For as long as I could remember, I was never a picky eater. I liked most foods and didn't have any allergies or intolerances. I was a "normal" kid who could eat whatever I wanted. That all changed when I turned 17.

A few months before my 17th birthday, I got food poisoning and felt awful for two weeks. I didn't want to eat anything, as I feared it would make me sick again. Over the next two months, I lost 20 lbs because I had almost stopped eating entirely. I was afraid that I would become ill again.

I went to my pediatrician's office and after a series of tests, they said that I was just "stressed-out" and that I would return to normal soon.

(As I write this article, four years later, I can attest that things would not be normal soon.)

I eventually was able to eat semi-regularly again, but I definitely was not the same. I began having problems eating a lot of foods that I had loved before. As a self-described carb-a-holic, I loved bread, crackers, and pretzels. I could no longer eat any of these.

But they weren't the only things I couldn't eat.

I had problems consuming apples, frosting, milk, burgers, pasta, chicken, soups, bagels, hoagies, pancakes, tea, and much more.

I needed help, however, I was discouraged after my pediatrician had blamed my problems on stress and said: "it's all in her head."

I continued living my life in fear of how my body would react to food. My symptoms were sometimes consistent, but other times were completely unpredictable.

I began eating mostly gluten-free and carried various "upset-stomach pain medications" to help fix how I felt when I ate.

I continued living like this until this past May, the end of my freshman year of college.

I felt that my quality of life wasn't the same as my peers who didn't have to constantly worry about what they ate.

I made an appointment with an Allergist, who ran tests for various food allergies.

They came back negative.

Once again, I felt as if my problems and experiences weren't taken seriously. My allergist suggested that I may not have allergies, but food sensitivities and intolerances. I was diagnosed with gluten, shellfish and lactose intolerances. (Most allergies and intolerances are developed in a person's 20s and 30s.)

She also referred me to a Gastroenterologist who eventually diagnosed me with acid reflux and a chronic digestive disorder, as well as various food intolerances.

After years of waiting, I had finally had an answer from doctors who took my symptoms and more importantly me seriously.

So you may ask, "Why did you want to put all of this out on the internet for all to see?"

My experience is an example of the importance of advocation. Without advocating for my health and well-being, I'd still be living my life in fear of how my body would react to what I ate.

I now know what foods I can and can't eat, how to manage my pain and live a healthy lifestyle without hurting my body.

If you believe something is wrong with your body, advocate for yourself. Find someone who will believe you and actually listen to your concerns.