Tyler James Williams is thinking back to the time he was in the throes of a disease he was completely unaware he even had.
The Abbott Elementary actor, 30, opened up about his experience with Crohn’s disease in a recent interview with Men’s Health. Crohn’s disease wasn’t discovered in him until he was in his early 20s.
The Golden Globe winner admitted that, in an effort to bulk up, he went overboard, hiring trainers, using heavy equipment, and starving himself. Williams remembered experiencing excruciating stomach pain and being unable to swallow any food when he was 24 and busy with roles on Criminal Minds and Detroit.
He admitted to the outlet, noting that he weighed 130 lbs., “I was really pushing my body to the limit.”. at that point. When December arrived, it had already crashed. Everything went dark. “.
Williams went to see a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone, and an X-ray showed that his bowels were severely inflamed and clogged with scar tissue, and he was experiencing a severe flare-up of Crohn’s disease, which was diagnosed right away.
According to Health, the gastrointestinal tract’s inflammation is a hallmark of the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) known as Crohn’s. In the US, the illness is thought to impact 500,000 people.
Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, skin changes, and arthritis are among the symptoms, which are typically brought on by an immune system that is overly sensitive and mistakenly views harmless bacteria as harmful pathogens. Crohn’s disease can endanger your life if it is not treated.
Williams revealed that he underwent emergency surgery to have 6 inches of his lower intestine removed after doctors discovered that he was experiencing a flare-up. But he went on to say that because his intestines couldn’t mend, he developed septic shock.
The former star of Everybody Hates Chris underwent additional surgery and was left weighing 105 lbs after spending the subsequent months needing an intravenous feeding tube. and unsteady enough to fall.
“This could be it was my last thought before falling asleep. I’m not happy if this is it. I did a lot of work. I engaged in a variety of activities.
None of this was fun for me.
He remembered thinking, “This can’t be it.
Williams added that his brother Tyrel has Crohn’s disease and that both he and his brother have been putting a lot of effort into leading healthier lives. After being diagnosed, the actor said he stopped drinking alcohol, drinking coffee, and eating red meat because these substances can cause flare-ups of the illness.
Williams claimed he is stronger than ever right now.
He told Men’s Health, “I had to learn how to have a better relationship with my body and learn how to stop making dramatic changes happen really quickly. “It’s critical that I and other players like me never forget that the game heavily depends on longevity. There really is no point if you can’t [remain healthy] and strong. “.
