A woman who was told for years that symptoms were anxiety or just in her imagination lost 20lbs because of the nausea caused by debilitating joint pain. Sarah Sieczkarski, 20, says doctors thought she was just ‘always sick and constantly complaining’ and she was nearly convinced her struggles were psychological.
As a child, Sarah had she struggled with unexplained symptoms, and doctors repeatedly dismissed her concerns. She said:“I was convinced my problems were psychological because that’s what they told me.“They said my symptoms were just anxiety.”
The pain and nausea became so bad that Sarah lost 20lbs through a lack of nutrition. Shewas eventuallydiagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS). hEDS is a connective tissue disorder that causes joint hypermobility, chronic pain, and a host of other symptoms.
The diagnosis, also means Sarah suffers postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), migraines, arthritis, and other conditions.“Life with genetic and chronic illnesses is hard and has taken a lot from me,” she said.“I’ve lost 20 pounds because eating is so painful, and some days I feel like I’m going to pass out from fatigue.”
Despite these challenges, Sarah works as a personal trainer. “I know what it’s like to feel defeated by your body,” she said.“That’s why I want to help others fight back.”
One of Sarah’s most daunting battles is with a rare condition called median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS). MALS causes severe abdominal pain and nausea that worsens when she eats. “I just want to go out and eat without ending up in the bathroom trying to puke after two bites of food,” Sarah said. The condition has left her malnourished and exhausted.
“I’m thankful for the diagnosis, but I’m scared of what my future will look like,” she added.POTS, another condition Sarah faces, has profoundly impacted her love of weightlifting.“I love to exercise, but it’s so rough with dysautonomia and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome,” she said.“POTS ruins my videos halfway through, and some days I feel like I’m fighting my own body just to finish a workout.”
Sarah has encountered hurtful comments from people who don’t understand her situation.“People say, ‘You’re always sick, something is always wrong with you, and you always complain. It’s so draining,'” she said.“No one understands that when I say I don’t feel good, I mean I’m in so much pain my body is attacking itself. There’s no cure for what I’m dealing with.
“I only get through because of my hope in God and my amazing support system. My family and husband are my rock. They help me on the hardest days, and their love keeps me going.”
Sarah’s experiences have also driven her to raise awareness about chronic and invisible illnesses. “There are so many people, including myself, who are fighting daily battles that you can’t see or understand,” she says.“Please always be kind—you never know the battles people are silently fighting.
“Chronic illness has been so hard, but I know I’m called to share my experiences and raise awareness. I’ve gotten so many messages from people saying my story helps them feel seen, and that makes everything worth it.
“I’m scared, but I know I’m not alone.”