My Life with Chronic Illness PT. 2 | Venus Williams 

Venus is here everybody ✅

My chronic illness is mental health. My treatment is 30% medication, 70% tennis. The more I play, the happier and more stable I feel

I really appreciate that you're not pushing BS or promoting nonsense, but rather sharing your experience while also indicating to consult a doctor and to advocate for your health. This is key. Like in any profession, some doctors are good and some are lazy and/or arrogant. If they don't listen to you or try to minimize your symptoms and you feel there's something wrong with you, seek a second or even a third opinion.

Lupus and Sjogrens for 20 years. Everyone seems to have an opinion and they tell you what to do. I have lost so many jobs and have developed depression and anxiety. Chronic flares with pain cause so much emotional and mental exhaustion. It's a tough journey even with a strong faith and the best medication that can cause side effects,

I was just diagnosed with Sjogren’s. The fatigue is the most prevalent of my symptoms. I honestly just thought I was just being really lazy these last few years. It’s definitely a level people who don’t have it can’t understand.

Thank you for sharing and raising awareness about chronic illness and fatigue. As someone with ME/CFS I feel seen and validated. I appreciate you ❤

I suffer from chronic pain due to nerve damage in my back (for about 16 years) and some other health jssues due to a brain bleed. One thing that has helped me get on with my life is the fact that my doctors gave me the ok to keep playing tennis. I cant play at the level i used to and in a lot of pain when i do (though not doing more damage), but it brings me such joy - making it totally worth it. Don't get me wrong - i still get frustrated or upset sometimes that i cant compete at the level i could, but i remind myself its better than nothing and find the up side of being on court. Thats why i find you such an inspiration. The fact you are still playjng at the highest level with your health struggles.... honestly we are STILL incredibly lucky to watch you compete. Hope you have as much joy playing as we do getting to watch you 😄

You video popped up as I was having a pitty party because it took me three times as long to get to 10km on the bike this morning. Video helped me realize we are still doing more than 'healthy' people. MS fatigue is a reminder to slow down, read books and enjoy pajama day.

Venus, you have such a gift for speaking in a soothing, thoughtful and informative fashion. You are so much more than a talented athlete. Thank you so much for doing these videos!❤❤❤

Autoimmune diseases have a lot of the same symptoms that people who have long covid have. One of the similar symptoms is fatigue. Fatigue that is often debilitating. Long covid is a disease that is not being discussed despite millions of people suffering from it world wide. If you come across this comment and have long covid please like or leave a reply. Venus thank you for using your platform to shed light on auto immune disease and the difficulties navigating through life with it. ❤️

You’re so helpful and I love your positive attitude. I have fibromyalgia and understand the fatigue - it’s real! Take care 😊

As many of us who use our minds to work, it's hard to see our fatigue. I always say if I work construction you could see the dirt on my clothes to know how tired I may be. Thank you Venus for the reminders to be proactive about fatigue,

Awesome video V! With everything you’ve dealt and deal with regarding your health and just life in general, your grace and poise are always to be admired and you will always be an amazing inspiration to us all, and I LOVE seeing you out there on court going over 30+ years strong in the game! You deserve it ALL V! We love you and will always support you!

I love you, Venus. You have such a kind heart! I owe you a thousand hugs

Slow release iron tabs are great. Also try adding a magnesium citrate tab to resist iron constipation. 𝑴𝒐𝒔𝒕 of us girls will have low iron by nature. Stay on top of it & resist anemia. Fatigue, pica, hair loss , heavy menstrual & shortness of breath are common symptoms of anemia. Stay encouraged all💕

You are such an inspiration

Thank you Venus for your display and fully being transparent about these conditions, you have inspired me to continue to fight for my health and being able to conquer many things in health care relating to autoimmune diseases/ chronic diseases and being able to communicate with providers and not dismiss our / Womens symptoms and to take us more seriously as our siloed health care system is not set up properly to successfully diagnosed with an individual treatment plan that assist with that individuals increase of quality of life and to continue to be our best at advocating for ourselves. I have learned strength and being a warrior for my own health through your videos , continue going further to better yourself . Thank you so much for helping us all with chronic/ autoimmune diseases continue the fight to be greater warriors in life and our communities ❤🌻🎾🏓👟

Thank you Venus!❤ Your words and encouragement are always so inspiring. Thanks for sharing this with us. As we are alive, we need to battle every day for the things that matter the most, We must have the conviction that somehow we'll come out on top!

Thank You Venus 🙏♥️

Thanks V for sharing this with us. We are grateful for this.

Play more tournaments Venus! Maybe skip the clay because it’s dangerous and you’ve been injured. Keep fighting to the top of the rankings! 🙌💪💪💪

Thank you for sharing your experience. My mom suffers from chronic arthritis and it has been a very difficult period for her for the past 2 years. She will be 88 years this June.

Queen Venus👑. I love and watch your videos constantly.

Thank you for taking the time to help us.

Great content Venus! Thank you so much ❤.

Prayers for complete recovery queen.

Love seeing you, even in this awesome capacity. Thanks, Venus.

Nobody keeps it as real as Venus!! 💯!!!

Thank you so much! It’s great to have someone like you to give those of us with Sjogren’s a voice.

Omg Venus I'm so in love with you and you are an inspiration to men and women around the world

You have inspired us so much 💕 This is extremely informative and we need More. This inspires everyday chronicles of life and how to overcome and win. In fact, sometimes it's not about winning but thriving in it every day ❤

I appreciate your video’s- feel this is such a help to hear your experiences together with others. I have been diagnosed with both Lupus & Sjogrens. Anaemia has been treated with iron tablets and the breathlessness has started to improve in less than a week. Getting accurate diagnosis has been lengthy and have found increasingly I need to be my own advocate, which can be hard to do when feeling fatigued and unwell. My issue has been living with unusual symptoms which have crept up and then putting up with them. I think this is very much to do with the way I experience pain and pain sensation in my body - so autoimmune disease masks original conditions and therefore prevents accurate diagnoses. Also, taking vitamins and prescribed medication can cause unwanted side effects, so I find myself taking tablets/ vitamins in 2-hr intervals to counterbalance any interaction. But I keep battling and trying not to let my health stop what I need to do. Today I felt well enough to enjoy a day out with my family at a theme park, which I love to do. Feel tired this evening but also a huge sense of accomplishment- my family even noticed how much better I walked today. Have been taking Hydroxychloroquine now for over two months now.

I battle chronic illness and I know the fight for concur every day and you give me hope. Every point you make on court I scream and chant "Let's go Venus, let's go" Win or lose, I'm here for the fight! And I will go down swinging with you, always. One day, I hope to get to see you live but until then, I'm with you in spirit.

This is really enlightening, I've dealt with SS for 30yrs now... Lupus ruled out, but I'm thankful...

Thank you for your honest insightful and upbeat postings. So many of us on these complicated health journeys. 🌺🛣️🌟🦋🌈 Your appearances that still happen on the WTA a source of wonder and admiration for me. Living solo and sequestered for decades the tennis season remains a beacon of light for me .. a vicarious time for me.

Wow!!! I didn’t realize you’ve been struggling with chronic illness too! Thanks for sharing ❤

I hope you keep posting frequently. I have chronic health issues and am dealing fatigue. I also played tennis in high school. I love tennis and grew up watching you and your sister play!

Thank you. You are an inspiration nice lady.

Glad u all well now .. 😊 prove yo lv of the game .. your one of the best ...

I've just been diagnosed with sjogrens after years of suffering and being dismissed by doctors I'm currently on hydroxychloriquine for past three months with no improvement but at least I now know what I'm dealing with and I won't let it beat me even though it gets me down 🙏

Thank you so much for making a safe space to learn about auto immune disease. I'm newly diagnosed with sjogren's along with Rheumatoid arthritis. God. What a breath of fresh air to be on a platform where you can say me too.....Thank-you and Bless for sharing 🙏🏾 also this is a fantastic tool to help explain to your family about these disorders

This is so timely. I feel tired all the time and I thought it was just because I have a toddler but I HAVE been told my iron is low so I will look into better supplements. Also, constipation is rarely a problem for vegans/chegans!

I truly appreciate your mention of ferritin levels and then vitamin c with iron supplements.

Thanks for rhis video..really enjoyed it...juat recently been diagnosed received with sjogren's syndrome...omg im 44...the aches and pains and tiredness and sleep routine knocked out...going to start taking vitamins...xx

Hey Venus Williams! First off big fan of your tennis career, even more so now that I know you deal with Sjögren’s. I played tennis in high school and I’ve additionally been diagnosed with Sjögren’s at the age of 19. Your two videos on chronic illness have been so helpful. If you happen to make another video on chronic illness, could you maybe go into more detail about dieting and things to eat or not to eat? Or maybe you could offer some tips on working a job with Sjögren’s? I really appreciate your advocacy on the topic and I look forward to future videos!

Miss you Venus! It’s so hard to get a diagnosis! It’s also hard to get clear answers from the doctor! Must have a real good rheumatologist to really help you through the process of managing the disease to prevent and or help symptoms! Healthy smoothies changed my life for the better!

"OUR BODIES IS THE TEMPLE OF JEHOVAH. BLESS UP." ❤🇬🇧❤

I got diagnosed with Sjogrens today, on top of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Thank you for your videos.

Love it God bless you and family 🎉❤❤

Venus William stay strong

This is Gonna b so Insightful VW🔥🔥🔥👍n Happy Tuesday😀….

Venus is my friend.😊

Great video ,you're looking magnificent, and you keep positive while dealing with that chronic disease. Yes health is the most important issue and I feel so lucky to be healthy and very fit( only one skin problem: psoriasis on my right hand mainly, also an auto-immune issue,but it's okay) I know you 've been dealing with Sjogren disease for so long , it would be nice if you could make a video on how you could play highly competitive tennis while dealing with fatigue . Thank you and I hope you will win matches on grass this summer

Thank you for taking the time to speak to us about this. I wonder, though, what do you do when your period stops( I had a hysterectomy due to a cancer scare) and then iron can store pretty fast in the body and it stays there, which is not great. Food for thought? Love you and wish you all the best!

Hey Venus! How are ya', I admire ya' & you're definitely a role model to us all...thanks! I wish that I was as together as you are 16 years ago when I was your age. Take care.

No matter what you are pure unstoppable queen V ❤😊😂

Bonjour from south western France 🍾( Béarn Bordeaux) I would like to share my experience of life with multiple sclerosis and fatigue. I was diagnosed after 7 years of medical wandering, fortunately I live in France and know that Venus often comes here. Fatigue is always present but has not stopped me from working, except for a few moments. I have found antioxidant tablets that have helped me a lot. I will try iron after consulting with my doctor. Safe travels to Venus and to everyone.

For iron the MtSinai website says: Normal value range is: Iron: 60 to 170 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL), or 10.74 to 30.43 micromoles per liter (micromol/L) Total iron binding capacity (TIBC): 240 to 450 mcg/dL, or 42.96 to 80.55 micromol/L Transferrin saturation: 20% to 50%

Hello Queen Vee...I'm going to stray off topic and I'm only addressing the Queen guys so please no negative vibes. I so enjoy seeing you on court Venus and I still look fwd to seeing you win your 50th WTA title. That being said, have you ever considered playing 125, 250 level tournaments? It's really hard to see you fighting so hard to only lose in the 1st rounds. I ❤ you and I miss you. Fan4ever!!!

The Queen ❤

Good advice ❤

Where are all the beautiful people like you? I've been a fibromyalgia patient for 25 years, and it's difficult because, as you mentioned in the previous video, people see a pretty, confident, kind person, and we have to shut up and keep swimming. Thanks son much for your input and support. Greetings from Costa Rica 🇨🇷

Venus is ready for daytime talkshow

Love love love you

Venus looks so good, it hard to concentrate on she is saying. One thing for sure though, i don't feel fatigue when looking at her videos.

I appreciate the supplement recommendation because it is hard for me to choose - I get so overwhelmed with the wide variety of supplements. Thanks again.

Thank u so much for being so open about it. It would be nice to know what symptoms ur dealing with and also if you take any meds or just ur supplements? How do u manage the joint paint? Cheers

The iron infusions really helped get my hemoglobin up from a 4 but it was really hard on my body. Im taking a daily iron supplement so that i never have to do that again.

Every time Venus plays, I give my team time off work to watch the matches 😂

Thank you for this video! Do you take meds for Sjogrens? Which drugs do you take? Right now I’m dealing with high inflammation in my body, 61% right now, down from 85%. I’m on medication to Bring it down. Thanks for any information that you can give me.❤

GOD BLESS🙏🏿❤️🙏🏿

Hi sis from far north Australia Cairns I love listen to you say hi to your mom and sisters from Sophia

Miss Venus Hi from Italy. We keep following you since 1999. Please don't surrender and show us again your brilliant wonderful tennis. Love you so much

Girl, where did you get that chair?! It's impeccably done 💯✅ Also loving your look and makeup 💄 in this video 😍📸

My darling Venus, how about you do the next part but invite a Doctor or a professional or two to join you on this topic of chronic illness? Just my thought 💕 One expert from the sports world and a Doctor from the hospital. Just for us to get variety through different lenses. You have nailed this topic ❤

Looking great. Can you please do a get ready with me, make up video?

From MtSinai website it says: Normal Results The normal value ranges for blood ferritin are: Male: 12 to 300 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) Female: 12 to 150 ng/mL

U r amazing

Venus Will=(i)(a)(m)(s): (i) stands for: inspiration; (a) stands for: always; (m) stands for: matter; (s) stands for: STAY SMART,STAY HEALTHY,STAY BEAUTIFUL;AND MOST ALL STAY YOU AND ONLY YOU !

There are grace for health only believe is the answer to it anykind of illness

Dear Venus, I also have Sjogren's. My life crashed after it all started. My dr now wants me to take HCQ. But I am scared of retina damage.😢

Good evening please talk about the food you eat .

I have severe RA… difficulty with the basics and it’s so hard. The pain is not controlled, my life feels like hell.

That was good information my daughter is 44 she is tired all the time she went to her family doctor I told her to have her thyroid checked I have an under active one it use to make me so tired before I got medication hers was o k but her iron is low they told her to take over the counter pills she said everything has a metal taste did you have that problem ? I wonder if it goes away thank you for sharing

Good Video Venus, will like to know how it affects your saliva glands having sjorgens?

I also have sjogren's. My biggest complaint is muscle pain. Have you experienced this , and of so what did you find to be helpful?

Very important topic. So many autoimmune diseases seem to target women. You know what, though? We live in a crazy, wonderful time with advances in medicine and tech like AI. My hope is that treatments and cures will be available sooner than later.

@venus Williams I too have Sjögren’s and I can’t get the pain and fatigue.

I have been diagnosed with RA & Sjogrens, the fatigue is like someone turns off your light's. It's strange. The dryness makes me crazy

I have typ2 diabetes high blood pressure n now sjogrens syndrome eyes be dry mouth be dry nose be dry n red n peeling n my skin be dry as well

Venus, I was diagnosed with Sjogren’s in 2011. I was able to start functioning again about a year later. However, the last two years I have been fraught with illnesses. I seem to catch everything and I have not been able to function. I am a single mom of 8 year old twins that I need to be able to provide for. Thus far this year I have not been able to work much. I am scared, alone, and feel miserable emotionally and physically. I am looking to you for inspiration. I am not a super athlete like you, yet I have always been super motivated, driven, & successful due to a strong work ethic & competitive spirit. Where is the best place to ask questions? It sounds like e-mail. What email?

I have requested an iron count from my GP when running a CBC. she refuses . I have low white, and red.blood count, etc in addition to other markers for autoimmune .

venus i have all those symtoms and have had them for years how do i bring it up to my doctor like how do i start i feel so tired to go to the dr. office it drains me to go and mentally fatigued to i just dont want to come across like i know more than him please help

Will you one day make an other ESPN special?

I was diagnosed with Sjogrens August/2022. Started having symptoms January/2021. The fatigue & weakness is unbearable sometimes. Let’s not talk about pain.

❤

What up Homegirl Vee. I been struggling lately trynna find a home to live in and this has started to affect my stomach and inflamation probably due to stress and the foods and Stuff im ingesting i gotta keep.strong thru these shitty times and go back to the Dr. For further screening has well Gotta be there for my Kiddos there really young still and we barely started this Tennis Journey together gotta be there still and be That Dad Let me know If you have any drills down the line for us Beginnahs well keep us posted Blessings...

I just found out I have Sjogren's. I am really tired a lot of the time.

I'm still waiting for you to join me here in Italy...

Great video, Venus! Have you attempted a carnivore diet to put the autoimmune into remission? I have interviewed hundreds of folks who cured their autoimmune symptoms simply by removing all plant toxins from their diet and doing a carnivore diet. Hope this comment helps you or someone out there❤