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Riverdale star Lili Reinhart is giving fans a look at what has been the "hardest year of [her] life" in a heartbreaking health update.
Reinhart revealed that she has been diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis, a chronic condition that causes bladder pain and discomfort, as well as a yet-to-be-diagnosed autoimmune disease, as she shared her story on social media and an in-depth interview with Self magazine.
Also sharing a series of hospital photos, she wrote, "I feel it’s important to show an honest glimpse at what last year was like for me, when dealing with my health issues. I’m so thankful for @selfmagazine and @julia_c_sullivan for giving me the space to share what I’ve been going through. Being diagnosed with interstitial cystitis while simultaneously searching for answers about a mysterious autoimmunity/inflammatory disease made 2024 the hardest year of my life."
She added that she was inspired to talk about her experience after her grandmother was "ignored by doctors for months when exhibiting clear symptoms of cancer," in an effort to encourage others in similar situations to advocate for their health.
Lili told Self of her hope to inspire others to advocate for their health when they feel like no one is listening, "I feel strong and happy about the mental health advocacy that I’ve done, and I feel happy that I’m about to bring physical health into that conversation because I know that getting help for women over the next four years is going to be exponentially more difficult. Listen to your body, and don’t take no for an answer. Don’t let a doctor tell you that nothing’s wrong when you know that there is."