Woman, 21, was dismissed by doctors for years and told to lose weight. More than a decade later, she learned what was wrong

The woman claims doctors' comments about her weight led her to spiral into "disordered eating"

NEED TO KNOW

• A 21-year-old woman says doctors dismissed her severe stomach pain for years, often attributing it to her period or weight
• After many doctor's visits and a second opinion, she was finally diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory condition
• She said the years of misdiagnosis led her to spiral "into disordered eating,” and she now urges other women to advocate for themselves when seeking medical care

A 21-year-old woman claims doctors dismissed her debilitating intestinal pain for years, often telling her to simply lose weight — and it turned out she had a serious chronic illness.

Amelie Russell of Australia said she was about six years old when she first visited the emergency room with intense stomach pain, according to Nine.com.au.

However, she said doctors told her parents nothing was wrong.

Russell told the outlet that the pain got worse over the years, and she continued to visit doctors in search of answers — but they always minimized the issue or chalked it up to something minor.

"They said, 'It's probably just your period. You should go on the pill and see if that'll work,' " Russell recalled.

She said that as she got older, several medical professionals told her to "just lose weight and see if that will help.”

"I was already getting bullied in high school for being a little bit on the heavier side," Russell said, adding, "Having doctors saying that as well ... I kind of spiraled into disordered eating."

Russell said that sometimes the pain got so bad she couldn't sleep at night. She said she had her first colonoscopy at 17 years old, but again, the gastroenterologist told her that they found nothing unusual.

Russell said she sought a second opinion about a year later, which finally led to a life-changing diagnosis.

"There's inflammation everywhere,” Russell claimed the new doctor said.

Russell said that further testing revealed she had Crohn's disease, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes severe inflammation of the small intestine and colon.

Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, fatigue, belly pain and cramping, blood in the stool, anal pain and more, according to the Mayo Clinic.

While Russell said she was relieved to finally receive a diagnosis, she is still coming to terms with the reality of living with a lifelong disease, adding that she often must cancel plans with friends and take time off from her job as a childcare professional because she is too ill to function.

"Sometimes I still do get very upset about it," Russell said.

Russell also noted that it took several years to find a treatment plan that helped manage her symptoms, and she will always have to stay on top of the chronic disease.

She now urges other women to advocate for themselves and their health when their instincts tell them something is wrong.

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"Just keep going to the doctor, keep trying new doctors," she told the outlet.

"I know it can be expensive, but it's awful not knowing what is going on, and [it's] the relief that you get when you do find out that's worth it,” she added.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, The Alliance for Eating Disorders provides a fully-staffed helpline at 1-866-662-1235, as well as free, therapist-led support groups.

Read the original article on People