Hi, my name is Cameron Morell, I am 16 years old and going into my junior year of high school. I play soccer and I love music, fashion, sports, and my people.
I have had a chronic stomach illness since I was 8 years old. My life has consisted of endless doctor’s appointments, medications, and waiting and wishing for help. I am currently diagnosed with Functional Abdominal Pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth but we are still doing some new testing to search for other answers. I have struggled with debilitating pain for so long, it is hard to remember a life without it.
As I have grown up, my symptoms have worsened; especially over the last year and a half. My struggles have expanded to much more than simply stomach problems such as dizziness and lightheadedness, extreme fatigue, ovarian cysts, increased pain intensity and frequency, along with many other strange symptoms.
As I navigate this all, I try to remain in school and sports although it gets tricky. I hope to find more answers for my new and constantly changing symptoms and to find my best source of help.
5 Invisible Symptoms
- Stomach pain and nausea- my pain never really goes away. Eating, exercising, stress, and busy schedules exacerbate the pain levels.
- Chronic fatigue- fighting chronic illness is exhausting. No amount of sleep makes up for the exhaustion that it brings. Doing the smallest things feel much harder to do compared to an average person. This makes balancing my busy schedule very difficult.
- Bowel issues- rotating between diarrhea and constipation makes everyday life very hard.
- Dizziness- constant dizziness and lightheadedness when doing many things such as yelling too loud, standing up, moving my body too fast, etc.
- Insomnia/sleep loss- I struggle to sleep constantly, whether that’s waking up from the pain, or being in too much pain to fall asleep.
4 Things That Help Me Manage The Pain / Symptoms
- Heating pad- I use a heating pad all day and all night on my stomach for the pain. It helps get me through the days.
- Resting- laying down and trying to relax my entire body helps to reduce my pain levels and allows me to continue on with my day.
- Eating habits- even though eating anything at all worsens the pain, I eat as clean as I can to try to help. I eat very healthy and try to fuel my body well.
- Distractions- since the pain never really stops, distracting myself from it is the best I can do. My people and my hobbies keep me busy and help ease the pain.
3 Ways My Life Has Changed
- My self-expectations- I have largely shifted my expectations for myself. I have accepted the body I have and the way I struggle, and I have allowed myself to be that version of me. I look to do my best each day and accept that if I’m doing my best, then it is enough. The current state of my health only allows me to do so much and trying to exceed that limit only makes things worse.
- My viewpoint on life- I look at life in a different light since becoming chronically ill. Every single day is a gift, and though it feels hard a lot of the time, I know that I am only becoming stronger. I have developed such a maturity throughout my struggle which has gifted me a lot of knowledge and understanding. I have become more empathetic and more appreciative for the small things.
- My schedule- I have shifted my daily schedule to be able to live with this chronic illness. I had to quit volleyball (which I played at a very high level and loved with my whole heart), simply because my body could not handle it. I have shifted my day-to-day schedule to accommodate my needs to ensure that I can keep going, even if that means taking days off of school and sports.
2 People Who Inspire Me
- My parents- Both of my parents are such genuinely good people. Both of them advocate for me and my needs and push me to keep going even when I have no hope. They look to find me the best relief possible and always allow me to do what my own body needs. I aspire to be like both of them when I one day become a parent. They both fight many battles mentally and physically and remain strong, and I love them so much!
- Katie Jaskolski- Katie is my aunt who runs this foundation. She struggles with several chronic illnesses but still manages to be a mom of two little girls, work, and live her everyday life. She has inspired not only me but so many other people to advocate for themselves and their struggles. I look up to her and the amazing person and mom she is, and hope that I can be just like her, even with my chronic illness.
1 Thing I Want People to Know
I want people to know that it is okay to not be okay. It is okay to not be your best, it is okay to advocate for your needs, and it is okay to prioritize yourself. You and your own health and body come before anything else and it is important to remember you are fighting a battle every single day.
Living with chronic illnesses makes everything 10x harder, and it is so important to give yourself grace and love, because you deserve it! People who don’t struggle like you will never fully understand it, but it is important to surround yourself with people who try to understand and give you the support you need.
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