By Apollonia Bynum, CDC Ambassador
I am a 38-year-old mom of three who was born and raised in a little city outside New Orleans, LA. I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis (IC) which is a cruel, invisible disease that turned my bladder into a battlefield. Then came fibromyalgia with its relentless pain and fatigue. And in 2015, my body added another enemy to the list: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). At first, IBS felt like a minor inconvenience compared to the agony of IC. But after contracting COVID-19 in 2020, my IBS morphed into a full-blown nightmare — and dragged GERD and acid reflux into the fight.
The Invisible Chains of IBS-C
IBS-C (constipation-predominant IBS) isn’t just about "not going." It’s bloating that makes you look pregnant, cramps that double you over, and the exhausting cycle of medications, diets, and false hope. After COVID, my symptoms escalated for days without relief, along with nausea and a constant, gnawing discomfort that made it hard to care for my three kids, especially my son, who’s legally blind and depends on me.
Then came the acid reflux. The kind that feels like lava in your chest, stealing your breath and convincing you you’re having a heart attack. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve rushed to the ER, certain this was it, only to be told it’s "just" GERD. Just. As if waking up choking on stomach acid, or surviving on protein shakes because solid food feels like a gamble, is trivial. The doctors ran tests, prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and sent me home. But the burning always returns.
The Food Wars: Trial, Error and Tiny Victories
When medications failed, I turned to food as medicine. I tried everything:
- Elimination diets: Cutting gluten, dairy, soy, and even "healthy" foods like onions and garlic. Turns out, my gut hates avocado—who knew?
- Dairy-free swaps: Goodbye cow’s milk, hello oat and walnut milk. My morning coffee now tastes like hope (and slightly less like regret).
- All-natural experiments: Bone broth for my gut lining, aloe vera juice to cool the nasty fire, ginger tea that sometimes eases nausea. I have tried all-natural probiotics, vitamins, and herbs.
Now that I am living in Houston, TX, I am exploring a gut dietician to help me restore my quality of health. But here’s the truth: What works one week might betray me the next. I’ve cried in grocery store aisles reading labels like a detective. I’ve spent hours meal-prepping, only to end up eating plain rice because my body vetoed the rest. Chronic illness is a maddening science experiment where you’re both the lab rat and the researcher.
When the System Fails You
Losing my job, and my insurance, because of IC taught me how little grace exists for chronic illness. With IBS and GERD, it’s the same fight: begging doctors for answers, drowning in medical bills, and grieving the life you once had. I’ve tried every "miracle cure" — low-FODMAP diets, probiotics, prescription laxatives, sleeping upright, $40 pillows — but my body still rebels. And when the acid reflux gets so bad I can’t lie down? I spend nights propped up like a broken doll, praying for sunrise. Being disabled at 38 years old was not a part of what I thought my life would be.
In 2021 my life took another drastic change when my three children and I lost our home due to Hurricane Ida. This led us to start a new life in Houston. The worst part of it all was having to change my health insurance. I had to cancel my Medicaid in Louisiana and apply in Texas which created medical bills that I had to fight to be covered. Stress, of course, makes IBS 100 times worse.
Why I created Limitless Edition Advocacy Group (EAG), Inc.
I started Limitless EAG because no one should feel alone in this war. Chronic illness steals so much from us — but it doesn’t get to steal our dreams. Through Limitless, I want to:
- Connect patients with resources to navigate IBS, GERD, IC, and other "invisible" diseases.
- Smash the stigma around conditions that don’t come with a cast or crutches.
- Share the messy truth about diets, treatments, and the emotional rollercoaster — no sugarcoating.
- Address insurance and Social Security nightmares. The struggle of transitioning from state to state isn't talked about.
If you're fighting IBS, GERD or any chronic illness: I see you
The days you spend curled around a heating pad, the meals you’re afraid to eat, the ER trips you downplay because "it’s just reflux" — it’s not your fault. Your pain is valid. And you’re stronger than this disease. I don’t have all the answers, but I’m learning to embrace the messy, painful, *limitless* journey. Let’s walk it together.