Ryan Sutter, the husband of original “Bachelorette” Trista Sutter, spoke out Tuesday in regards to his mystery illness, telling fans it’s a struggle to get out of bed some days.
Detailing his ordeal in three separate Instagram posts, Ryan, 46, noted how in February he “began feeling occasional ‘flu like’ symptoms” at the conclusion of his training with Denver Fire.
“I was tested for COVID multiple times but never tested positive. I completed the academy and believed/hoped I would begin to recover and feel better. It’s been five months now and, if anything, I feel worse,” Ryan explained.
Although Ryan has continued to work his typical fire schedule, he has dealt with “a battery of symptoms,” including fatigue — which the father of two described as “sometimes almost paralyzing” — as well as “deep body and muscle aches, fevers, night sweats, full body itching with no rash, headaches, neck and throat swelling, congestion, light headedness, nausea, and just general all around not feeling good.”
“Most days I feel about 70%. Somedays I feel a bit better and somedays I can barely get out of bed,” he continued. “I don’t believe I have anything contagious as no one else in my family has been sick nor has anyone I have worked with or associated with been sick.”
Ryan — who has been married to Trista, 48, since 2003 — added he has had several blood tests and a CT scan. He also has a “high ANA Titer [antinuclear antibody] and low WBC [white blood cell] but nothing else has proven anything conclusive.”
Ryan also noted how he hopes his story resonates with others struggling in a similar situation.
“Take Aways – I appear to be sick for some unknown reason. I do not appear to be alone in this experience. The number of people who share a similar story to mine is incredible. The struggle to find answers in the medical world and support through the insurance industry is frustrating and lacking,” Ryan also posted.
“In the pursuit of answers to my personal situation, I hope I might be of some help to all those suffering in similar ways as I am now acutely sympathetic,” he continued.
Ryan said he feels “well prepared to take on [his] current health situation” after spending “the better part of [his] life challenging [his] personal limits.”
“I have a strong support group and the best wife in the world. Please don’t worry about me. I will be fine. If you must worry, worry about each other. Support each other. Be there for each other,” he wrote.
Ryan also thanked fans for the “outpouring of support” he has since received, calling it both “humbling and therapeutic.”
“I could not be more grateful,” he added.
Ryan first met Trista on the debut season of “The Bachelorette” in 2003. They are parents to daughter Blakesley, 11, and son Maxwell, 13.