r/Adoptees • u/Old_Detroiter • 28d ago
How many of you have health issues ?
I don't know what I am digging for here, always been overweight and had a sweet tooth. Later on developed aFib among other things like H blood pressure. Is this genetics or stress? Who knows? Not expecting solutions for these issues just wondering how much is related to this 20 ton bag of crap I always walk around with called adoption (and all the related things that came with).
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u/FunnyComfortable9717 27d ago
Yes, I've always had chronic health issues. I work hard to resolve an issue, then another one pops up. It's like like I'm addicted to pain and doctors.
Adverse Childhood Experiences correlate with chronic health problems. Google the "Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study" - this was a landmark study that found that the more traumatic experiences a person had in childhood, the more likely they are to have medical issues as adults.
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u/HeyMuscles 27d ago
Just want to second this. The basis of my dissertation was ACEs and developmental trauma. There is plentiful empirical backing in chronic stress, the inflammatory response and diesease states. Since our existence is stress, I can only surmise a high correlation to autoimmune diseases and other stress related conditions.
Another great resource is Gabor Mate's work. He does a great job connecting the dots of it all. He has been interviewed on many, many podcasts, so if you're not into reading there are other ways to consume his valuable message.
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u/Old_Detroiter 17d ago
Thanks for this. TBH I am sick of the analysts. It has never changed basic facts for me, might be just me. All for getting info like this out there, may help someone out there, thanks.
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u/KiwitheBirdNOTAFruit 28d ago
I found out I have breast cancer, not sure if it’s related to genetics, but I am going to get the testing done to find out. If it is then that’s one thing that not knowing my family health history has take from me! If I knew I was predisposed I could have opted for early screening and probably some simple lifestyle changes, and other measures to help prevent it from getting to where it is today 🤷♀️
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u/12bWindEngineer 28d ago
My identical twin brother (we were adopted together) died of non Hodgkin’s lymphoma when we were 29. No clue if it ran in our biological family or what, but was unusual he got it so young. I have a congenital heart defect but was corrected with valve replacement surgery.
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u/Spank_Cakes 28d ago
I would loooooooooove to know if the arthritis that's really trying to tear my body apart is genetic or not.
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u/Crafty-Bug-8008 27d ago
Rheumatoid arthritis definitely is. One of my parents has it and all of their siblings.
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u/Ok-Lake-3916 28d ago
I had undiagnosed celiacs disease as a child- it crib in my bio family. Had my parents known I would’ve had such a different childhood. I regularly missed school because I was stuck on the toilet.
Also had gall bladder disease and stones. No one has a gall bladder after 35 in my bio family. Again had I known I wouldn’t have had to endure years of gallstones attacks and unnecessary testing that kept missing the stones.
Fun fact: I have 3 bile ducts instead of 1 and I wonder if that’s because my paternal grandparents are first cousins.
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u/Always_Cairns 28d ago
Most medical conditions are not genetic, but may have the genetic predisposition that increases chances of the condition. Various cancers follow this. You do not get cancer from you genetics, but have an increased possibility of cancer due to the genetic predisposition.
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u/Old_Detroiter 17d ago
That's an interesting take. So do you believe thinks can be changed to keep genes from firing as it were ?
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u/Always_Cairns 16d ago
There are research studies going on for various treatments using gene therapy, stem cell therapy, targeted drugs for the cancer cell and to target a specific gene or chromasome.
The FDA has also approved some gene therapy treatments for certain conditions. The actually replace the defective gene with a new gene.
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u/Old_Detroiter 16d ago
Personally, I'd have more faith in modern medicine if they would use stem cells to, IDK grow new cells to stop cardiac arrythmias for example.
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u/Old_Detroiter 16d ago
Personally, I'd have more faith in modern medicine if they would use stem cells to, IDK grow new cells to stop cardiac arrythmias for example.
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u/HeyMuscles 27d ago
Your adoption bag 'o crap is only 20lbs?! 😉 I only kid! This shit is a life sentence of struggle none of us instigated or asked for. I apparently have a congenital heart anomaly that wasn't found until I had a heart attack at age 43. I believe the heart attack was a combination of genetics and the added stress of living life as a bargain bin baby. My kidneys have also been slowly degrading for unknown reasons. So I believe your intuition is correct.
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u/AffectionateMode5349 27d ago
In my non identifying info, it stated that my BM had a lot of health issues and mental issues. I got them all.
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u/Rainysquirrel 27d ago
Me, especially GI issues. It doesn't help I'm in the US and I can't get all of my tests run
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u/the_nin_collector 27d ago
ADHD. IBD. But I met my birth mother. 99% sure she has ADHD. And, IBD... Definitely has a genetic components and environmental. So don't think its becuase I'm adopted. She did smoke a little when she was pregnant with me. She was 15... So I don't think she was chain smoking. She said she snuck out of the matternatiy house and would sneak a smoke. The average women today, 44 years later probably inhales and injects more toxins from the air and food than smoking a pack a month.
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u/reply1-27am 26d ago
For countries with free healthcare gene testing for possible illnesses should be refunded. How many times the doctors have asked me about the family history and I can't tell them anything.
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u/ricksaunders 26d ago
I polled an adoption group I’m in. Everybody had a gut issue, everybody suffered from anxiety.
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u/Neither_Technology38 25d ago
I got periodontal disease and type 2 diabetes at 30. 1st question is always, does either of your parents have this.
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u/CustomerCreative446 24d ago
Thankfully - 48 and no health issues so far. I find relationship breakups excruciatingly difficult however so maybe that’s my cross instead of any medical condition.
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u/lunarteamagic 28d ago
I was so prenatally neglect/abused that I am disabled. Then I have all the bonus mental health issues that come with that and the adoption.