Lily Thompstone, 23, claims her health suffered after doctors failed to take her symptoms seriously
09:50, 02 Feb 2026Updated 10:15, 02 Feb 2026
Lily Thompstone, 23, woke up one morning with severely swollen lips(Image: Kennedy News/@lilythompstone)
A woman has claimed that her entire body erupted in a severe rash caused by the stress of doctors dismissing her health concerns. Lily Thompstone revealed she had ‘always’ experienced digestive problems and frequently felt unwell after eating, but doctors attributed it to IBS, leaving her in ongoing ‘discomfort’.
The situation escalated dramatically when the 23 year old awoke with ‘humongous’ lips in May 2023 and rushed to A&E, where she received steroids to reduce the swelling. Lily, from Bury, said she knew something wasn’t right with her health and felt anxious about her symptoms, but claims doctors ‘did not take her seriously’.
When a rash appeared on Lily’s chest in June 2023, she attended three separate GP practices seeking answers. Doctors diagnosed Lily with light sensitivity and psoriasis, yet she remained adamant her body was signalling something more serious.
The content creator described how the rash spread down to her toes, with hundreds of ‘scaly’ spots covering 90% of her body.
Disturbing images show her skin covered in angry red blotches, which Lily posted online alongside the warning ‘let this be your sign to stop stressing your body out before it turns on you’.
Lily Thompson, 23, pictured with swollen lips(Image: Kennedy News/@lilythompstone)
She believes years of ‘chronic physical stress’, ignoring symptoms and pushing through her discomfort because the doctors had dismissed her eventually caused problems for her immune system, resulting in the rash.
After a year of pushing, Lily was finally diagnosed with endometriosis in June 2024, with doctors finding she had the condition ‘all over’ her body. Endometriosis is where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body.
Lily believes the rash was her body’s way of ‘signalling it needed help’ after doctors dismissed her symptoms and ‘didn’t take it seriously’.
Lily said: “I randomly woke up with massive lips, they were humongous. The doctor sent me straight to A&E because they thought it could be an allergic reaction.
Lily Thompstone pictured in hospital(Image: Kennedy News/@lilythompstone)
“They gave me steroids and it went down within 48 hours. Under a month later, I had this random rash appear on my chest. I saw three GPs, one said it was sensitivity to light, one said it looks like psoriasis.
“It spread from my neck. I was completely covered, it just spread all over. When I showered it would sting. There were hundreds of scaly spots. It covered 80-90% of my body.
“I rented a UVB lamp and within four to six weeks and doing salt baths it went. I thought it was very random, I had swollen lips and now psoriasis.
“I had given up with the doctors, getting the psoriasis really made me push for answers. I’d say to the doctors that something is not right in me, but because you couldn’t see it physically no one knew what was going on. I’ve always struggled with throwing up after meals. The psoriasis was my body signalling it needed help. I wasn’t taken seriously. It was horrendous.
Lily Thompstone’s rash covered most of her body(Image: Kennedy News/@lilythompstone)
“I had chronic physical stress from not resting, ignoring symptoms, under eating or eating foods that didn’t support my body, and constantly pushing through discomfort. My nervous system and immune system were under strain for a long time.”
Lily said she was shocked by her diagnosis and had two surgeries for her endometriosis since, with the latest one being in December 2025.
Lily said: “You’re kind of figuring out what you’re doing with your life, it was emotional and stressful, all of that moulded into one. In June 2024 I got my endometriosis diagnosis. It was a very intense year because random things were happening in my body, and it led to the diagnosis.
“I never contemplated having endometriosis, whenever I went to the doctors and told them where the pain was they’d say it was IBS.
Lily claims the rash was caused by the stress of being misdiagnosed (Image: Kennedy News/@lilythompstone)
“I went privately because I felt like I was at a dead end. I had pain when I needed to go to the toilet, I just knew something wasn’t right. I decided to see an endometriosis specialist. I had that surgery and the findings were unbelievable. I had endometriosis all over.
“I had my second surgery in December. It grew back since my first surgery.”
Lily said she is grateful for the rash as it helped her get her endometriosis diagnosis, but admits it affected her mental health. She is now urging other women to advocate for themselves.
Lily said: “It had a mental effect on me, I felt the need to cover up because I was really embarrassed of it. It definitely impacted my confidence.
Lily is urging other women to advocate for themselves (Image: Kennedy News/@lilythompstone)
“Just keep pushing because it does feel like you’re at a dead end. I gave up until my psoriasis came and that gave me the push. Keep fighting, keep advocating for yourself.
“I’m grateful for the psoriasis because if it wasn’t for that happening I would have discovered endometriosis. Let this be your sign to stop stressing your body out before it turns on you.”