I am 28 years old and was diagnosed on June 2024. I had had night sweats but my main reason for a blood test was gluten intolerance as had been feeling unwell eating many types of food for about a year. It came shocking obviously as a diagnosis because I had just donated blood and donated my eggs not long before, and so I had been thoroughly checked for the previous month. Other than fatigue, I didn’t really experience other symptoms but I have to say after I started treatment, my stomach upset has been reduced too!

It’s been about a year now since and the path has not been great – hospitalised due to strep throat in January for two weeks (+ month at home) and having needing weekly blood transfusions since then, on top of a break from medication, change of medication, and continuous use of injections to keep my numbers at bay.

Slowly getting better after 9 months now, and so mentally and physically I have been at my worst.

It is hard to stay positive during this process but I am lucky to count with a good support system plus a great therapist and an amazing support nurse.

Hoping to become my best and maybe one day be able to start my own family with my amazing partner.