In 2016, I noticed something strange: all my fingernails had turned a deep purple. As someone who had always been healthy, this definitely raised concerns. I went to see my doctor, who told me to wait and see if it passed. A few weeks later, my nails had turned a yellowish hue. My doctor ordered a blood test, and over the next two months, I had three separate tests done. The diagnosis was Gilbert’s Syndrome.
As a competitive runner, I was initially worried that this condition might impact my performance. However, my doctor reassured me that Gilbert’s Syndrome is generally benign, without any serious symptoms or complications. I later learned that she was mistaken.
That track season, I ran some of my best times, and I hardly gave Gilbert’s Syndrome another thought. I made some dietary changes, eliminating dairy and focusing on eating healthier, which seemed to help for a while. But this year, things started to change. I began to feel constantly unwell—exhausted and run down, but I chalked it up to the demands of training. The fatigue didn’t go away, though, and it eventually turned into persistent stomach pains.
It all came to a head during one of the busiest weeks of my life. Between school, track meets, dance rehearsals, and AP tests, the stress became overwhelming. Along with the stress, I noticed the familiar yellowing of my nails and intense stomach cramps. It started to affect my track performance, and the fear of being sick began to take a toll on my mental state. As someone who hates feeling unwell, the anxiety over my health began to consume me.
After a lot of research, I realized that my symptoms were likely linked to my Gilbert’s Syndrome. I found online forums where others shared similar experiences, which was a huge relief. I wasn’t going crazy! It turns out that most doctors consider Gilbert’s Syndrome to be harmless and fail to document its symptoms properly. In reality, though, only about a third of people with Gilbert’s Syndrome are symptom-free—the other two-thirds experience issues like fatigue, stomach pain, and general malaise, just like me.
This was eye-opening. It was reassuring to know I wasn’t alone, but also concerning to discover that there’s no known treatment. As a high school student, it’s nearly impossible to eliminate stress from my life, so my symptoms have persisted. I had high expectations for my track season this year, but my performance has suffered due to my ongoing illness.
I’m planning to adjust my diet again and do my best to reduce the amount of schoolwork I take on. I’m also hoping that more doctors will recognize the real impact of Gilbert’s Syndrome, because it’s tough dealing with a condition that so many people don’t take seriously.
If you’ve had similar struggles with Gilbert’s Syndrome, especially if you’re an athlete, I’d love to hear your story. I’m still trying to figure out whether running helps or worsens my symptoms. On the one hand, running helps flush out waste materials like lactate, but on the other hand, it’s physically demanding, and I’m unsure how it affects my condition. It’s been a challenge to understand how to balance my running with Gilbert’s.