Vital voices: Myisha describes her self-advocating in order to get her Crohn's disease diagnosis

Myisha was dismissed and frustrated until she wasn't. Her diagnosis with Crohn's disease helped her become a more healthy wife, mother and advocate for others.

Transcript

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MYISHA: I use my voice and I help one person feel better about their day then I've done my job as an advocate.

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[MUSIC PLAYING]

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I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2009. Having a chronic illness is hard, but being a full time mom and wife with a chronic illness

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is even harder. And me trying to rephrase that to my doctors, they wasn't understanding. All they wanted to do was write a prescription

00:32

and walk me out the door. Being seen by the GI for the first time I felt heard and I felt seen.

00:38

He let me know that the symptoms I were experiencing was real. Yes, having a doctor of color matters to me. I experienced racism as far as being discriminated against,

00:47

being told I was a hypochondriac, not having adequate access to certain doctors or medications.

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They made me think that it was mainly all in my head, and it gave me a sense of medical PTSD and trauma.

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My gastroenterologist is Black. My primary care doctor is Black. I feel it's important to advocate for yourself

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because you live with your body the longest. I know what it's like to be told you have a chronic illness, and don't know where to go, or the right resources, or nobody

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to talk to. I know what it's like to feel alone. So if I use my voice and I help one person feel better