After a series of medical tests conducted in Singapore, Kris Aquino revealed she has chronic spontaneous urticaria, a disease associated with autoimmunity.
This comes after Kris took a medical leave from her professional commitments to address health concerns.
The host/endorser/social media influencer suffered sudden weight loss due to a recent financial turmoil that involves an unnamed former employee.
In an Instagram post last night, October 10, Kris gave an update to her followers.
She began, "You prayed for us regardless of not knowing me personally. i waited for my Singaporean doctor to send my final diagnosis.
"Now i’m ready to open my heart... I’m sharing our story for you to understand THE PAIN MY FAMILY ENDURED...Ang hirap madiskubreng may malaking perang pinaghirapan kitain na ginastos ng walang pahintulot para sa luho ng taong pinagkatiwalaan mo- kahit na milyones na ang kinita nya galing sa yo."
Kris revealed how her health concerns stemmed from what her mom, the late former president Corazon "Cory" Aquino, went through before she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
She said, "Bumagsak po ang katawan ko, in 1 month i lost 15 pounds. i was SCARED, our Mom had unexplained weight loss before her cancer diagnosis. That’s why i had my series of blood tests. This is our TRUTH."
Kris also bared how her sons reacted to her situation.
"My initial diagnosis indicated an autoimmune disease. Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, and Wendy Williams all raised my awareness. To be specific, we were afraid it was lupus. Kuya was anxious & confused. Bimb knew Selena’s journey.
"It was heartbreaking to see my 11 year old crying inconsolable tears and pleading, 'please don’t leave me mama.'
"Bimb even offered me his kidney."
Singer-actress Selena Gomez revealed in 2015 she had lupus, a disease that causes an overactive immune system. Selena had to undergo a kidney transplant because of her condition.
Model Gigi Hadid also shared her diagnosis of Hashimoto's Disease, while TV host Wendy Williams suffers from Graves Disease. Both conditions deal with the thyroid gland.
Kris then revealed her own diagnosis.
She said, "Ang pera magsipag ako, kikitain ulit. PERO HINDI PO MABIBILI ANG EXTENSION SA BUHAY. Kaya nagmadali kaming lumipad ng Singapore for me to get the most thorough medical evaluation.
"To be specific i now know i have Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, and yes, mine is an autoimmune disease."
According to the World Allergy Organization (WAO), urticaria is the short-term redness and swelling of the skin, "associated with itching, which usually resolves withing 24 hours."
However, "chronic spontaneous urticaria and angioedema is diagnosed when hives and swelling are present for more than six weeks."
Angioedema, according to Dermatology Advisor, is characterized by "pronounced swelling involving deeper dermis" and "burning or painful sensation rather than itching."
According to research, chronic spontaneous urticaria is associated with autoimmunity in 45 percent of patients. When severe, WAO reports, "it can be resistant to therapy and there is a 40% incidence of accompanying angioedema."
Kris continued, "I am now, and for the rest of my existence will be, on high dosage antihistamines and having the EpiPen will always be crucial. Severe allergies are life threatening because of anaphylactic shock."
An EpiPen is a brand of epinephrine autoinjector, a portable medical device that injects a dose of epinephrin, crucial to treat anaphylaxis. Anaphylactic shock happens when there is a severe, allergic reaction to an antigen.
Kris said these medications will now be added to the ones she has been taking to manage her hypertension, as well as the treatment she's been receiving for her severe migraines.
Addressing her supporters, she went on, "You know my life’s journey. Thank you for being with me through the tears and victories. I AM PROOF, LOVE MAKES US STRONG. Because we know WHY WE ARE FIGHTING...for me it’s for my health because 2 people i love more than life itself still need me for at least 10 more years."
She ended her post with a prayer and remembrance of her parents, President Cory and the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.
"My prayer is simple, to raise my youngest son to become a responsible adult who’ll care for his kuya, then God already blessed me more than i deserve. #laban (October 11, 1954, 64 years ago my mom & dad got married. Heaven timed i’d get my medical answers now for me to remember BEING BRAVE is part of my DNA.) [rainbow emoji]"