Olivia’s Story
Endometriosis & interstitial cystitis
If I had to describe living with chronic illness in one word, it would be exhausting. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. For as long as I can remember, my body has always hurt in some way. As a kid, I thought that was normal, that everyone’s body ached, that fatigue was just part of growing up. Two years ago, I was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and for a while, it felt like I finally had an answer. But it didn’t stop there. In December 2024, I started having constant pelvic pain that never went away. It got worse and worse until it became unbearable. After months of tests, appointments, and trying to convince doctors that something was seriously wrong, I was diagnosed in July 2025 with endometriosis and interstitial cystitis. Since then, every day has been a challenge. I’m still dealing with chronic pelvic pain every single day, and it’s exhausting in a way that’s hard to put into words. I’ve had so many labs, scans, and procedures that I’ve lost count. I recently had a colonoscopy that showed erosions in my small intestine, and I’m waiting to have an endoscopy to hopefully get more answers. On top of all that, I’m in college and working full-time, which is a lot to handle when your body is constantly fighting against you. Some days I can barely make it through a shift or finish schoolwork because the pain and fatigue are too much. Lately, I’ve even started considering applying for disability because working has become so hard for me. It’s something I never imagined I’d have to think about at my age, but chronic illness forces you to rethink what normal looks like. It feels like my life is a constant cycle of appointments, waiting rooms, and test results that never seem to end. There are days when I feel hopeful and strong, and days when I just feel completely drained. I’m learning how to live in the in-between, between pain and relief, between hope and disappointment, between wanting answers and being afraid of what they might be.
