Latest news with #AandE
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
The Midults: My wife sleeps in the spare room more and more
Dear A&E, My wife has started sleeping in the spare room more and more and I'm a bit concerned. We've only been married for a year and are in our early 30s. And I don't really snore, unless I've been drinking. I am worried that we are already drifting apart, and the separate bedrooms are just the beginning. Our sex life is great but I want all of her. Love, – Uneasy Dear Uneasy, We are obsessed with sleep. We talk about sleep like we used to talk about sex: how much are you getting? How long does it last? Was it good? Sleeping seven to nine hours a night is the holy grail; a key factor in positive mental health, physical health, all the healths. We pathologise it, we catastrophise about it, because, like sex, we're mostly not getting enough. We are tired all the time and we worry about being tired all the time, which means we don't sleep; an unvirtuous circle. We have Oura rings (one friend admitted to being a bit disappointed when her Oura ring told her she was getting a surprisingly healthy amount of sleep) to track our REM cycles. And we don't merely avoid caffeine after 2pm – that's rookie sleep hygiene. No, we try to practise clean bedtime routines: We don't drink, we don't eat anything too heavy; no screens; you name it… anything in order to give ourselves the best chance of hitting that dreamy eight hours of oblivion. And it's not just us mid-lifers who are poring over sleep apps and signing up to be measured and biohacked to within an inch of our lives. Your thirty-something wife is just another of her cohort who is feverish about nighttime routines: the problem of sleep deprivation in millennials is so widespread that they are commonly known as 'The Tired Generation'. So, dear Uneasy, your feelings are collateral damage in this crusade. Sure, it's lovely to be wrapped around someone now and again, but nothing beats sleeping alone. Sleeping with someone else can be quite trying once the honeymoon is over. There are temperature issues, one is always too hot, while the other is too cold. You say snoring is not often a factor but you might talk, or move, or just breathe a bit too much. And then there's the bed itself: duvet weight, tucked in sheets, disagreements over optimum mattress type. Emilie's husband likes a firm mattress; Emilie, not so much. So they have a compromise mattress which in the end appeals to neither. Emilie sneaks down to sink into her trusty memory foam mattress in the spare room at every given opportunity. Everyone is happy. Lack of sleep can inflict significant damage on a human body and it can also be a huge potential threat to a relationship. People usually want to bring their best selves to a marriage, a self that can be severely compromised by a bad night. And, if children appear, it becomes imperative that at least one person sleeps in order to keep the show on the road. Perhaps your wife would rather sleep in the other room to be able to make the most of her waking hours; rather than emerging from a tough night full of dread. The good news is, dear Uneasy, from our point of view, you are doing pretty damn well: you are getting sex and sleep. However, as you are worrying – and presumably, as a result, not bringing your best self to the day – why not do a little investigating and join her quest for the perfect sleep situation? Work out what exactly it is that is sending her scuttling off to the other room. Is there a temperature issue, in which case get separate duvets (a game-changing idea courtesy of the scandis). Does she like to read in bed but you want the light off or vice versa? (A Kindle is a good solve here). Is the mattress right? Is the bed big enough? Are the curtains heavier in the other room? Perhaps with a little tweak you might find your sleepily ever after. If not, take comfort in the fact that you are not alone, in sleeping alone. A friend of ours, who is a very distinguished interior designer, says that the third meeting with a client is always when 'the snoring room' come up. 'Of course, we're very happy,' they all say, 'It's just that the snoring is unbearable.' Separate rooms do not equate to separate lives. One last thing, dear Uneasy. It is interesting to us that you say in your letter that you 'want all of her'. Perhaps that sounds romantic to you, and it might well be. It might also be a lot of pressure, on both of you. Careful, because none of us can be everything, or give everything, to someone else. It is important in any relationship to have room to grow, to oxygenate and flourish. An urge to be possessed, to be held all the time, might initially have felt very natural and exciting, but over time, could feel a little stifling. Don't tuck her in too tight. We are not saying that this is what is making her bolt for the other bedroom, but it is worth keeping an eye on. Good luck and good night.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Grandad ‘suffocated to death' on trolley in front of his wife and daughter in ‘chaotic' A&E corridor after 18-hour wait
GRAHAM Millward "suffocated to death" on a trolley in an A&E corridor in front of his wife and daughter. The grandad had been deprived of oxygen at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital following an 18-hour wait outside in an ambulance receiving area. 2 2 "My father did not deserve this," Paula Millward, 60, said. "He was deprived of a dignified passing and I was forced to watch him take his final breaths." An inquest heard the 87-year-old had been admitted to the hospital on January 9 this year after paramedics were called to his nursing home in Wellington, Shropshire. But on arrival at the hospital, there was no room on a ward, so Graham was forced to wait in the ambulance receiving area for a shocking 18 hours. Paula, from Telford said when he was finally taken to A&E, there was still no cubicle ready and staff failed to attach his oxygen properly, leaving him "gasping for air." The retired welder never made it onto a ward for further treatment and died on a hospital trolley inside the busy A&E department. Paula said she was then forced to watch her dad's final gasps for air after bungling hospital staff failed to reattach his oxygen. She said the distress the event has caused is "unforgivable." "He had been poorly and he had been in and out of hospital, but we fully expected him to be coming home and the hospital report confirmed he should have," she explained. "He spent an hour on the ambulance on arrival before being taken to the ambulance receiving area, which is basically a glorified porter cabin. "He was given oxygen, but when he was finally moved 18 hours later, they didn't attach the pipe properly and he still had the face mask on, so it restricted his breathing more. Boy, 6, 'kills premature newborn baby after dropping infant on floor like a doll when left to roam maternity unit' "He should have been taken to resus, but instead he was taken to a cubicle, which was already occupied. "So instead he was in a corridor surrounded by chaos in a busy A&E department, with no dignity at all. "I said to a nurse 'Is my dad OK?' and she took one look at him and said they needed to get screens around him straight away. "We basically had to watch him gasping for air before he suffocated to death in front of us. She added: "My sister and his granddaughter who live away were robbed of the time to get to him. "He was a lovely family man and very popular. So many people turned out for his funeral but the way he was treated was unforgivable." Shropshire Coroner's Court heard Graham's death was "more likely than not" sped up by a lack of oxygen therapy. How oxygen therapy works and why it's critical Oxygen therapy is a medical treatment that provides extra oxygen to patients who have difficulty breathing or low blood oxygen levels. It helps ensure vital organs like the brain and heart receive enough oxygen to function properly. Oxygen is usually delivered through masks or nasal tubes connected to oxygen tanks or hospital pipelines. Proper fitting and continuous delivery are essential because even brief interruptions or poor attachment can leave patients gasping for air. For people with conditions like pneumonia, chronic lung disease, or severe infections, oxygen therapy can be life-saving. Delays or failures in providing oxygen increase the risk of serious complications and can hasten death, making it a critical part of hospital care. Source: NHS and British Thoracic Society The grandfather-of-one had been "in and out" of Princess Royal Hospital and had a number of medical conditions, including pneumonia. But his death was "hastened" due to the failure to provide oxygen, meaning they were "robbed" of the chance to say their goodbyes. 'Hastened his passing' A statement from a doctor at the hospital was read to the coroner's court. He said there was a failure to deliver oxygen therapy when it should have been given, and that it was "more likely than not" the error would have caused Graham's "distress" and "hastened his passing". John Ellery, senior coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, recorded a narrative conclusion that Graham's death was of natural causes, hastened with additional distress. Dr John Jones, medical director at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Trust, said: "We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Graham and apologise for the care he received. "We are committed to providing the best possible care and we are taking action to address the findings of a full internal investigation, including a review of the staff training for the transfer of patients receiving bottled oxygen.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Man has to have his leg amputated after first aid mistake
A father-of-one has told how he was forced to have his leg amputated after suffering a small burn on his feet that developed into life-threatening sepsis. Olubiyi Jibowu, from London, gave himself a DIY pedicure in July 2023, running a bath with Himalayan salt, in a bid to have smoother feet for summer. But the now 57-year-old, who has type 2 diabetes making it harder to feel pain, only realised how scalding the water was when he saw angry blisters all over his feet. Instead of seeking medical attention, he treated the burns himself with Dettol believing it would help the sores to heal quickly. However, after days of excruciating pain, the skin on his feet peeled and shrivelled, turning black. It was only after his manager saw his feet and urged him to go to A&E that medics then discovered he had sepsis—the immune system's violent reaction to an infection. Despite rapid treatment in hospital, doctors were forced to amputate his leg below the knee to prevent it spreading. Now, the addiction support worker is calling on others not to brush off small wounds and always seek help quickly—especially if they're diabetic. Recalling his horrifying ordeal, Mr Jibowu said: 'I initially thought, these are just blisters, they've peeled and they're a bit sore. 'I didn't want them to get infected, so I thought Dettol would make it better. That's what my mum used to do. 'She would put a drop here and there, but I kept pouring it on. 'It was pain I can't even describe. I'm a big guy, but it was just too much. 'The skin eventually shrivelled up and was just torn apart. It went all black. I could see the fragments of my bone structure on my feet.' He added: 'The left foot just wasn't healing. I went to work one day and showed my manager, and she sent me home immediately. 'I called my sister, and I was in severe pain. She could hear it in my voice that I needed urgent help. My skin was falling off. 'I went to King's Hospital in London and I just thought, this will pass, it will get better but it didn't.' Type 2 diabetes can leave patients with reduced pain perception due to nerve damage, known as diabetic neuropathy. This damage can result in numbness, tingling, or burning sensations, and in some cases, a reduced perception of pain, especially in the extremities like the feet and hands. But Mr Jibowu wasn't even aware he had the condition until medics diagnosed him with type 2 diabetes in hospital. He said: 'The moment I got there, I knew it was serious. It was rapidly deteriorating. 'They wrapped it [my feet] up and pumped me full of antibiotics, but there was no healing.' After weeks in hospital to treat sepsis with antibiotics, he was told medics had no choice but to amputate below the knee. 'I was in a state of shock; my mind was all over the place,' he added. 'I didn't want the consultant who talked about that anywhere near me. I really believed there could be a better solution, not amputation straight away. 'I said, "Are you telling me there's no plan B to turn this around?" I was just so taken aback.' Sepsis, nicknamed the 'silent killer' because it is extremely difficult to recognise, kills just shy of 50,000 Brits every year. It occurs when the body's immune system goes into overdrive, setting off a series of reactions that can lead to organ failure. Bacterial infections are usually to blame, but viruses such as Covid and flu—which antibiotics don't work against—can also lead to sepsis. Early detection is vital. In its early stages, it can cause shivering, aches and may be mistaken for flu. Suspected patients are meant to get antibiotics within an hour of arriving at hospital. Every hour of delay in diagnosis increases the risk of dying from sepsis by one to two per cent, The UK Sepsis Trust estimates. But the after-effects that survivors encounter can be life-changing. Former MP Craig Mackinlay, 57, was given a rousing welcome when he returned to Parliament in May, having lost his hands and feet after developing sepsis in September 2023. He also suffered tissue damage to his gums, leaving him with loose teeth, and to his ears and face. Mr Craig decided to stand down as an MP partly, he said, as 'it would be difficult to sustain 70 to 80-hour working weeks which were the norm prior to my illness'. In August 2023, just a month after Mr Jibowu first burnt his feet, he underwent his life-changing operation. 'The moment the amputation happened, it relieved the pain I was feeling, but I was struggling with acceptance,' he said. 'I thought, am I going to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life? It was a really hard pill to swallow. 'I couldn't even cry. It was just life-changing. The prosthetic was a light at the end of the tunnel. 'After spending two months at King's, I was admitted to a prosthetic place where I had to learn how to walk again and manoeuvre myself in a wheelchair. 'It was intense because I had all this therapy and physios.' Now he's urging others not to brush off small wounds—and always seek medical attention. He has also launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for a lighter, high-quality titanium prosthetic leg that will help him walk more comfortably, stay active and get his independence back. To date, he has raised just under £3,000. The funds will also help cover ongoing rehab costs so he can live without constant pain and keep working to rebuild his life. Mr Jibowu said: 'My brain still thinks I've got part of my limb there. I can get phantom feelings any time of the day—I can feel the heel as if it's there. 'It's really important to get it checked out as soon as you see anything that's bloody or an open wound. 'The doctors have specific antibiotics that will get rid of the infection, and it's much better to let a specialist handle it. 'If I had had a little bit of insight, if I knew I was diabetic, it would have alleviated everything I went through. 'It's an adaptation, and it feels like life threw me a curveball. Following the amputation, I thought, poor me, how did I get here? 'Then, I would quickly catch myself and focus on the things that are of strength, positive, rational—and just let that drive me instead of wallowing. 'When I think about what I went through to get to this point, it doesn't seem so bad. I'm going to be rational and positive, it's going to be okay.'
The Sun
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘Fit and healthy' woman, 22, left fighting for life after freak ‘blistering pain' struck suddenly paralysing her
JUST minutes after complaining of a pounding headache, Saskia Bishop was unable to move. The fit and healthy 22-year-old was paralysed, having also suddenly lost the ability to speak and was 'only able to blink' as a means of communicating with her terrified family. 13 Saskia was visiting her grandma on April 21 when disaster struck and she was floored by the sharp pain in her head. The business owner was rushed to A&E where doctors made not one but two devastating discoveries. Saskia, who lives in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, said: "I had absolutely no symptoms or changes in my health. "There was literally nothing to suggest it was going to happen until the day that it happened. "I had just arrived at my grandma's and got a blistering pain in my head. 'It hit me like a sharp pain and then I could almost hear a flat line beeping in my head. "It was so consuming, I couldn't think about anything else. "My dad told me to go lie down and I immediately threw up. I could basically only blink. "I couldn't really move. If I stood up, I would've just collapsed. "I knew that something wasn't right but as soon as my speech started to go, I couldn't communicate that with anyone. I battled mystery headaches for ten years - doctors thought I'd had a stroke but it was something much rarer "I was really frightened when I was unable to talk. I thought I needed medical attention but didn't know why.' Aware something was gravely wrong, Saskia's dad rushed his daughter to Gloucester Royal Hospital's A&E, before she was transferred to Southmead Hospital's intensive care unit in Bristol. It was there that medics discovered Saskia had a significant bleed in her brain that had caused a stroke. But more bad news was to come. Further tests revealed she was also suffering from a rare brain condition known as arteriovenous malformation (AVM). 13 An AVM is a tangle of blood vessels in the brain or on the brain's surface which causes blood to bypass normal tissues. Most people with AVM have no initial symptoms or notice any problems. But when an AVM ruptures, it can prove deadly. In Saskia's case the AVM had ruptured, causing a bleed which then turned into a blood clot. The 22-year-old underwent a seven-hour craniotomy operation to remove the AVM and the surrounding blood clot. After losing her speech for two weeks, she has now made a partial recovery and her speech has gradually returned. Saskia was able to go home after two weeks in hospital but she is still suffering long-term effects, including fatigue and mobility issues, months later. "I'm such a chatterbox I thought nothing is going to stop me from speaking,' she says. "A load of my head is numb now. I get shooting pains where my scar is and my whole head aches but other than that I'm very lucky I don't have any other defects. "When I got my speech back it was gradual. 'It was frustrating that I couldn't get my point across and sometimes it takes me a while to answer. It's still coming back. "I've made a strong recovery but if I go long distance, I need a wheelchair. "Everyone kept saying I was lucky and I feel grateful I survived and I can walk and talk. It could've been fatal.' 13 13 13 Saskia also had to reckon with her family's concern for her. "When they told me how serious it was, I was more worried about how my family would take the news,' she said. "They said it was the worst day of their lives and thought I might not make it through. "My family thought I was going to die when they were told [I had an AVM]." Saskia said she was 'stubborn and determined [she] wanted to do things" while recovering from her ordeal. But she's had to learn to take things more slowly. What are the symptoms of stroke? The FAST method – which stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time – is the easiest way to remember the most common symptoms of stroke: F = Face drooping - if one side of a person's face is dropped or numb then ask them to smile, if it's uneven then you should seek help. A = Arm weakness - if one arm is weak or numb then you should ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downwards then you might need to get help S = Speech difficulty - if a person's speech is slurred then this could be a sign of a stroke T = Time to call 999 - if a person has the signs above then you need to call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US for emergency care. Other symptoms include: sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body difficulty finding words sudden blurred vision or loss of sight sudden confusion, dizziness or unsteadiness a sudden and severe headache difficulty understanding what others are saying difficulty swallowing "This is the worst thing I've ever gone through. I've never gone through anything like this. "I thought I'd be back to work in two weeks but I still can't do most things so that definitely isn't an option for a while. "I'm just taking it day by day." Now, Saskia wants to warn others about the importance of listening to their body. "I was born with my AVM. A lot of people go their whole life without knowing. I had no idea I had this. "I'm kind of lucky I had it when I did because recovery is so much easier when you're younger. "I would say to other people your age doesn't protect you from anything so listen to your body. You know if something is severely wrong."
Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I had small rash - now I look like I've been burnt after reaction'
Francesca Tebbutt, 33, said her skin was ''constantly on fire'' A 33-year-old woman said she had been left looking 'like a burns victim' after an extreme reaction to a commonly used cream resulted in her skin being ''constantly on fire'' due to Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW). In 2023, Francesca Tebbutt first noticed itchy, red, marks on her arm and when they persisted, she consulted her GP. The doctor suspected psoriasis or eczema and prescribed topical steroid creams for short-term use. Initially, the rash vanished swiftly but soon returned, spreading further, leading to prescriptions of even stronger steroids. Eventually, Francesca ceased using the medication, only to experience intensified burning, itching, and flaking of her skin. For a year-and-a-half the Pilates instructor from Clunderwen, Pembrokeshire, Wales, searched for answers about her condition, which now includes spontaneous episodes of burning, flaking, weeping, and swelling. At her lowest points, simple actions like moving her arms, dressing, or showering became excruciating. Despite temporary relief from the steroids, the rash would always return, more severe and aggressive each time. Francesca recounted the onset of her ordeal: "It all began in March 2023, when I got a few little round, red dots on the inside of my left elbow. They were a little bit itchy, a little bit irritated - so when they didn't go away, I went to the doctors in May 2023 and that's when the doctor said it looked like it's psoriasis or eczema. "He prescribed me steroids straight away for it. I remember actually asking him, 'how did this happen, and how can I stop it happening?' "He said there's nothing I could do and this was the cure. I used the topical steroids, and it did go - but then maybe a month later, it came back and it spread. "I went back and I was prescribed stronger steroids and this went on for the rest of 2023, on and off. Every time I used them, it would go, but then it would come back worse, and it would keep spreading. I was trapped in this vicious cycle: steroid cream, temporary relief, then a flare worse than before.''". "When it got to January in 2024, I knew the steroids were a band aid," she said. "So I thought, 'I'm going to stop using them'. "By the end of the month, my whole arm and hands were covered in an itchy rash. It was quite scary, because I didn't really know what was going on, and then I started swelling as well. "It was difficult, because it was in winter, and because of my arms, I couldn't wear any clothing on them, so I was always in t-shirts. I just remember being so cold all the time because I couldn't physically put any clothing on my arms. "My wrist swelled and my elbow swelled and I couldn't actually fully straighten my arms or bend my wrists. I didn't know what was going on and me and my partner decided it was best to go to AandE, and off we went. "We saw the doctor and he said, 'I don't know what this is. I don't know if it's eczema. I don't know if it's psoriasis'. It was actually quite refreshing hearing someone say, 'I don't know' and that they'll seek advice somewhere else. "I got a call from him the day after and he said that the dermatologist suspects that it is a form of eczema. They prescribed me more steroids that were stronger than what I'd had before. When I put these steroids on my skin, the burning and stinging of just applying them was unbearable." This flare-up lasted months before fading, but again, when stopping the use of steroid creams, it returned with a vengeance. Francesca said the constant pain was "unbearable" and after the patches spread to her face, she was once again prescribed more steroid creams by doctors. "I couldn't relax - I was so uncomfortable in my own skin and there was no comfort anywhere, apart from in a bath, because my skin was so bad," she said. "I was constantly burning, but I was also really, really, cold at the same time. "I'd have ice packs on my arms where it would be burning and then a hot water bottle on my belly to try to keep me warm. My partner couldn't sleep in the same bed as me for months because I had to keep moving and keep putting ice packs in places to stop the burning. "After a few months of the steroids, things started to calm down - I wasn't as inflamed, but you could still see these almost red sleeves that cut off at the wrist. I started to get some patches around my lips; I went to the doctor and they advised me to put some steroid cream around my lips, so I did as I was told, thinking this will be the end of it. "After doing the course of steroids that I was prescribed, I stopped," she said. "Within three to four weeks, my face started to erupt. "It started with a burning sensation, then it started to get all these little bubbles over it. They developed into this big red mass. "I looked like my face had been in a fire, like I was burned. I couldn't move my lips. Eating actually became very difficult. "I remember, I used to eat an apple a day - but I couldn't open my mouth wide enough to eat an apple. I went back to the doctors with my face like this, to find out what was going on. The doctor told me he was quite puzzled. "Again, they gave me stronger steroids and told me to put them over my face. It reduced it and it slowly went away. Then, in December 2024, my wrists started to erupt again and that red sleeve started to come back. "Driving home from work, sometimes I'd be crying. With TSW, your skin flakes and I would drive home just unbearably scratching. "My car was covered in skin flakes - everywhere was covered in skin flakes. I would vacuum my bed every single day - I would vacuum every time I took my clothes off, because my skin would just fly everywhere. "It was about two months where I couldn't write - I couldn't use a pen. I've never been so sick in my life - I've never had skin issues in my entire life." Feeling like her life had been hijacked by relentless research into skin conditions, Francesca neared her breaking point. In January this year, she stumbled upon an organisation raising awareness of Topical Steroid Withdrawal, a condition emerging after stopping high doses of steroids that can result in itchy, peeling skin. Despite reportedly touching 15% of those on steroids, she lamented that risks were never communicated to her and reckons the regular use of steroid creams has exacerbated her symptoms. "All I've been doing for the past year is researching - researching eczema, researching psoriasis, researching all the different types, trying to find information," she explained. "At the end of January, I came across an organisation that campaigns for Topical Steroid Withdrawal. "I remember that day that I found out - everything clicked. The red sleeves, the red face, the peeling, the oozing, the inflammation, the burning - everything finally made sense and I saw photos of people who looked like me. "I cannot believe that for the 18 months that I'd been going to and from the doctors, with all the symptoms of Topical Steroid Withdrawal and not once it was mentioned or queried. No one had mentioned it at all - and my life had become skin. "I couldn't do the things I normally do and I hid away. I had no idea it even existed." After a long struggle, Francesca found Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) Therapy, a non-invasive treatment that eases inflammation, destroys harmful bacteria, and aids in repairing the skin barrier. She was diagnosed with TSW following a consultation at a clinic that provides this privately available therapy. In a bid to reclaim her life, Francesca took to the internet to share her ordeal with TSW and initiated a fundraising campaign. "When I heard back from the UK clinic, at first I was overjoyed, but then pretty quickly I had no idea how I was going to afford it," she admitted. She recalled: "I remember I actually emailed them and I said 'I'm really nervous, I don't know if I can fund it; I don't know if I can commit to it. I very much am that glass half full person, but this condition that has taken me into places so dark, I can't believe I've been there. "I've had very dark thoughts, very dark moments, and felt really at the bottom of a pit. You lose your confidence; people look at you differently. "People judge you and all you can do is seek help - but there is no help out there. The mental side was tough, but I just knew I needed to try - and that's why the GoFundMe page was started. I just felt like I was bearing my soul and bearing what happens behind closed doors - I was very nervous." Fortunately, within days, Francesca had received numerous messages of support and has undergone three sessions of CAP treatments. She says she has already noticed improvements and has even been able to afford essentials like new bandages to protect her irritated skin between sessions, which has been a "huge relief." The outpouring of support has given her the courage to share her story so others with TSW don't have to feel isolated. "I just cannot believe how generous people have been and are being for me - I am lost for words," she expressed. "I have to bandage myself every night and then during the day if I'm going somewhere that there could be a possible irritant. "These little things have made a huge, huge difference to my day-to-day life. I'm eternally grateful for that, and still very blown away. "In the hell that I've been living, this has just been such a light for me. Prior to putting it out there, I was at my lowest I've ever been. People know now what's going on and there's no more hiding."
