My journey

María's Story



Spain



Age: 16-24

A little bit about my journey:



My Diagnosis

Chronic back and neck pain pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and SIBO (and severe lactose intolerance and non celiac gluten sensitivity)



Time to Get Diagnosed

I have not gotten a diagnosis for my back yet. I just know that my legs and my back are a bit weird shaped and that causes knots in my muscles that can't be solved. For my digestive issues it has taken 3 years



Year I was Diagnosed

For my digestive issues, this month



Sending Love to



Hospital I'd Recommend

This is my story:

When I was 10 I started having chronic back and neck pain for which I still don’t have a diagnosis.
I have gone to countless specialists but no one has diagnosed me yet.
When I was 13 and 14 I had to go to the psychologist because of the pain and other issues and it was one of the best things I have done. Mental health is so important.
I know that my pain will probably never go away but I do know things that make it better and things that make it worse. So now, I let people help me with the things I can’t do, like carrying weights. I have also finished feeling like a victim and more like a warrior when I am in my worst days. I still do it jokingly but it helps.
In this journey, God has been very important, because I am a catholic. It has been helpful to have an attitude of gratitude towards the Lord and to understand that I may struggle here but because of Him I can have an eternity of salvation without pain.

For my digestive issues, I have been recently diagnosed with IBS and SIBO, which means that I have diarrhoea almost every day. I also have a severe lactose intolerance and a non celiac gluten sensitivity. I will now be trying different options to try to calm down my IBS and I have been sent antibiotics for my SIBO.
As eating is something very related to social activities, when I hangout with friends I usually take my own version of what they are going to eat and that will not cause me any extreme reaction. This way I feel much more included.
And guys, remember to smile! Right here, right now!

Let’s play 20 questions:

The song that keeps me going is:

No one ever cared for me like Jesus

I never leave home without my:

My go-to feel better movie is:

If I was in the hospital, the celebrity I would most love to visit me would be:

When I need to relax, I:

Take a long shower, light some candles and pray

My favorite food is:

The quote that keeps me going is:

Be grateful for what you have while working for what you want.

When I need a laugh, I:

Meet my pets (or favorite stuffed animal):

I have a cat named Shala

My hero is:

When I’m having a down day I binge watch:

My favorite book to get lost in is:

I want to be best friends with:

The thing I’m most proud of:

The most wonderfully unexpected thing that has happened to me as a result of this journey is:

The most hilarious thing that has happened to me is:

It really means a lot when someone does this:

When they noticed that I am uncomfortable or struggling with an activity and they help me.