The Bachelor star Gemma White, 28, shares her secret battle with autoimmune disease
Former Bachelor star Gemma White has spoken bravely about her battle with autoimmune disease.
Taking to Instagram on Monday, the 28-year-old revealed she has Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Gemma explained she takes immune-suppressant injections to manage her condition.
Speaking out: Former Bachelor star Gemma White has spoken bravely about her battle with Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis
Gemma was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2016, after experiencing a number of symptoms associated with both conditions.
‘I’ve been getting iron infusions for about six years now. That [iron deficiency] was one of the main things people see as a side effect of Crohn’s,’ she began.
She also revealed how she found mysterious lumps on her bottom, which she then had removed.
Health: Gemma explained she takes immune-suppressant injections to manage her condition
‘I had lumps come up on my bottom,’ she said. ‘A week after the operation to remove them] I was back in hospital for a couple of weeks.’
Three months later, Gemma had a colonoscopy.
‘That’s when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s. What that meant, I had no idea,’ she added.
![Troubles: 'I've been getting iron infusions for about six years now. That [iron deficiency] was one of the main things people see as a side effect of Crohn's,' she said](https://i0.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/12/15/01/36848646-9053613-image-a-27_1607994437598.jpg?resize=634%2C687&ssl=1)
Troubles: ‘I’ve been getting iron infusions for about six years now. That [iron deficiency] was one of the main things people see as a side effect of Crohn’s,’ she said
She said she went through a lot of stress in 2017, which is when she started to suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
Gemma switched to a gluten- and diary-free diet in order to help her condition, but soon suffered another flare.
‘It was so painful. I couldn’t even walk. The pain was incredible. You get really achy joints and everything becomes so sore,’ she said.
Challenges: ‘It was so painful. I couldn’t even walk. The pain was incredible. You get really achy joints and everything becomes so sore,’ she said of one of her flares
‘Just doing normal things. My hands would even be sore which sounds ridiculous.’
Gemma experienced rheumatoid arthritis in her neck, spine and right side, and her mobility was so poor she could barely take herself to the bathroom.
Gemma said in May last year she had started a new course of medication and things were starting to look up for her.
Helping others: Gemma finished by saying that people were suffering were not alone
‘I know medication isn’t something I want to end up on forever,’ she said. ‘But I know that it has a place in my life at this point in time.’
She hopes to get off medication altogether by following a healthy diet, staying positive and exercising regularly.
Gemma appeared on Locky Gilbert’s season of The Bachelor. She previously revealed how she lost 26kg after being bullied at school.
Transformation: Gemma revealed she lost 26 kilograms after being bullied as a child. Pictured before and after her weight loss
Career: She went on to be crowned Miss Australia Continents in 2018. Gemma now works as a real estate agent on the Gold Coast. Here: on The Bachelor