A mother-of-two from Scotland has revealed she was finally diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening condition after her exhaustion became so severe she slept through her own son's birthday party.
A relentless battle with her health
Holly McGougan, 31, from Paisley, had experienced health problems for years, beginning with pneumonia at age 16. Since turning 24, she had contracted shingles seven times. Despite frequent doctor visits, her condition deteriorated dramatically last year. She began suffering from severe migraines, unexplained weight loss, crushing fatigue, brain fog, and low blood pressure.
The content creator described reaching a point where she was "constantly exhausted," sometimes sleeping for a full 24 hours. The most poignant moment came in November last year when she fell asleep for the entirety of her son's birthday celebrations. "I knew something was wrong," Holly stated.
The fight for a correct diagnosis
For years, Holly claimed doctors misdiagnosed her symptoms as anxiety, depression, and fibromyalgia. Her determination to find an answer finally paid off in September 2025, when she received a diagnosis of Addison's disease.
This rare disorder occurs when the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, fail to produce sufficient amounts of the essential hormone cortisol. This deficiency leads to extreme fatigue, a weakened immune system—explaining her recurrent shingles—and can be life-threatening if not managed.
"The nurse said I'd burned myself out so much from looking after everybody else, that I was like a phone on 2%," Holly explained. "They measured my cortisol levels, and they were at 30, whereas a normal person is at 250. So basically, I was dying."
Life after diagnosis: Fear and a new normal
Holly now requires steroid medication three times daily for the rest of her life to replace the missing cortisol. She must also carry an emergency injection of hydrocortisone to use if she falls ill and cannot keep her tablets down. While relieved to have an answer, she lives with the fear of the condition's seriousness. "I’m scared I won’t get to see my boys grow up," she admitted, referring to her sons Theo, eight, and Zach, six.
Her husband, Craig, 32, has become her full-time carer. He confessed that when he wakes her to take medication, he is checking to see if she is still alive. Some days, Holly is so exhausted that Craig must place the tablet in her mouth before she falls back asleep.
The family is currently travelling in Thailand, where Holly finds the sun helps her aching body. She shares her journey on social media (@hollyandboystravel) to raise awareness, expressing anger at not being listened to sooner but vowing, "I won’t let this beat me."
