Gen Z Mom Diagnosed with Rare Organ Condition After Years of Dismissal

Nikki Noland, 25, experienced debilitating symptoms for years before X-rays revealed a shocking diagnosis.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Nikki Noland, a 25-year-old mother from Los Angeles, California, has struggled with chronic nausea, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal issues for years. Despite seeking medical attention and receiving multiple diagnoses, including endometriosis and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, her symptoms persisted. It wasn't until a series of specialized X-ray scans that Noland was finally diagnosed with stage II visceroptosis and stage II gastroptosis, conditions characterized by the displacement of abdominal organs below their normal position.

Why it matters

Noland's story highlights the challenges many individuals, especially younger patients, face in getting their symptoms taken seriously by medical professionals. Her experience underscores the importance of advocating for one's health and seeking out specialists who are knowledgeable about rare and complex conditions. The visibility Noland has brought to visceroptosis and gastroptosis through her social media sharing may also help raise awareness and encourage earlier diagnosis for others suffering from similar issues.

The details

Over the past six years, Noland has been diagnosed with a range of chronic conditions, including endometriosis, chronic migraines, fibromyalgia, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. However, her persistent gastrointestinal symptoms, including chronic nausea, severe stomach pain, and unintended weight loss, remained a mystery. It wasn't until she underwent a specialized series of X-ray scans, including both lying down and standing up, that the scans revealed her organs were dropping into her pelvis when she was standing, leading to her diagnoses of stage II visceroptosis and stage II gastroptosis.

  • Noland was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2024.
  • She underwent the specialized X-ray scans in January 2026.

The players

Nikki Noland

A 25-year-old mother from Los Angeles, California, who has struggled with chronic illness and pain for years, including nausea, abdominal pain, and unintended weight loss.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like I've lost parts of my identity to chronic illness and pain. It's a long journey, and there is a lot of grief that comes with it—not only losing physical health but also feeling like your sense of self changes.”

— Nikki Noland (Newsweek)

“The upright images were especially important because organ descent is more visible when standing. I was shocked by how significant the movement was. At the same time, I felt validated because it explained many of my symptoms.”

— Nikki Noland (Newsweek)

What’s next

Noland is still undergoing further testing to rule out any other conditions, and she may be able to improve her condition through physical therapy to strengthen her abdominal muscles and provide more support for her organs.

The takeaway

Noland's story highlights the importance of persistence and advocating for one's health, especially for younger patients whose symptoms may be dismissed as psychological. Her diagnoses of visceroptosis and gastroptosis, rare but debilitating conditions, serve as a reminder that complex health issues can often go unrecognized without specialized medical expertise and advanced imaging techniques.