Washington (US), January 24: Riverdale star Lili Reinhart has revealed her struggle with interstitial cystitis (IC), also known as bladder pain syndrome, a chronic condition that causes bladder pain and inflammation. The 28-year-old actress shared an emotional post on Instagram, reflecting on her health journey through 2024, which she described as the “hardest year of my life.”
In a lengthy caption accompanying a series of photos, Reinhart expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to open up about her health issues. “I feel it’s important to show an honest glimpse of what last year was like for me while dealing with my health issues,” she wrote. “Being diagnosed with interstitial cystitis while simultaneously searching for answers about a mysterious autoimmune/inflammatory disease made 2024 the hardest year of my life.”
The actress also shared how her grandmother’s health struggles inspired her to speak out. Lili recounted how her grandmother’s cancer symptoms were initially dismissed by doctors for months. It wasn’t until her grandmother pushed for further testing that a diagnosis was made, by which time the cancer had already spread. “I was inspired to talk about this after my grandmother was ignored by doctors for months when exhibiting clear symptoms of cancer. It was only after her own strength and advocacy for herself that she was given a blood test that diagnosed her. And by then, the cancer had spread,” Reinhart wrote.
Lili emphasized the importance of advocating for one’s own health, urging others to not let their pain be dismissed. “Do not let a doctor gaslight you or diminish your pain. I hope the men and women out there struggling to find answers feel even the slightest bit seen by my experience,” she added.
This isn’t the first time Lili has opened up about her health challenges. In February of last year, she shared her diagnosis of alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss.