A Life's Health Journey

My health journey really started back when I was ten. This is when I first started having health problem, mainly digestive issues at this time.

With severe constipation that would last weeks at a time causing huge amounts of pain and discomfort. I had to travel a lot to find the right paediatric doctor that would treat me, along with lots of different medications.

Fast forward to when I was 12 - I fell off of a tree swing high up and fractured a vertebra in my back. I was told that if I was an adult at the time I would have been paralysed. But I walked out of hospital that evening not knowing the permanent damage that I had caused.

It led to chronic back pain and sciatica that has lasted ever since. Then I was diagnosed with asthma at 14, this has lasted and can get quite difficult to control.

After another few more years, when I was 17, I started having chronic migraines that would keep me in bed with no stimulus, sleeping the days away and missing three or more days of school a week.

When I was 19 I started having chronic widespread pain which was debilitating. I found out when I was 22 that it was the beginning of fibromyalgia. Also, I was diagnosed with POTS last year. It had been building and getting worse for the past few years and has led to me fainting or nearly fainting frequently.

I always thought it was normal to almost pass out whenever I stood up, apparently not! With all of this I have not let it stop me from living.

In fact four years ago I sailed for two months half way around the world on a tall ship! Don’t get me wrong, this was a huge challenge but I learned that with the right support around me, I am able to achieve anything.

Read more about Alexandra's journey at: https://www.instagram.com/fighting_potsie_/