Three years of unanswered questions

In March 2022, Miriam developed a urinary tract infection (UTI), which was treated with antibiotics, but this was soon followed by persistent bowel issues that became chronic. 

The following month, she was diagnosed with both herpes zoster and herpes simplex, caught the flu, and experienced another UTI. By then, she had begun to seriously worry about what was happening to her body.

While it is unclear whether or not these infections are related to her current condition, Miriam specified that this was the start of persistent, clustered health issues.

As summer approached, Miriam’s set herself a simple goal: to regain her health and return to her role as Sociology Lecturer at Junior College without difficulty. Unfortunately, her condition continued to deteriorate and she had to stop working in October of that year.

“Retirement wasn’t on the cards for me any time soon. I didn’t want to stop working. I love my job,” Miriam told Lovin Malta in an emotional interview.

Now 64 years old, Miriam experiences severe dryness in her mouth, nose and skin, making eating and drinking painful. This has led to significant weight loss and growing concerns about malnutrition. Besides being around 10-kilograms lighter, she has noticed her skin becoming drier, which has altered her appearance.

“I started noticing my body actively shrivelling up and I went to the hospital for the first time in July 2022.”

Miriam has sought help from numerous consultants and specialists both in Malta and abroad. She has seen dermatologists, rheumatologists, immunologists, psychiatrists, nephrologists, endocrinologists, haematologists and urologists. 

Different specialists have come up with varying opinions but none are finite.

That being said, she has been told that it is possible that a causative diagnosis – a unifying explanation that accounts for all her symptoms – may not be reached. 
Some doctors, Miriam explained, indicated the possibility of mental health issues acting as the trigger. In fact, in the first months of 2023, Miriam even tried anti-anxiety medication for a few weeks but felt “worse” while on them.

While continue to argue that her condition can be psychological in nature while others have said it’s possible to be rooted in organic causes.

Miriam has also turned to functional practitioners, alternative therapists, healers, acupuncturists, reflexologists, and even hypnotists for help, undergoing extensive testing both locally and overseas. 



Determined to rule out psychological causes, Miriam said she consulted two psychiatrists and a cognitive behavioural therapy specialist. Referral notes seen by Lovin Malta indicate that both psychiatrists recommended further investigation into organic causes. One explicitly stated that her condition does not appear to be psychiatric in nature, while the other advised that further testing and referrals be pursued if necessary.

Treating her symptoms

Throughout her health journey, Miriam has tried various medications to alleviate her symptoms or target the potential triggers identified by practitioners.

Unfortunately, many of these treatments caused side effects that led her to stop taking them prematurely.

Miriam admitted that her desperation to understand what is happening to her body sometimes led her to stop prescribed medications prematurely if she felt no immediate improvement. She acknowledges that this may have prevented some treatments from having the time they needed to take effect.

The uncertainty about what she has creates confusion even when it comes to sticking to a medication. Since something is clearly wrong with her but nobody is quite sure what it is, when to start or stop a medication isn’t as obvious.

In addition to being physically and mentally exhausting, the past three years have also been financially draining for Miriam.
“I don’t even want to know how much money I’ve spent seeking help privately, both in Malta and abroad,” she said.

Ultimately, Miriam’s plea is simple: she wants help and support. During the interview, she spoke candidly about the challenges of maintaining support as her health continues to decline without a definitive explanation. She urged both people and professionals to show compassion to those in similar circumstances, stressing that sometimes, all she needs is someone willing to listen.