Suni Lee, the all-around champion of the Tokyo Olympics, and four other exceptional American gymnasts will officially be traveling to Paris for the 2024 Games. But even if Lee did well in 2021, her chances of competing in her subsequent Olympic Games were far from assured because of her kidney health problems over the previous year, which included two different forms of renal illness.
Suni Lee Health Problems: What happened to her?
Suni said in a 2023 interview that she had just received a kidney ailment diagnosis for Incurable Kidney Disease that was terminal. The gymnast claimed that her diagnosis forced her to end her NCAA gymnastics campaign at Auburn University promptly and to halt her training for the final six months.
After experiencing symptoms for about a month, she completely quit training, moved back home, and left Auburn.
She remarked, “I was just decaying in my bed.” I was unable to speak with anyone. I stayed inside the house.
Suni Lee Kidney Disease’s Foremost Symptoms Appearance
Suni revealed that she initially believed her swollen ankles were the result of her rigorous training until she woke up in the morning with similar symptoms. But the following morning, her face, hands, and legs were all swelled.
At first, Suni’s physicians believed she was experiencing a form of allergy, but the swelling persisted. I suppose I gained about forty pounds, and I just continued becoming more swollen,” Suni said. “It damaged my whole body, how I seemed, and how I was experiencing.”
Suni’s kidneys were biopsied after she informed her doctor that she encountered problems toileting. She was tested further after that. Her diagnosis resulted from that.
Lee’s Shocking Retirement Announcement Back in 2023
When Lee announced in 2023 that she was leaving college gymnastics prematurely to address a health issue, her admirers were taken aback.
“I’ve been battling a kidney-related health issue that isn’t related to gymnastics. The 20-year-old stated then, “For my protection, the doctors did not clear me to participate in sports activities over the past several weeks.” “Being able to treat as well as control my diagnosis with the best specialist medical staff makes me feel blessed and grateful. Right now, my recuperation and health are my top priorities.
The Diagnosis in 2023
The gymnast began to experience unusual swelling in her ankles, facial features, wrists, and legs in February 2023.
Lee claimed that after two weeks, her physicians discounted a possible allergy when the swelling persisted.
Doctors conducted many tests before concluding that Lee had an uncommon and terminal kidney disease. She had two different types of renal disease, as they would later find out.
Lee stopped attending school to concentrate on her health immediately when her symptoms appeared.
Alterations of Training Due to Suni Lee Health Problems
In March 2024, during a conversation, Lee disclosed that she had to put her renal ailment on hold for some months. She consequently “got a lot thinner.”
After receiving clearance to resume training, Lee had to adjust her routine and begin physical therapy.
In April 2024, she stated, “My trainers have never had to contend with an individual who has had dual kidney ailments.” “Of course, I’m thinking, ‘Well, I don’t know any other athletes who have had to deal with two kidney diseases.'” Thus, everything is a learning process. We’re also approaching it day by day.
What is Incurable Suni Lee Kidney Disease?
In an interview, Lee stated that she hasn’t disclosed her diagnosis to the public since it could change as her healthcare team gains more insight into her particular condition. Numerous symptoms, such as headaches, cramps, edema, flashes of heat, and cold spells, have been detailed by her.
Although chronic renal illness is widespread, Lee reports that his specific ailment is uncommon.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, damage to the kidneys causes them to stop functioning normally, which is known as chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is an incurable kidney disease. With chronic kidney disease (CKD), waste “develops up in your blood” because the kidneys function as filters, eliminating toxins from the body.
CKD can lead to Kidney Failure
Because kidney function gradually declines over time, kidney disease is referred to as “chronic.” Dialysis, commonly known as end-stage kidney disease, can result from chronic kidney disease (CKD). renal failure is not a common outcome of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but it will frequently get worse without treatment.
Swelling, issues urinating, elevated blood pressure, difficulty sleeping and focusing, decreased appetite, exhaustion, dyspnea, cramps, nausea, and other symptoms are among them.
Dialysis or a transplant may be used to treat the last stages of this incurable kidney disease. As an aspect of her therapy regimen, which has evolved, Lee has been receiving medicine.
Suni Lee has Eczema too
Lee recalled being aware of her skin’s redness, itching, and “constantly unpleasant” appearance at an early age. After trying over-the-counter remedies for her problems, the young gymnast went to a doctor for a formal diagnosis.
Lee quickly learned that she had eczema, a skin disorder marked by bumps, itching, and dryness.
What is Eczema?
“One kind of dermatitis is eczema. A collection of illnesses known as dermatitis results in inflammatory skin.
Eczema comes in a variety of types, with symptoms that usually appear in childhood and “last into adulthood,” while they can “impact anybody at any moment.”
Lee described her eczema as “really bad” at one point, describing it as “swollen and inflamed” over her arms, legs, and behind her neck.
Since it was so flamboyant, I knew individuals were staring at it, and it made me want to hide from sight. My sense of security has suffered when I compete because I feel like everyone is staring at me,” she said.
Lee’s Eczema Condition at 2021 Olympics
Lee feared her eczema might become visible to everyone once she was selected for the American Olympic squad in 2021.
Lee has control over her eczema with the assistance of her physicians and dermatology specialists, and she doesn’t think her ailment is “a thing to be worried or nervous about.”
Improvement of Health Since January 2024
According to Lee, things changed in January 2024 when she received the phone from her doctor.
Her trainer stated, “That’s when she began declaring, ‘I think we’ve got a hold on it.'” “I feel so much better. I received a call from my physician yesterday, informing me that they believe they can stop taking some of the drugs. I’m thinking that I might want to give it a shot.
Lee’s Condition in Amnesty (Suni Lee Olympics 2024 Comeback)
Addressing in April 2024, Suni Lee Olympics 2024 stated that her illness is under control and she is nearly back to her regular training regimen.
I want to avoid peaking too soon. Thus, it feels typical. I think I’m moving along fairly quickly. I’m concentrating on constancy and regaining all of my routines.
The Olympic medallist has improved her gymnastics skills and claims to feel “so much stronger” nowadays.
That provides me a little greater tranquillity of mind and the knowledge that I can achieve anything I set my mind to,” the woman remarked.
Lee said, “My doctor told me he didn’t think I’d be capable of doing acrobatics ever again.” Therefore, just getting here is a feat in and of itself. And I’m rather pleased with myself.
What did Suni Lee Say about her Mental Health?
Like her counterpart and friend Simone Biles, Lee is extremely transparent about the challenges with mental wellness that come with being an athlete in the spotlight.
She remarked, “I’m always attempting to figure out how certain individuals do the activities they do. I connect to and speak to a variety of other athletes.”
And it’s been beneficial since, for quite some time, I felt uncomfortable talking about it. However, once Simone and various athletes started doing so, I felt more at ease.
Imposter Syndrome & Depression Triggers
She stated in 2022, “I believe there was a lot of doubt following the Olympics, like, ‘Oh, she shouldn’t have been victorious in the Olympics, blah, blah, blah,’ and it affects my soul.”
Lee eventually started to think that she “didn’t merit the win.”
“In the first few weeks of college, I had a really difficult time motivating myself because I felt like I detested gymnastics and was reluctant to do it,” she said.
At her initial college gymnastics matches, Lee claimed she was “a catastrophe” and had “distress breakdowns.”
Suni Lee Likes to Keep a Journal
Lee likes to chronicle her emotions when she’s feeling anxious before a gymnastics contest.
“It has been beneficial for my meet setup and soothing at the same time,” the woman stated.
Lee is the first to acknowledge that she cannot “share how I think constantly.” She describes herself as a “very solitary woman.” She went on to explain why she preferred to express her emotions in writing.