Inside ‘OutDaughtered’ Star Danielle Busby’s Health Scare: Everything We Know So Far

November 15, 2020

Adam revealed Danielle was in the hospital. “Just made it home, didn’t get a whole lot of answers but will end up seeing a specialist this week for a more thorough workup,” the doting hubby wrote alongside a photo of her resting.

November 20, 2020

Danielle’s spouse confirmed they were still in the process of figuring out what is going on after her trip to the emergency room. “Still waiting on more test results,” Adam shared. 

November 23, 2020

The waiting game was beginning to take a toll on Danielle. “It’s been a stressful two weeks … And the stress ain’t slowing down! I almost hate the word ‘relax’ [because] I don’t have time to relax hahaha. (Who can relate??? lol),” she wrote via Instagram Stories, revealing taking it easy was not her forte. 

December 9, 2020

Looking for some extra motivation? The fitness lover shared an inspirational quote amid her health scare, reading, “You’re not stuck. You may be overwhelmed, tired, overworked, over-stimulated or burnt out, but you are not stuck.”

December 29, 2020

Danielle underwent an MRI [Magnetic Resonance Imaging] in hopes of getting some clues. “I’ll never understand these ridiculous gowns. What’s actually the proper way to wear/tie them,” she joked in her caption while clad in a hospital gown. “Still on a journey to figure out what’s going on with me.”

January 5, 2021

The family matriarch had her “most invasive” test done thus far. “This is all we are comfortable with sharing at the moment,” Adam told his IG followers. “Please respect that in this current time of uncertainty and refrain from speculation.”

January 7, 2021

Danielle was all smiles in a new photo taken during her latest doctor’s appointment. Fellow TLC alum Audrey Roloff commented, “Praying for you.”

January 12, 2021

The fitness lover revealed her “next step” was meeting with a neurologist on January 12. “Oh man! Now that was an interesting test #Nervestudy. Band-Aids everywhere,” she captioned a photo of her hand with tape and gauze.

January 21, 2021

Danielle looked on the bright side after visiting her medical team on Thursday, January 21. “Wow! Look who gets to come to an actual doctor’s appointment with me! Gonna snag a quick lunch date with him too,” she wrote alongside a photo with Adam.

February 19, 2021

Danielle revealed she is doing everything in her power to remain optimistic and “lower [her] stress levels” while waiting for answers.

“What I’m learning is that it’s an uphill journey of trying to discover some type of possible autoimmune disease,” she told People in an interview published on February 19, 2021. “So, it’s not something that’s easily identified. [My] symptoms are so random and so extreme on certain days and like, a little bit [calmer] or relaxed on other days.”

The TV personality noted she is trying to stay relaxed and trust her doctors amid the process. “At this point, we’ve outweighed a lot of things and have had struggles with some things,” she added.

February 25, 2021

It seems a trip to Islamorada, Florida, with the family was a perfect way to ease her mind. “Forgot about all the current health struggles … for just a moment …or two because I accomplished a double handstand moment this vacation!” Danielle shared in an Instagram post on February 25.

March 23, 2021

In an interview with Us Weekly, Danielle revealed she’s “still on that path to some type of discovery,” noting she’s seen a range of doctors including a cardiologist, rheumatologist and a gastroenterologist in hopes of finding answers. “I do not feel any better or cured by any means.”

She added that she’s experienced “a lot more pain and physical” changes since she first sought medical help in November. “I’m not capable to do these things, but then I might today physically feel better. It’s hard because I am a go-go person and constant multitasker,” she said. “It definitely has been hard for me to slow down and just kind of realize my body says, ‘No, I can’t do this.’ I’m still working to discover what’s the underlying issue with inflammation and everything that’s going on.”

At one point, she “couldn’t go upstairs” which was “eye-opening” for her. “I would just get out of breath or I couldn’t keep up,” she explained. “I have constant pain in my neck and my back. Constant migraines, a lot of nerve-ish feelings. I thought I was having a heart attack.”

March 30, 2021

“I’m just like on a wave and have a lot of ups and downs and different forms of pains,” Danielle told Entertainment Tonight on March 30. “From physical pains, to migraines, to numbness, to tinglings, to digestive problems, to a little bit of skin issues. It’s just a bunch of random things … but there really is no identifying conclusion to this.”

She continued, “I’m looking at a possible autoimmune disease, and sometimes that’s just not easily defined. I’m just kind of having to go through a lot of the same processes over again, restarting different routines of blood work and everything. We’ve always kind of lived a healthy lifestyle. I’m just trying to really look into foods and [figure out], ‘How do I eat differently? Could that help with inflammation?’ ‘Cause there’s certain foods that underline with inflammation and everything. It’s really, ‘How do we maintain your pain level and what you’re going through until we can discover what the underlying issue is?'”

Luckily she has a strong support system with Adam. “It’s honestly been tough through this process,” her doting husband explained of seeing Danielle frustrated. “Just because we don’t really know what’s going on, and just trying to support her through the process and encourage her as best I can. But also just trying to take as much of the weight and burden of just everyday tasks around the house. Parenting, and stuff, just so that she can relax a little bit.”

“Just doing whatever I can with the kids and getting the kids out of the house, so that she can just either have a day to just do what she wants to do, or just relax in bed, if it’s a day that she’s hurting,” he shared. “Then, just supporting her whenever I can. Just being there to talk, and just hanging out.”

April 6, 2021

Danielle’s health issues were documented on season 8 of her family’s TLC reality TV series, OutDaughtered, which premiered in February 2021. In a clip from the April 6 episode, Danielle’s sister Crystal broke down in tears while opening up about what it’s been like to watch Danielle struggle.

“It is upsetting and sad to see your sister hurting. I mean, Danielle has always been such a strong person,” Crystal said while wiping away tears in a sneak peek obtained by  Us Weekly. “[There is] no telling how long she’s been in pain. [It] could’ve just been months before she actually sat down to tell us, so it’s just scary.”

Crystal went on to reveal what she thinks may be the cause of Danielle’s health problems. “I think it’s very important for her to see a doctor. Just think — I mean, she carried six kids,” she explained. “So, I mean, there’s a lot of things that’s in her body that’s actually changed physically that she just doesn’t know about.”

April 6, 2021

“I woke up this morning with a horrible migraine and my arms feel numb,” she also said in a confessional during the April 6 episode.

Danielle admitted she’s dealt with random “pains” throughout the years, but it got “worse” over the last six months. “I’ve been getting heart palpitations,” she added. “It’s been so long and nothing is getting better.”

April 18, 2021

In a sneak peek for the April 20 episode of their reality series obtained by Us Weekly, Adam and Danielle learned that her health scare may be caused by an issue with her heart. In order to check if she has a hole in her heart, known as an atrial septal defect, she will have to undergo an invasive test called a transesophageal echo, in which a probe will be placed down Danielle’s throat.

“[It] sounds miserable. This is going to be the most invasive procedure that I’ve had yet, but I think what scares me the most [are] the findings of the test. I don’t want to have heart surgery,” Danielle told cameras. “All I keep thinking about is, you know, ‘What about my family?’ … It’s scary.”

May 6, 2021

Danielle was in good spirits while snapping a quick selfie. “Y’all I’m just such a cool mom! #breakfastwithbuzz #andvalume *after 💊 …the after of medical procedures today,” she shared.

May 6, 2021

The Buzz World Shop owner later uploaded a photo in a medical gown while going in for her third MRI. Adam drove Danielle to her scheduled doctor’s appointment on May 6, and she later opened up about her feelings via Instagram Stories.

The reality star mom said it’s hard for her to do the procedure because she is “claustrophobic,” but this time, Danielle was glad she didn’t have a “panic attack.” It was also another bonus to have Adam by her side all afternoon!