Teen Mom graduate Jenelle Evans is an open book for fans about her life as a new mom, the custody battles she faced, and the long-term physical pain she endured trying to raise her family.
Jenelle has been candid with fans for years about the various health issues she has faced and over the weekend she revealed the latest issue she has been dealing with.
Evans, 31, revealed she’d received a new diagnosis after experiencing problems with her esophagus – thymic hyperplasia, an inflamed thymus gland.
Here, takes a look back at every health ailment Jenelle has bravely spoken out about – from previous hospitalizations to her recent fibromyalgia diagnosis.
Health struggles: Here, takes a look back at all of the health struggles Jenelle has bravely spoken out about – from past hospitalizations to her recent struggles
JULY 2011 – Hospitalized with an ovarian cyst
Evans was hospitalized with an ovarian cyst after suffering from debilitating abdominal pain.
The young mother told fans on her Twitter page that she feared her appendix had ruptured.
“On the way to the hospital,” she wrote. “I think my appendix is about to burst.” “I’ve been up since 2 a.m. and crying.”
Hours later, she was released and went straight home to rest and take painkillers.
In 2011, Evans was hospitalized with an ovarian cyst after experiencing severe abdominal pain (pictured in 2019).
September 2012 – Brought to the ER for ruptured cysts
Evans was again rushed to the emergency room after suffering from ruptured cysts.
“Please send prayers my way.” 🙁 Once again all alone in the hospital with no support for a ruptured cyst that ruptured inside me,” she posted on Twitter.
MARCH 2022 – JENELLE is diagnosed with fibromyalgia
Evans announced that she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia after years of suffering from “extremely severe tension headaches and pain throughout the body.”
While discussing her symptoms from the chronic, long-term illness, the Teen Mom 2 graduate said she’s been in pain for as long as she “can remember.”
“Like I have the flu but I’m not sick,” Jenelle told E! News: Before I know it, she’s also suffering from sinus problems, as well as neck and back pain.
According to the MayoClinic, the condition is “characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain associated with fatigue, sleep, memory and mood problems.”
The mother-of-three continued, “My whole body hurts so much and sometimes I lie in bed and cry.” [For] For a long time nobody believed my symptoms until recently I got a second opinion from a new neurologist.
Dealing with fibromyalgia is a challenge “every day,” she said, as she only has “a little bit of energy” to get my job done [having] going to bed early because of a headache or aching limbs.
“I want my kids to know that with fibromyalgia, some days are good and some days are bad,” Eason said. “Please bear with me on my bad days and I promise to make it up to you on my good days.”
Doting mom: Evans pictured with her son Jace
MARCH 2022 – JENELLE rushed to the hospital
A few days after her fibromyalgia diagnosis, Jenelle was hospitalized for chest pains.
She feared she might have an autoimmune disease.
“Was in the hospital all day yesterday with chest pains.” [crying emoji]’ the star wrote on Instagram over a blurry image of pink flowers.
“Please just send prayers,” she added. ‘Thanks! I’ll explain later, too much to type.’
According to Page Six, the Teen Mom 2 star explained her condition in another Instagram post.
“I have new blood test results…I have two of the anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies: blocking and binding in my system.” They’re usually found in myasthenia gravis,” Evans revealed.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, myasthenia gravis is “a chronic autoimmune disease in which antibodies disrupt communication between nerves and muscles, resulting in skeletal muscle weakness.”
The disease is common in women between the ages of 20 and 30 and in men over 50 years of age. There is no known cure for the disease.
Getting real: Jenelle spoke candidly about her esophageal problems in April (pictured in 2017)
APRIL 2023 – JENELLE undergoes esophageal surgery
Jenelle underwent surgery on her esophagus and has been candid with fans about the emotional turmoil surrounding the surgery.
“I’m going alone today to have surgery on my esophagus,” Evans posted on social media. “Have no support, so all prayers are welcome.”
Putting on a brave face, she admitted she was having a difficult time following the medical procedure.
“I’m about to fall in at the deep end,” she lip-synched to the pre-recorded audio. “I know I’m smiling right now, but the light inside me is dying.”
Health Update: A few weeks after her surgery, Jenelle announced that she had been diagnosed with thymic hyperplasia and liver lesions
MAY 2023 – JENELLE RECEIVES A DIAGNOSIS
A few weeks after her surgery, Jenelle announced that she had been diagnosed with thymic hyperplasia and liver lesions.
“#HealthUpdate I found out I have thymic hyperplasia and lesions in my liver and no I don’t have MG like you thought,” she posted on her Instagram Stories.
“I’ll be discussing these results with my doctor next week and next steps,” she added, along with a dismayed emoji and a heart.
According to PennMedicine.org, “Thymic hyperplasia is a condition in which the thymus gland is inflamed. This is a benign condition and can accompany a number of other conditions, such as thyroid abnormalities.”
The diagnosis was made after Jenelle described finding the cause of her pain.
“Good news: I don’t have acid reflux. “Bad news: They still don’t know why I have esophageal spasms,” she posted the day before.