discuss your symptoms with you.
I have many diagnosis and they still don't care. Something changed with medicare and/or Medicaid in 2016. I think it was medicade. When that happened my doctor sold his clinic and left. Everything changed. I can't explain it. They are just not caring anymore. I was referred to palliative care and was told I had to have Medicaid as primary. I explained I have Medicare and that always is primary when you have both. So how is that palliative care? They don't serve people in my area who are disabled and can't afford private insurance and rely on SSI/SSDI. I can only imagine how many people here have suffered for that.
Yeah i know that too. And it's not always fault of them entirely either. Don't defend duochbag behavior from 'professionals' here. But find a diagnose or link can be extrem difficult. Good doctors send you over to better fitted ones when there knowledge ends to try to help.
As for the heart issue i rarely have. It can be anxiety/panic which i have. It's hard to catch happening. Or weaknes tiredness with hard to discribe pain that overcomes me phasewise. Good luck finding help with these when having mentals.. needed long to finaly beginning to search for right therapy with my current psychatrist.
@jango papo That kind of patient respect is very much appreciated! Thank you.
I think it would make a world of difference if doctors (and people in general) would just say, "I don't know," when they don't know something rather than assume, "It's all in your head." Granted, there is way too much out there for one person to know, and symptoms of multiple overlapping diagnoses can be very confusing. Even once you know your diagnoses, a specialist is only going to feel qualified to handle her own particular specialty. With the threat of malpractice lawsuits, it makes it hard for any doctor to try even if she does care.
Hi! I have gastroparesis and dysmotility, endometriosis and fibro as well.. I feel so seen through this interview 🥺 thank you for sharing this incredibly tough journey. I wish I could just sit and talk with her and chill and drink a Kate farms or something with her lol!
You should totally message her, maybe you guys have more things in common! Sending lots of love. ❤🧡💛💚💙💜❤🧡💛
Oh btw I have seen that they put Itza‘s socials in the video description. She said herself that people can message her on instagram, so go and do that. :)
Update us if yall ever hang, her socials are in the disc!
Hope you're feeling well today!!
@@eagleone5456 I'm doing alright, thanks for that.! Hope you're well too.
I also live with many chronic illnesses. Stay positive as much as possible and absolutely stay pro active of your health journey and don’t let any medical professionals treat you like a complainer or it is all in your head.
Thank you for you comment. I relate very much .
@@rubyred6167 you seem like an intelligent woman with her head on your shoulders. I hope you didn’t think I was saying you are not being pro active or allowing medical professionals to bully you I was just keeping that as a fore front of your thinking. I have personally had my ups and downs of actually doubting myself when professionals have insinuated this was in my head and or being treated like I was just complaining or making up things to get attention. I have finally gotten it through my head that I must self advocate because if I don’t then no one else will. I pray for answers some day for both of us. I truly was a complete DNA sequencing to find out the true underlying reason that I have so many chronic issues of comorbidity. Good luck and I hope find a way to live life to the fullest happily even with all your diagnoses.
she sounds like an artist, the way she describes everything. Does she write? She definitely should, she is very expressive
i think she is reading a lot
i love writing
I am literally crying. I have gastroparesis, and my food digests so slowly that I can barely eat anything at all. Everytime that I eat even a single piece of chicken or something, I feel so bloated and weighed down & nauseous. I am underweight because of it, & I have a hard time getting myself to leave the bed as well, because I'm malnourished. I've been seeing a GI doctor since 2008, and have been told to "take prilosec & miralax". I just went to the stomach doctor again today & they gave me the same "answer" again... I didn't know that it could be even worse than that, & I am so sorry that you have to go through all that you do. It is very upsetting when the doctors tell you to basically just live with it, and they don't help you. I have other chronic problems as well, physical & mental, & I understand how debilitating it can be. I'm so sorry that you have to go through this. You are not a hypochondriac. I hope that they'll eventually figure something out for you to help you.
I’m sorry you have to go through this. I’ve had a gastric bypass and can only eat a small bite. I know mine is self induced and doesn’t compare to your illness. Just wanted you to know that I commiserate with you.
I’m sorry, I’ve been told the exact same thing: « take laxatives everyday, take these supplements and everything will be cured » I’ve been trying so long and it won’t work. No one will test me, no one takes me seriously. Even though I have other conditions that can cause dysmotility. It’s so hard but we can’t give up
Thank you everyone for the kind words. It helps me to know that I'm not just crazy or something, but I also feel bad that others have to go through the same thing that I am. I start feeling like I'm losing it when I keep going to the doctor, but not getting any help. Now I'm even getting run in circles with my insurance. They told me that I have to call my PCP to get bloodwork done at any place other than the one written on my insurance card - so I called the PCP, who said that she has no control over that. But when my PCP called the insurance company, they told her that I have to call the insurance company to get the lab changed - which is what I tried to do in the first place, & the woman had told me that the insurance company can't change my lab & to call my PCP. I start feeling like maybe I'm just crazy & can't understand things or something. It's hard because the doctors give me no answers, I feel so weak & sick all of the time, & my anxiety makes it difficult for me to call a doctor or go to my visits in the first place. It's getting really hard to afford enough ensure to keep up with my daily nutrition, but eating actual food just started to get so difficult that I just can't do it anymore. Food started to feel like it didnt want to go down, my stomach felt like it was full of churning cement, & I just felt so heavy & bogged down that I couldn't stand myself. I miss food in the worst way, but I was getting so snippy & aggravated from feeling so sick, that I just figure it's better this way. I still feel like I'm getting bloated from drinking the ensure, but it's not nearly as bad. I'm sorry for writing all of this. I've just been feeling like a burden due to my issues, because I can't just eat normally like other people can.
Please look for a doctor who doesn't prescribe the typical Pharmaceuticals. A Doctor who practices Herbal Medicine might be exactly what you need. Please don't give up. Chiropractic Doctors are also better than regular MD.s and take you whole body and health into consideration.
@@bonsaipal this is not true and potentially dangerous information. Chiropractors have far less education and training than MDs and while I've seen many bad MDs, i never would be where i am now in managing my conditions without them. There are good ones out there. Chiropractors treat muscle tension and subluxations. That is not the root of gastroparesis.
As someone with about half of the same conditions and another 5-7 different ones, and a wife who's similar, it's cool to see a video like this on this channel. I've probably watched nearly 100 videos and haven't found any yet with someone similar to me.
It's so difficult having so many disabilities that are all invisible. I totally get why you doubt yourself. When the people who are meant to be the experts gaslight you and tell you it's in your head instead of admitting they don't know everything it really messes with your head. It's so important to work towards taking your own experiences seriously.
I must appreciate Dr Anii on RUclips for helping me in getting rid of my genital Herpes virus, right Now I am totally cured
When Chris was validating her experiences, I started to tear up. Sometimes people do need to hear that!!
i truly did tear up i was trying my best not to cry right then and there!
@@itzamarierivera I’m so glad that you got to share your story and that you got to have that experience. Hope you feel all the love this community is sending your way 💛
@@ohjonash I absolutely feel all the love and i cannot begin to describe how it feels. there are simply no words
It's crazy because just before I read this post I happened to start crying when she was getting validated by Chris it was so beautiful here and I just knew that she probably wanted to cry but she was holding it in so hard I don't know what it's like to have so many disorders and things like her I do know I have dyslexia a learning disability but I can still live a very normal life and to see such a beautiful woman with such a beautiful heart and go through all these things really makes me sad because I want her to be able to live a normal life but I know she may never
When this man is on his death bed he’s gonna know he really touched and improved this world. Not many people can say that. So inspiring ❤️❤️
I've been hoping for this video. Chronic illness can be a raw deal--you're sick, but it can be hard for other people to really understand and believe that. It can be hard to find self-acceptance of your limitations, let alone acceptance from others around you.
I’ve been struggling with disability since I was 10 years old. I can fully understand what this girl is going through. Outwardly I don’t appear what someone may define as “disabled.” It is difficult. I have never worked. I am 41 now and have battled with this my entire life. Parking in handicapped spots, being ridiculed etc. I totally understand that feeling. Chronic disability comes in many forms. I too spend most days in bed, deal with intense pain. You are a fighter woman and this is your journey. Sometimes we have to stand up for ourselves more and defend our disabilities even though it’s not right. Everyone’s journey is different. Your contribution will be profound in ways you won’t even know ❤️.
Well said.
Praying you get relief and peace❤️
Hope you're feeling well! It is very strange looking "normal" but having such a weight on your shoulders. I have mental illness that causes physical illnesses
Couldn't agree more ✌
@@eagleone5456 me too. I have many physical conditions but i also have FND and IBS which i think is what you mean by mental conditions (anxiety) causing physical conditions.
This is so similar to my story. I have EDS, Crohn's Disease, POTS, and Gastroparesis with a feeding tube (we have the same pump!). I literally had a doctor tell me for over a year that I was fine, and to "just eat." It breaks my heart to hear other patients go through this as well, but you Itza are not alone either- we're all here for you too!
hey there pump buddy! it really is devastating when doctors dismiss you and leave you to fend for yourself. i wish you better days ahead
A fellow Zebra!
Ugh I remember people asking if I had aneriexia and told me to just eat more. I was trying to eat but my body couldn't handle that. Dr told me it was just anxiety till I started puking blood. Idk how puking every day is just anxiety but whatever. I somehow got it manageable enough to be able to hold a part time job and be somewhat active but I still got bad days. Hang in there
Some do not comprehend the concept of being in too much pain (nausea is a form of pain to me) to eat. Although I am surprisingly overweight, this may be in part due to use of Dronabinol to control otherwise out of control pain / nausea caused by my having gastroparesis + a really complicated abdominal surgical history. Having a Neurogastroenterologist can be a godsend for such disorders, but they are extremely rare, hard to get appointments to get care, & mine recently retired without a replacement. I do not get a new one until around Christmas, but am a bit on edge as I need to get a balloon dilation of my pyloric sphincter with botox every 3 months, & doubt local docs know how to do that.
My friend has Crohn’s Disease and now she’s pregnant with her first child, I really worry about her and the unborn baby.
The talk of invalidation from others fueling Imposter Syndrome definitely hit home. I've had my conditions and disability invalidated a lot, which often leads me to worry about being "disabled enough" for advocacy circles. It can really be a vicious cycle when you have both physical and mental illnesses.
This is fascinating and you are SO BEAUTIFUL AND STRONG! As a medical professional I am always looking to learn things about unique medical conditions. Thank you for sharing your story!!!!
Infeed
Same. And from the patient's perspective adds so much value.
@@bopperette7260 They aren’t likely doctors. Probably EMTs or similar. And don’t be a jerk? If someone isn’t your patient you can’t give medical advice. Go take a nap.
@@bopperette7260 many people with chronic illnesses don't want to hear that kind of stuff. They probably have already tried a lot of things and hearing "have you tried x thing?" can get very tiring very soon. This person is showing respect by listening, you should try and do the same.
thank you for listening
I live with 7 out of all of her diagnosis and I have to say I know how extremely difficult it is to navigate a new “normal” in constant pain, anxiety and weakness it’s truly devastating at times to live with multiple chronic illnesses, especially when you’ve had other’s question your condition and/or call you a hypochondriac… been there myself and it’s very traumatic to experience that, it makes you question everything about yourself 💜 prayers for all who experience any or all of these conditions 🙏🏼
@@trollsneedhugs thank you for your advice!
im so sorry youve dealt with similar experiences. no one deserves that. i wish you nothing but health and happiness!
@@itzamarierivera thank you, I wish you the same dear 🙏🏼💜
I'm so excited for this episode! I now have multiple autoimmune and chronic illnesses after going through a tough bout of Lyme Disease in 2013 at age 28, which basically sent my immune system into overdrive and my body began attacking itself. I also have C-PTSD and Anxiety as a result of my medical battles.
We are warriors, stronger than most people can even imagine. Thank you for advocating for all of us and for making invisible illness, visible!!
I love that you mentioned making invisible illness visible. People gotta understand that a lot of these invisible illnesses can be debilitating. I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation 1 and it feels like I'm drowning inside my own head daily. I'm going deaf, blind in one eye, scoliosis, I'm in pain daily and this condition causes facial palsies, temporary paralysis and now I may have Meniere's Disease by association due to the pressure on my brain. These are the smaller symptoms I've had. None of these can be seen and they are often ignored. I even had to take finals in college with half my brain swollen. I get where you're coming from. Warriors indeed, and I hope you continue to kick your condition in the behind and stay strong.
thank you so much you beautiful warrior!
My wife sent me this and she has all the same illnesses. We've had doctors do the same things. Thanks for sharing your story, I hear you.
thank you for listening
I have endometriosis. It is one of the most painful things to experience. Along with other chronic health issues. Sending warm wishes Itza ❤
sending warm wishes back friend
i’m 21 and have three chronic illnesses; rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, and fibromyalgia. as well as live with social anxiety and depression. i’ve been struggling and going through a really dark time with it all rn, but i’ve been seeing so many more videos of people talking about their chronic illnesses on youtube, and it is making me feel a lot less alone in my struggles rn. thank u guys so much for making and posting this video. 💖
I'm sure your family and friends are super proud of you and you should be too 😊
Aspergers/autism have a ton of comorbids, some of what you have mentioned are possibilities. Social media, particularly Pinterest has a ton of information out there if you’re looking to research more about all of this.
I feel for her pain. I have a chronic illness known as Dysautonomia. Its where one's autonomic nervous system doesn't work correctly. That system controls all your involuntary processes such as heart rate, blood vessel dilation, digestion, temperature regulation, etc. You cant even stand for 5 minutes bc your body cant reverse the effects of gravity pushing blood down therefore it all pools to your lower limbs unlike it would in a normal person. This is known as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTs). Unfortunately there is no cure and no standard treatment for symptoms. Everyday I experience over 70 symptoms a day such as gastroparesis, tremors, brain fog, blood pooling, visual disturbances, heat intolerance, tachycardia, breathlessness, dizziness, inability to stand, allergic reactions, etc that leave me severely disabled and debilitated. I went from a 200lb body builder to now 139lb very fragile individual. Now seeing a Geneticist to test for another Chronic Illness known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. I wouldn't wish this condition on anyone. I wish you the best Itza and known you are not alone. There are many support groups if you ever get lonely and you can email or message me anytime. Sticking together and advocating for our health is how we will get through this as my own doctors gave up on me and I had to really go through a lot of primaries before I found the one that knew about my condition.
im so sorry youve been dealing with so much. i am sending you hugs. it really is tough out here but sbsk proves that we are not alone
Thanks for sharing , did anybody say what caused it ?
@@laubowiebass still looking into it. Took being a not so nice person to doctors to finally get somewhat of a diagnosis. But the condition itself is poorly understood and has no cure or accepted treatment. Which makes it even harder to obtain information or to find providers that are educated in that field.
@@itzamarierivera indeed they do!
You have all been brainwashed by society. Illness is not real my videos can help you understand
I also have fibromyalgia and I appreciate you interviewing someone with the same disease people need to know more about it
Yes!
Same
Look into tension myotosis syndrome
I’m late to this interview but I’ve never seen/met anyone in my life with my exact list of chronic/mental illnesses and this helped me so much to watch. I’m so grateful that this interview exists. I doubt my own reality too, especially not being believed by doctors so often too. It’s exhausting and really lonely. Thank you for choosing to do this interview, it’s helped me and I know so many other people too
We are in VERY Similar circumstances, I have Gastroparesis, IBD(UC), An ileostomy Bag.. Had my Large intestine/Rectum/Bowel fully removed, anemia,migraines, Asthma ect ect the list goes on.. not to mention mental health issues.
Watching this video is blowing my mind right now.
We're around the same age and everything, it's bizarre..
Are u familiar with the channel LetsTalkIBD? A great community over there as well....
im sorry youre dealing with similar struggles, it is far from easy. youre incredibly strong
It is so sad to see the same state of mind in a lot of people with chronic illnesses. I have exactly the same issue with questioning myself and my illnesses although I have them for all my life now. I hope that Itza will get better and see how strong and brave she is and stop listening to people who tell her that she can't be that ill. She should be proud to get through so much stuff other people could not do that!
Itza: I am with you. I totally see and understand. I have many of the same diagnoses. I have been told by so many doctors that I must be sensitive, dramatic, that it's all in my head, even though I have proof it is all real, including a 6 hour surgery to remove all the horrible things wrong (endometriosis) I have PTSD from those appointments.They say don't google or go to social media, but they have no answers for me.
So many hugs and prayers to you. ❤️
thank you so much friend. i hope you find answers and relief soon
@@itzamarierivera thank you! You too! ❤️
I do believe and some of my doctors believe that my 2 years of chemotherapy caused my fibromyalgia and a mile long list of other chronic issues. Itza you are awesome and so very well spoken! It was so helpful for me to hear you explain EXACTLY how I feel all the time. You said it all so much better than I ever could!! Thank you! I understand how you feel. Thanks for doing SBSK!! Thanks to you too Chris!! Your show is so important and so helpful. The world needs this!! And Itza...... You've beautiful 😁!!!!!
Aspergers/autism, Ehler Danlos Syndrome, POTS, Dysautomia(not sure if I’ve spelled this one right), and fibromyalgia, these are all Comorbids of autism/Aspergers. The autism spectrum disorder is full of these type of conditions and symptoms. There is information about all of these conditions that can be found via social media. I’ve done a ton of research on Pinterest especially. The answers are there, unfortunately the doctors often aren’t. I wish they would do the same research I’ve done, so the connection between all of these conditions can be seen and they could really give their patients some of the answers they’re looking for. The information does exist, it just needs to be looked for and researched. Why so many think women are hypochondriacs, rather than the incredibly intelligent women they actually are? Why would anyone think that anyone wants to feel this awful all of the time is just ridiculous?!?! All of you doctors out there, give your patients real answers, so that they can find out whatever real knowledge might actually be out there about their conditions that might help them.
thank oyu so much for your kind words. youre incredibly strong
Girl you are so strong and beautiful. I can’t believe doctors would just abandon you like that. On another note, i’d love to be your friend!
hi friend thank you so much!
As someone who also deals with gastroparesis, its great to see someone bringing attention to it. Thank you for motivating me to keep pushing everyday. 🙏
thank you so much best wishes to you friend
I can completely relate to the feeling of questioning yourself and if you really are sick. It can be awful, but you have to remember that no matter who you are, if you're feeling bad for any reason then you deserve to feel better. It's always important to remember that
She could write novels of pure, unfiltered pain. I salute her, she is a miracle and deserves to thrive. I hope she finds her way, best of luck and all the love
thank you so much
Itza and SBSD, thank you so much for showcasing these illnesses. I also have many of the same. It's really helpful to hear your story and know this segment is bringing awareness to us. There are many of us and we need science to figure out why this is happening and fix it!
thank you for taking the time to watch the video, i never thought how much love id get and how many people with similar situations id meet. we are all in this together!
@@itzamarierivera amen!! Thank you for responding!! I'm so glad you can see that your willingness to be vulnerable like this helped many of us as well as you! Big hugs! You are important!💖🤩🤗
My heart goes out to you. I have fibro, rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis, chronic lung disease of prematurity, a brain lesion that takes up my right hemisphere. Also, I’m going blind. I have chronic severe depression and anxiety. Your interview with Chris was reassuring that I’m not alone. I feel similar. Thank you.
thank you so much i wish you the best
Gosh, you have it so hard, but you sit there with poise and grace, and describe your situation with the utmost clarity. You’re a really amazing person. I truly hope that you find the right scientist who can give you some answers and solutions to your struggles. For now though, I hope that you realize how much you have touched people through this beautiful interview. Sending love from NY, USA.
thank you so much
I was told literally yesterday by a rheumatologist that my 10 years of joint and back pain, worsening into loose joints, dislocations, and such bad pain that stops me from walking, was all psychological and will "go away by itself" because I'm just "sensitive" from my mental illnesses. he ignored all of my questions and left me with a psych referral so I'm back to square one trying to find someone who can help me figure out why I'm losing my mobility. chronic illness guilt is SO real and it breaks my heart seeing how many other people have been through the same thing. itza is such an angel for going through this and being a voice for all of us, so thank you so much
She is absolutely beautiful. She’s very strong too, I wish her the best!
thank you
Being heard is the most important thing about living with chronic illness...I have CFS/ME, fibro, chronic migraine, PTSD, Thoracic outlet syndrome, and several other illnesses. Its so hard to live with the pain from having your health and dreams ripped away from you.
I’m bedridden 23hrs a day, low back pain, no voice, joint pain, and after 13 yrs, no doctor knows why, nor can they diagnose me.Many have said not to come back.
Cleveland clinic surgeon laughed to my face and sent me to a psychiatrist.
By the way, when a doctor advises a radical procedure, I HIGHLY recommend you get multiple opinions. I was told that I needed to have a stint put in my urethra permanently because I was experiencing chronic UTI symptoms. I declined. Had I gone through with that procedure, my quality of life would have gone down. You as the patient can always say no, never feel forced to get a big procedure because one doctor says so. Unfortunately medical schooling is very strict and they often only give one possible course of action so the doctors don't look into other alternative routes.
may I ask what alternative to the ureter stint you found helpful?
@@ITI-xi5zx I found that certain things trigger my UTI symptoms such as acidic foods or coffee, sugar, alcohol, intercourse, etc. I make sure hygiene is priority. I still have to empty my bladder frequently but I can tolerate that inconvenience. I am not on any meds for it. I take vitamins though and drink lots of water. Symptoms are manageable and subside for periods of time. I only take antibiotics when I have acute UTI pain.
i did get multiple opinions and since most did not know what else to do they agreed with the doctor that suggested surgery. i was not aware of the time it was not the right thing to do and now i cant go back, it cant be fixed.
@@itzamarierivera you do what you can in that moment. That's all you can ask of yourself. Nothing more. Your experiences are real, your feelings are real...YOU are real. Love.
Thank you for giving a voice to someone with invisible illnesses!
I have a mystery issue/illness, and because I do not fit into a box, doctors have also written me off. I have flares of inflammation (like RA or lupus), but tests always come back negative. But the inflammation is destroying my body. I've had random tendon ruptures and have had to have multiple surgeries to repair them. I've had two spinal surgeries because my spine is disintegrating. My GI system is a mess.
The rheumatologist was my last stop, and he said, "I don't know what's wrong with you and I don't know who would."
I basically live like this, waiting for things to fall apart, and then have them surgically fixed. All the while getting, "It's not that bad. The tests show that you are perfectly healthy."
🤯🤔😒
You can be brilliant and go to medical school, yet still have no common sense. Clearly something is wrong. 🤦🏼♀️
Were you ever given a fluoroquinolone antibiotic(Cipro, levaquin, etc) before? They are known to cause sometimes permanent disabling effects of the tendons, nerves, and cns, among other things.
My rheumatologist is amazing. Only one that finally understands me and believe me. Stay strong
Your eyeshadow is so pretty! I often don’t have the energy to make the effort of makeup due to fatigue. You look so pretty and put together. =)
thank you! i love doing my makeup, it is one of my coping mechanisms.
@@itzamarierivera same! I’d do makeup all day if I could
Thank you so much for doing this interview, Itza! I'm also 24 with Endo and it's nice to not feel so alone. Sometimes it's easy to forget that other people struggle with the same or similar issues and while i wouldn't wish it on anyone, it is comforting knowing there are people out there who understand exactly how I feel. You are valid in your feelings, and worthy of understanding and respect.
Classic doctors, seeing a young pretty woman and not taking her seriously.
Women's health issues and pain are consistently dismissed, and this happens throughout the world! It's partly because medical education is based on the male body and also medicine has historically been a male dominated profession.
I absolutely agree. Doctors sometimes make me feel uncomfortable just like you said. Thanks so much I appreciate it.✌✌✌✌✌😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
And at my age I been dealing with chronic illness also. Again thank you. I couldn't agree more!!
To be honest, I'd say this isn't specific to female or male, this seems to be a widespread issue within the healthcare system that the professional doesn't take your concerns seriously.
Just because the person reporting the issues isn't shouting and screaming, it doesn't indicate the level of distress/discomfort.
@@mattnutt2738 no. Literally there’s statistics showing that female patients aren’t taken very seriously. If a male presents with pain in emergency rooms they are more likely to receive pain medication. If female, they’re more likely if anything to be given anxiety meds. Diagnosis criteria itself a lot is based on symptoms in male bodies predominantly. Even when doing lab experiments for medication and tests they will use male lab rats and avoid using female ones because their hormones are too much of a nuisance. So a lot of women get more side effects from medication and are more likely to not have as effective effects. :/
My mom has severe gastroparesis as well. She was almost going to be put on a feeding tube. She can't eat green or leafy vegetables or red meats without feeling sick afterwards. About a year ago, my stomach issues started getting worse, so I had several tests done, including the gastric emptying study (GP test). It's not that bad, its just going to bed early enough and making sure not to eat or drink anything in the morning or in the middle of the night. They give you special food (eggs, toast and water is what I had) and the dye put in the food has no flavor, so you're just eating regular food. The results came back normal. I was later prescribed Scopolamine patches to help alleviate the nausea, and they work really well. I haven't thrown up once since I started using the patches, and have only felt nauseous twice (first time was probably because I ate 50 nuggets at once the night before and the second was due to a new medicine.) It's just a thing that comes along with having EDS.
It's heartbreaking to see how doctors, the very professionals that should have helped and protected her, hammered in her mind the idea that she was basically exaggerating and that nothing happened, doctor are people and they will make mistakes but not taking your patient seriously is not acceptable. You are amazing Itza! This video will bring awareness for these conditions and help make things better for people who have them and their loved ones. Stay strong!
thank you for your kindness
I have Gastroparesis, so this really hits home. Itza's story is truly remarkable and I pray for her.
thank you for your kindness fellow warrior
@@itzamarierivera You're welcome!
I love that you cover young adults as well as what we consider as kids. Your mission is awareness and acceptance (from what I have seen). It is a beautiful thing.
I have gastroparesis as well as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and many other issues like you! I need friends badly and I too am left with no doctors able to help. I'd LOVE to talk to you and we can help each other through the hard times! 💜 hang in there! We are strong! 💜
hang in there friend! we can do this
Same, having people around you who know really helps
It's no fun to live with a chronic Illness and not have any answers. For years and years before it had a name, my mother suffered from full body aches. These days it's Fibromyalgia.
You are so amazing. I can relate with your pain. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Endometriosis, Uterus Didelphis with 2 Cervix, Fibromyalgia, Anxiety & PTSD, Eagle Syndrome, bulging disks, Peripheral Neuralgia, and other types of nerve issues. Life is not normal with these diagnosis. Thank you for being so brave to share your information. 💜
thank you so much. we are not alone
Same. 💖💖💖
I think the hardest part is having people question whether or not you have all the diagnosis. I get accused by family members of being a hypochondriac.
Also… the doctors should still provide supportive care. The eff they are out here saying “we don’t want to continue helping you because we don’t have answers.”
Exactly!
I'd give her lots of hugs and cuddles I mean she deserves it.
This story was so inspiring. I live with chronic illnesses that have no cure as well and because 2 of them are rare, it's hard to get research done for the cures. You're right, in that you battle your mind and what you perceive others may think of you, including your own self. I'll pray for you Itza. You're so special and you have a purpose 💕
thank you for your kind words, i wish you nothing but health and happiness!
You're sooooo beautiful and special. I loved to heard your story. You're an inspiration to a lot of us and you DESERVE to be listened. Don't let your brain full you and tell you that you're not enough, because you're doing a very good job. Keep it up girl, we support you.
Thank you Chris for this interview.
thank you so much
@@itzamarierivera You go, girl!! Keep being that wonderfull person that you alredy are.
Itza is such an intelligent and beautiful woman! 👸🏻✨ i'm the same age as her, but sadly i live in europe. well, i'm totally healthy (if we don't count my depression and anxiety) but i'm pretty sure i would LOVE to be her friend! like watching movies together, hanging out inside maybe playing games, buddy reading books, etc. she's not awkward at all, even tho she says she is. she seems like a really-really nice person and such a lovely, understanding friend. i hope one day she will see herself that way as well! cheer up Itza and chin up so your crown doesn't fall off! *you're a living queen for putting up with everything* 👑🤍
thank you so much my goodness youre so kind!
Oh, Italy, I so feel for you! I have stage 4 endometriosis, chronic migraines, a heart condition, 2 types of arthritis, ptsd, gad, and more. I could write you a book, but I won't. I do want to tell you that endometriosis is when the same tissue that lines your uterus grows in other parts of your body, it has been found in people's brains and fingers and in males (though it is rare). There is a group on Facebook called Nancy's Nook (not me, a different Nancy) where there is a lot of information on it. Your pain sounds a lot like mine, and it lasted all month every month; and I was on mass quantities of opiates for years and years after my hysterectomy failed (the dr couldn't remove my uterus because everything from my abdominal wall to my intestines is just a solid mass - which you think would be validation enough, but I still wondered it I was making it worse than it really was at times!)
You're so brave! I hope you find a good dr.
She seems like such a kind person and amazing friend
thank you!
With everything she said she had to go through with the stomach surgery and everything and I looked up everything cause I never heard of her chronic illnesses and she’s been through so much and can’t imagine the pain, also!! She is so strong and Chris if you could please tag her on my comment I’d really appreciate it!!! It’s not unnoticed!!! She is so strong and if most seen her walking down the street they would never know, can’t imagine how hard life has been and all the pain!! She’s superwoman ❤️🔥🖤🤍
I appreciate every single word you have said thank you!
@@itzamarierivera God bless you dear heart. Truly
@@itzamarierivera I would love to be friends with you! I have some similar chronic illnesses and I understand how overwhelming it can be. Very proud of you for doing this video!!
Girl, you're not alone with the imposter syndrome. I have a lot of conditions due to my Ehlers Danlos, but so often I think I'm just being a wimp and it's not that bad. You don't deserve that. You are valid and real! ♥️ Keep going honey!!! We're out here with you!!
She is so STRONG and has so much strength ❤️❤️
thank you
I have endometriosis and her story is so relatable. Sending you love and strength Itza.
After listening for 5 minutes, I can say for certainty you are an absolutely wonderful person, I feel the kindness in you and I would feel blessed to know you ❤
that is incredibly mind thank you!
This episode really hit me in the feels... Itza seems truly sweet and lovely. Everyone's obstacle course is radically different through life, but showing this amount of dignity and composure in the face of this particular uphill battle is very inspirational.
Thank you to Itza for sharing your experience, and to Chris for assuring her that her experience is REAL and VALID. More people need to know they can advocate for themselves and this video can hopefully help bring that up in their thinking! I hope you find others who can advocate for you as well 💜
thank you so much. seeing people relate and validate my experiences is beyond me
my father got a similar thing. But with the intestines. He had a paresis in his whole intestin, not the stomach. They removed one part, gave him portcats (wich he had to change 3 times). His case, many years ago, was studied all over the world and pieces of his intestine were at our home, ready to be delivered abroad for study. At the end he was waiting for an intestine and liver transplant. Nobody could say what the illness actually was and doctors were studying on him. We were just searching what worked for him everyday. Having a normal life was really difficult by we did the best we could, also going on holiday skiing (even if for having just a walk for him) or other things. He was a great person and a great warrior. you reminded him to me. Go ahead, times are changed, medicine is going ahead and you are a wonderful person!
Girl I barely handle my Bipolar disorder combined with PTSD, anxiety disorder and few others and I’m not having any chronic illnesses… You are my first favorite female superhero 💙 You’re also really beautiful, seriously, keep being yourself, treat yourself kindly and always keep your head up ! 💙
thank you so much you beautiful warrior
Okay please have this girl reach out to me! This is exactly what happened to me! I got thyroid cancer in 2012, and ever sense my entire health has gone down hill!
Itza, you are seen, heard, and believed! Thank you for this video. Hearing Chris validate her and reassure her of her deserving accommodations and advocacy was very touching, as if he was speaking to me too. I'm also chronically ill with multiple physical and mental diagnoses, and can relate to so, so much of her experience. The impostor syndrome hits so hard, and so does the constant feeling of being robbed of your life and falling behind. So much love going out to Itza, hoping for fewer flares and better days. 🤞🏻
thank you so much friend this means soo much to me. i wish you nothing but health and happiness
Thank you for this video! Itza, your story helps others. My daughter has severe Interstitial Cystitis. Her Daddy( a surgeon) minimizes her
situation which is so hurtful to her. Thankfully she is blessed to have a wonderful physician.
It’s so important to be validated and not be treated as a hypochondriac . Please continue to share your story. Thank you Chris! The world is a better place because of people like you!
i feel like every woman i know with an invisible illness has loads of stories about being dismissed by doctors-myself included. we feel like hypochondriacs because that’s how we’re MADE to feel. we get treated like “hysterical girls” and told nothing’s wrong. it’s not right and it’s so damaging emotionally. anyone who has had to put up with that BS is a badass in my book. sending love to all of you. your pain is real, screw anyone who tries to convince you otherwise.
I'm a highly functional person and this sometimes makes struggles invisible, but it helps me a lot to see someone advocating for things that I have, that they are hard to live with and also to be compared to people fully healthy. all my love to you itza! you're incredibly strong!
Hey Itza, as someone who shares some of your diagnosis(es) I just wanted to say I relate a lot to what you talk about.
You are stronger than you may know right now. The things you go through SUCK SO MUCH, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
In regards to other people not really believing you; I think people who don’t have chronic conditions are very afraid of the realities of having to live like we do. And so they just block it in their brains and deny even the possibility of it. It’s not bad intentions, but fear. I’m having a migraine right now, so I hope I’m being coherent. But I just had to pop in and comment.
She’s so eloquent and absolutely beautiful, inside and out! I cried when she talked about her imposter syndrome, I thought I was the only one who felt like this (with my chronic illness).
imposter syndrome is one of my biggest enemies. thank you so much for your kindness and remind yourself you are valid
I understand the feeling of “Is this in my head…should I just toughen up.” Don’t listen to that voice because you are strong because of what you’ve been through. Chronic “invisible” illnesses are so difficult to live with. You’re no alone!
thank you so much! we are not alone!
What an incredibly beautiful heart. So grateful for this interview today! 🙏🏼♥️
What do you love to do when you are well enough to do?? Write a book. I feel a deep story teller vibe in you. You are so so well spoken. Record your thoughts and edit them and send them out to us so we can learn from you! Make up videos?? We will be there for whatever you create and wherever you are physically when you create it.
its such an odd coincidence you say this. so many people have told me the exact same thing and im considering it. thank you so much!
I just saw your video and at the end I started to cry. I can't say many words right now, I'm not a native speaker, come from Germany and live here. I want to reach out to you right now and don't want to risk to forget about it. Thank you so much. You reaching out to us and telling your story means the world to me right now. I live with endometriosis, fibromyalgia, complex and chronic PTBS, depression, social anxiety, a chronic skin illness and I am 30, can't work for like 3 years and I am in therapy for my illnesses, but I feel stuck and frustrated. Like there is a child inside me I have to take care of all the time. My mind is full of ideas and my body and my mental limits me. For weeks I am writing to many people who make documentaries like this to tell my story because I know nobody who is at my age and has so many chronic illnesses. Nobody has responded to me yet but I want to share my story so bad. There has to be somebody else who understands me. Again thank you so much for telling me I am not alone with all of these. Hug you! ❤️
I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Gastroparesis&dysmotility, and a number of other chronic conditions. I really feel you!!
I had some tube feeding two years ago, but right now I am struggling with oral stuff, but I am waiting to get sick enough to need tubes again basically.
This is my story and so many others. Please go find a Lyme Literate Doctor (LLMD) and have them test you for lyme and other co-infections, including bacterial, viral, and fungal. So many of these mysterious chronic conditions and “autoimmune” disorders are caused by stealth pathogens that the average MD knows nothing about. Wishing you healing and strength!
You are truly an incredibly strong person. I pray that your pain will ease and then your illnesses subside. Even if they are chronic, I will pray continuously that you’ll get the energy and life, love and joy that you infinitely deserve.
God bless you. Thank you for sharing your story. It is endlessly inspiring!!💕💕
thank you so much
@@itzamarierivera Of course, love! I truly hope things will get easier for you.
Your video helped me so much Itza! I’m going through cardiac complications from Covid for a year and Docs know almost nothing! It’s truly a mystery for us “youngin’s” in our 20s. My life and future has completely changed. Sending you hugs 💙
This video is fantastic and very informative. Thanks for bringing this awesome human being to camera. Your dialog was very sincere and pure. Wishing so much this person to chill herself more and to break the egg and share her story to the word, she's a great speaker! Greetings from a Cuban living in Barcelona!
muchas gracias por tus palabras tan lindas, son grandemente apreciadas!
"i'm just not as nice to myself as i should be" dang, that right there just broke my heart. i hope this beautiful young lady can build up more her self-esteem and sense of self-worth, she deserves that much at least.
My heart reaches out to this beautiful, articulate, young woman Life is there but very difficult 😢 I hope and pray that she'll find a liferoad that brings her treatments and people that will befriend her in any possible way 😘 I have hope and faith that she will find..... medical help, emotional help, financial help, and spiritual help ♥ ♥ ♥
This sweet girl has been through so much and I feel for her so deeply. I, too, have a chronic illness and spent much of my life under the care of invalidating medical "professionals". Also, I can't help but acknowledge the influence of the mind on the physical body and vise versa: When Itza said she has panic disorder, PTSD, depression, and OCD it reminded me so much of my child-self, completely stricken with trauma and psychological stress but only having my physical manifestations of chronic illness treated. It is no coincidence that there is so much comorbidity between these trauma-induced diagnoses and multiple physical chronic illnesses. We are sick of being weighed down by our physical experience and just being told to "take X, do more, do less...". Itza, I wish you peace and hope that you one day feel able to thrive despite the struggles of the body you exist within. You are worthy of so much joy and thank you for taking the time to convey your experience to us :) It is so important to share these stories.
thank you so much for your kind words i truly appreciate them. i wish nothing but relief and health for you
Thank you for sharing! I have fibromyalgia and IBS. I wish fibromyalgia was talked about more like you’re doing here, I feel very lonely and isolated sometimes because I don’t know anyone else who has it. Friends and family don’t even understand it or can relate. Would also be nice to have support groups even to just vent with others who get it. Blessings to you ❤️
I had chronic illness for over twenty years!!! First started when I was forty walking across a street and was hit by a taxi cab. Having had ten surgeries below my waist. I have chronic pain on daily basis. Because I'm allergic to anti inflammatory drugs. I can only take extra strength tylenol!!! I was diagnosed with RSD, Crohn's Disease, Hypothyroidism, IBD, Sciatica, and Retroverted Uterus & SAD. But, I'm very thankful for everyday of life!!! I will have the spirit of gratitude instead of complaining. Thankful that I can drive, cook for myself, wash my clothes, pay my bills and talk with friends & neighbors & family. It is a very hard life!!! But you must keep a positive mindset!!! Trying to be proactive concerning eating better, talking with others, praying for others & myself and being outside and enjoying nature and sunshine.
Thank you for sharing your life with us! Your illnesses are incredibly difficult to deal with. You ARE dealing with them! You are a strong person. Please keep enduring. Your problems are real. You didn't cause them and you do not deserve them. You are a lovely young woman. You have encouraged me today!
thank you so so much for your kindness
Congratulations being in remission! Just like Chris said you deserve help, you deserve sharing your story and im so glad you shared your story thank you you're educating so many people and making other people feel less alone
Itza, the experience of regularly falling into a fog of self-doubt despite obvious evidence confirming your reality is SUCH a normal effect of being gaslit (especially by Experts and people who have power over you, like Drs). I have invisible chronic illnesses and I relate to everything you experience with that. When I talk about my illnesses, if people don’t specifically affirm that they believe me in some way, I start going into that self-doubt state. When you’ve been questioned so much, it can take a more-than-average amount of affirmation to you rebuild your sense that your reality exists and can ever line up with other people’s perceptions of reality. And a lot of the time for us the experience of being disbelieved is relentless, so it’s hard to heal when that wound is just being constantly reopened.
I hope itza have a blessed future it's okay to be different I hope everyone have a blessed day or night
Let us pray for her… that she be released from these issues at the appointed time 🙏🙏🙏
@@visionvixxen thanks for replying to my comment
I am so glad I found this video. I am currently in the “no one has answers” phase. Been in and out of the hospital the past 2 months with endless tests and no answers as to what is going on. This video really gave me the push I need to keep going. Love these!
it can become very despairing and isolating but you are not alone, dont give up!
It was absolutely no problem to reach the end of the video. I hope one day you'll be able to feel yourself that you're worthy, because you definitely are
I am speechless and hearing to this amazing woman makes me feel so sad.I hope she will receive so many people contacting her, perhaps some socialisation could help her out to think about others and getting better.