My story

The three-year rollercoaster

In 2021, a minor fall from my bike set off what became a three-year health crisis. What followed were repeated hospital admissions, three pituitary operations and years of uncertainty, as doctors worked to understand a condition that was eventually diagnosed, after years of searching, as autoimmune hypophysitis: a rare and often misdiagnosed inflammatory condition affecting the pituitary gland.

I’m now medically stable on long-term treatment, though I still live with frequent headaches, unpredictable fatigue and fluctuating energy day to day, as well as potentially life-threatening adrenal insufficiency. My body will never be quite the same, and my life looks very different to how it did before I became ill, but the present feels far more stable than it once did, and I’ve learned to live as well as possible within it.

You can read the full, extended story of my three-year health journey here.

What this experience taught me

Living through years of medical uncertainty and long periods of non-linear recovery taught me more than I ever expected, about my body, my resilience, and what it actually takes to live well alongside an unpredictable and invisible condition. I had always been energetic, and used to filling my time as fully as possible; with busy, high-pressured work and keeping up an exercise routine during the week followed by active and social weekends. Suddenly, I was forced to slow right down and allow myself the time I needed to recover from what would in the past have been a very ‘normal’ activity, like going to a friend’s wedding, being out and about all day, or even just working at a computer for a couple of hours, and this was a huge learning curve for me, with a lot of trial and error involved.

Many people living with chronic conditions, including me, experience true feelings of guilt around needing to prioritise rest and instead constantly try to ‘push through’, leading to a ‘crash and burn’. Adjusting to a ‘new normal’ and far lower baseline of energy resources forces you to reassess your priorities, habits and lifestyle, often while quietly grieving the life you had before.

It took time, but while my condition felt entirely out of my control at times, one thing that became clear to me was just how much control we do have over our health: our mindset, our daily choices, and the power of having a clear sense of purpose, even when so much else feels unpredictable.

Why I became a health coach

When so much of my health felt unpredictable, identifying where I still had influence became both stabilising and empowering. I began to understand just how much small, consistent habits matter, not as a cure, but as a stronger foundation from which to cope, recover and live well.

This is what led me to retrain as a health and wellbeing coach. I wanted to work in a way that let me directly support others navigating ongoing symptoms or flare-ups, helping them find the same sense of steadiness and control that I had to fight to find myself.

Why work with me?

I’m a UKIHCA Registered Health and Wellbeing Coach, meaning I’ve completed a Level 5 Diploma in Health and Wellness Coaching, accredited by the UK and International Health Coaching Association, the leading professional body for health coaches in the UK and internationally.

Being a UKIHCA Registered Health Coach means something specific. Health coaching is currently an unregulated industry in the UK, meaning anyone can call themselves a health coach regardless of their training. UKIHCA is an independent, non-profit body that exists to protect the public and uphold high standards in the profession. As a Registered member, I’ve met their defined Professional Standards, I complete a minimum of 25 hours of Continuing Professional Development every year, and I practise within their clearly defined Scope of Practice and Code of Conduct.

While my own experience gives me genuine insight into living with an unpredictable, invisible condition, I know that everyone’s experience of chronic illness is entirely their own. I would never assume I know exactly what you’re going through, but I can tell you that I truly empathise with what you may have been experiencing, and I bring both real-world understanding and professional training to how I can support you.

UKIHCA Registered Health and Wellbeing Coach

Level 5 Diploma in Health and Wellness Coaching, accredited by UKIHCA