'i was diagnosed with heart condition at 16 - gps did not listen'

MOLLY CULLINGFORD, NOW 19, SUFFERED CHRONIC CRAMPS, MIGRAINES AND NAUSEA FOR MONTHS BEFORE SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A SERIOUS HEART CONDITION ROBERT ROWLANDS Deputy editor, Money and lifestyle

hub and NEIL SHAW 14:23, 30 May 2025 A teenager diagnosed with a serious heart condition said she was dismissed repeatedly as just anxious - despite visiting the doctor more than ten times.

Molly Cullingford was only 16 when she started to suffer constant cramps, migraines, and nausea in August 2021. She was initially told she was just anxious about starting college - then

Molly's health took a dramatic turn for the worse as her symptoms escalated. "I began to not be able to stand up for long periods of time, and I wasn't able to keep food

down," Molly said. "We had a home visit from the doctor and I was told I had a kidney infection." The next day, Molly's health declined so severely that she was taken to

hospital, facing severe chest pain, a racing heart and numbness in her left arm. It was then that tests found chronic rheumatic myopericarditis, resulting in permanent damage to her heart

valves, reports Cornwall Live. READ MORE: Oncology expert names five 'cancer-killing' foods they have every dayREAD MORE: Doctor explains what colour your poo should be - and the

one that means you're ill Molly faced the "scariest moment" of her life after her diagnosis. "I never thought it would be anything serious, because as a 16 year old you

would think it would never happen to you," she said. "It was a major shock to both me and my family as there is no history of heart conditions in my family." Her understanding

of the disease only came through her own reading after diagnosis, she said. "Even after I was diagnosed I didn't realise how serious it is - I only learnt after teaching myself. I

was initially really scared, I thought my life was going to be incredibly limited from then on, and I'd have to learn how to manage this all on my own. It was scary as I knew nobody

with this condition or anything similar, so I felt isolated," admitted Molly. Article continues belowREAD MORE: UKHSA says 'stay home' if you have any of these symptomsREAD

MORE: Doctor says pre-breakfast mistake 'sabotages weight loss' Molly, now 19 and a restaurant manager, had to navigate her teenage years with this unnerving health scare. Despite

her ambitions to become a nurse and having a rich social life, she faced the unexpected challenge of her diagnosis during Covid-19. She said: "Being in hospital during Covid times and

being 16 meant I wasn't told anything by nurses and it all went through my parents. I never really learnt what I'd been diagnosed with until I was discharged." She said

doctors repeatedly did not listen to her concerns - and that only amplified her anxiety. "Being dismissed constantly eventually made me incredibly cautious about raising further

concerns," Molly said. Her frequent visits to the doctor before hospital admission were futile, she said. "Before being admitted to hospital I went to the doctors over 10 times

saying something was wrong, and got sent home with nothing every time," she said. The experience has left her apprehensive about seeking medical help, she said. "After being

discharged I was nervous to go back to the doctors for the fear that I would just be dismissed again," she said. "I developed anxiety and was put on further medication to manage

this." Molly's health hurdles continued with adverse drug reactions and recurrent kidney infections, rendering her immune system fragile. But hope glimmered when a new cardiologist

came into the picture. She said: "Around nine months ago, over two years after my diagnosis, I got paired with a new cardiologist who has been so amazing and majorly helped my

symptoms." The Cornish teen found solace in her cardiologist's advice, embracing gym sessions to fortify her heart health. "She suggested joining the gym and more exercise to

improve my heart health," she said. Molly's life was drastically altered by her illness, forcing her to make significant adjustments. She said:"I still work closely with

doctors, have frequent appointments and take medication to manage my symptoms - but they have improved. Last year my symptoms were the worst, and I was too anxious to go anywhere that I

might not be able to get instant help." Her condition made her become withdrawn. She said: "I stopped going to concerts, wouldn't go anywhere on my own and limited my life.

However, my mental and physical health has majorly improved. Even though I do have frequent flare ups, I know what my body is now capable of and I no longer limit myself." Molly now

hopes to raise awareness about heart conditions, pointing out that they can be invisible but still have a profound impact on someone's life. "I wish more people knew that just

because people with heart conditions may present themselves as fine, it can be incredibly difficult to process being diagnosed and then learning how to live with it," she said. The

teenager said the support of her loved ones was crucial in her recovery, and she aims to educate others about the unpredictability of heart conditions. She said: "I am so lucky I had

such an amazing support system of my family and friends that helped me get through this. Heart conditions can affect anybody, even at such a young age. I never thought it would happen to me,

but everyone should know it can." Article continues below The experience has transformed her life, she noted. She said: "I have grown both mentally and physically since my

diagnosis. I am very open about my condition in hopes it raises awareness and hopefully makes a change with how young girls are treated when raising concerns about their health. I love being

active, and going on long walks with my dog and friends. I work with an amazing team that are always supportive, especially when it comes to my health." Find out more at Heart Research

UK at www.heartresearch.org.uk