Tummy Ache Issue 3 - 'Dysautonomia: Growing A Business With A Chronic Illness.'

I am super excited to share with you all a piece I wrote for Tummy Ache Issue 3!

Tummy Ache is a quarterly magazine, filled with ART, CULTURE, FASHION and more. I highly recommend checking out the website and the other pieces in the Growing Pains Issue! Thank you so much to Anna for the opportunity to write this piece and for creating a beautiful, safe online space and community. Writing this piece I hope to help raise awareness of Dysautonomic conditions and my own condition POTS Syndrome. And talk about growing a small business and running Sorrell Jewels, all with a chronic illness.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with my condition at 13, that I learnt what an acronym was and thank god for that. For a long time I only knew my mysterious illness as POTS, a strange condition I had never heard of, and unfortunately neither had many doctors. 

POTS or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, is a condition that affects the Autonomic Nervous System. Apparently, quite a lot can go wrong with the ANS and any conditions caused by it malfunctioning come under the umbrella term of ‘Dysautonomia’. Every October is ‘Dysautonomia’ awareness month, and the 25th is International POTS Day. During the 10 years I’ve been ill, I’ve only ever met a handful of people that have heard of POTS Syndrome. Surprisingly, POTS is estimated to affect 1 out of 100 teenagers, so it isn’t all that rare, yet no one has heard of it. 

Having POTS Syndrome can be life changing and debilitating. From persistent chronic pain and fatigue to sweating, heart palpitations and fainting episodes. The symptoms of this condition can affect every part of your body and every aspect of your life. In my case, I went from a young healthy teenager playing sports everyday to being bed bound, unable to attend school for two years, and being left with anxiety and depression. 

When you have a chronic illness, you learn to make the most of the good moments you do have. Learning to adapt and be flexible is something you have no choice in becoming expert at when your body dictates your life. Raising awareness about these conditions is vital so that we can understand what causes them rather than simply treating the symptoms. In sharing the successes and achievements of those living with POTS Syndrome, we can learn to see the beauty in being ill and celebrate ourselves and the things we can do, even if they do take us slightly longer. 

Having a small business or a chronic illness was never the plan, but these things happen. With 25% of people with POTS being unable to work, I always knew a conventional nine to five would never be possible for me. With a fluctuating condition, I can go from being bed bound for the day to feeling almost human the next. Sorrell Jewels came into being by accident. After graduating from university during Covid-19, I spent my time in lockdown selling my old jewellery. Having been obsessed with rings from a young age, things simply grew from there. I now work full time(ish), selling vintage jewellery, rings and other treasure, and it is a dream come true. 

There are so many benefits to working for yourself, but it can also be really hard. Being able to manage my own time, not having to answer to anyone or repeatedly explaining my condition allows me to put the energy I do have into something positive. Balance is an area I am working on, and I still make mistakes, overdo it and don’t always allow myself to rest even when my body is screaming at me. 

Setting up and building a business can be daunting, but I have been amazed by the support I have received, especially from others with chronic illnesses and disabilities. When I receive a message from a customer telling me they are ill and support what I am doing, I feel truly grateful for the position I am in. There is a power in creating something that is completely your own and running Sorrell Jewels has taught me so much about myself and my illness. Being able to say I have achieved this despite my disability and in fact  because of it is what makes me proud of myself and my condition.