Thursday 6 October 2022 04:49 AM Swim champ Michael Klim's devastating update on rare disorder and how it's left ... trends now
Swimming legend Michael Klim has given a startling update on his battle with a rare disorder and revealed he can no longer travel to Australia due to his worsening condition.
Speaking to former Olympic teammate Brett Hawke on his popular podcast, Klim - who was diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in 2020, also confirmed that he is under financial stress after stepping down from his role in his successful skincare line due to his illness.
The father-of-three revealed his mobility is now so affected that he can no longer leave his adopted home of Bali and make trips to Australia as he previously did several times a year for both work and treatment.
Klim has opened up on his CIDP diagnosis from and revealed he can no longer make his frequent trips to Australia
Michael Klim revealed his CIDP diagnosis in July and told Brett Hawke's podcast this week that his condition is worsening and has moved from his feet to his knees
'Caught up with my bestie to discuss the journey since my CIDP diagnosis',' said Klim, seen here with Brett Hawke
'I have pulled my focus to the swim academy here in Bali and... we run a bunch of camps and clinics,' the 45-year-old said.
'I have sort of simplified my lifestyle just from that point of view.
'I mean I did use to do 20 return trips to Australia a year for work and whatever.
'But for now it's just physically... physically actually impossible because (for) myself getting around is not simple.'
Klim said he no longer works for Milk & Co. because of the demands his auto-immune disorder is having on his physical and mental wellbeing.
Klim founded the skincare range back in 2008 and had maintained a sales and marketing position as well as primary stakeholder.
However he says his inability to travel meant he has had to step away from the day-to-day business - a factor which has added a new element of financial stress.
Michael Klim, with partner Michelle in Bali, founded Milk & Co. in 2008 and helped the business grow to become a top-seller both in Australia and overseas
'Look it has definitely put a stress on our finances and security because there is a level of investment for me,' Klim said in the podcast.
'I stepped back from my role with Milk and Co. because of the demand it had on me physically, flying back and forth and the stress as well.
'I was very hands on doing sales and marketing. (But) unless I could give myself one hundred percent I didn't want to do it.
'So there's definitely a couple of things I have been doing for the past 13 years that I had had to pull back a lot and with that is also a level of income.'
And in another devastating blow, Klim also revealed that his original health insurance policy does not cover CIDP - a disorder which is characterised by progressive weakness and impaired sensory function in the legs and arms.
As a result his treatment is now completely self-funded - another hurdle which, he says, has placed another level of financial burden on both he and his family.
Klim has now 'pulled focus' to his home in Bali where he runs a swim academy
Klim at home in Bali with partner of three years Michelle Owen
'Yeah it has been quite stressful,' he said.
'Unfortunately unless you have a very good insurance policy, which mine unfortunately didn't cover this disorder, everything is self-funded so it has put a fair bit of
