Living with an Undiagnosed Illness │My 13 years of Undiagnosed Tuberculosis

I’m using this channel to show more of #LifeBehindTheLens ➡️📸 The ‘not-so-perfect’ life often not posted on social media…Life with a chronic illness.

This video is all about my struggle to get a medical diagnosis 😩It took 13 years of emergency admissions, tests, hospital appointments, gruelling trial treatments and eventually being told this unknown illness was going to kill me…until on one admission a doctor did a blood test for Tuberculosis. It came back positive.

It was a battle to be believed, a battle to be diagnosed and a battle to be treated. And because of this struggle I have learnt a lot about navigating an undiagnosed illness!

FAQ:

Who are you?
My name is Tilly and I'm the original founder of @thatoxfordgirl (www.thatoxfordgirl.com). I got into and graduated from Oxford Uni whilst living with active Tuberculosis.

What's your health situation now?
I started TB treatment and finally got my life back! But in 2018 I was rushed into hospital in a life-threatening adrenal crisis. Since then the medics have struggled to get my condition under control. They now believe the TB has returned and is putting my adrenals under huge pressure.

What's daily life like now?
Daily life is a balancing act. I am on huge doses of steroid, taking tablets all through the night, as well as a hydrocortisone pump injecting cortisol through a cannula into my tummy 24/7. I have also recently recommenced Tuberculosis treatment, a combination of chemotherapy and antibiotic treatment.

What's the aim of this channel?
To raise awareness for all those superstars out there living with long term health conditions. To give you an insight into life with Addison's disease, Tuberculosis and to show you that my story is proof you mustn't give up. This is a channel focused on positivity, patient stories and coping strategies I've learnt along the way!

Instagram: @thattillyrose   / thattillyrose