“If I hadn’t gone to the hospital that day, I probably would have died.” Madara Raabe is battling a rare disease

In an interview with “Ievas Veselība” magazine, Raabe reveals that she has been diagnosed with Addison’s disease, a rare endocrinological ailment caused by chronic adrenal cortex failure, resulting in a complete or partial lack of hormones (cortisone and aldosterone).

It all started three years ago with regular headaches – at a time when she experienced changes in her private life. Later, muscle pains also joined, but they were written off as overuse in sports.

However, the situation worsened last autumn, when she began to feel, in her own words, “abnormally tired”.

Even after returning from a long-awaited vacation at the end of last year, Madara’s body simply collapsed –

she was not even able to sit up or go to the toilet by herself.

This was accompanied by abdominal pain and vomiting.

After several visits to the doctor, Madara was diagnosed with Addison’s disease at the Eastern Hospital. “[Ārsti] told me very directly: if I had not come to the hospital that day, I would probably die. This disease is no joke, it’s really dangerous!” Madara admits.

“Getting Addison’s disease was not my choice – I take care of my health: I think about what I eat, I don’t smoke, I drink alcohol very rarely, I do sports,” reveals Madara.