Elizabeth Barrett Browning suffered from a chronic and complex illness that began in her early teens. The exact nature of her illness remains uncertain, but various theories exist:
- She experienced intense spinal headaches, muscle pain, weakness, and fatigue throughout her life. Some experts believe she had a combination of asthma and chronic bronchitis affecting her lungs. Others think her symptoms could have been caused by tuberculosis, a common diagnosis in her time.
- Modern medical speculation includes possibilities such as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), poliomyelitis, hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HKPP), and paralytic scoliosis. Evidence from her letters and diaries strongly suggests she might have had HKPP, a rare genetic muscle disorder that causes weakness and is triggered by factors like exertion, food, and weather changes.
- She also suffered from heart palpitations, intense responses to heat and cold, chronic infections, and episodes of fainting or collapse after exertion or stress.
- Her doctors in the Victorian era were unable to definitively diagnose or treat her condition, and she was prescribed laudanum, leading to lifelong addiction.
In summary, Elizabeth Barrett Browning had a lifelong, debilitating illness with symptoms affecting her muscles, lungs, and overall strength, most likely a rare disorder such as hypokalemic periodic paralysis or a combination of chronic respiratory issues and muscle weakness.
