friendships – Page 3

Holy H. Pylori

Hello Everyone!! Sorry I haven’t been around. I’ve been having some issues eating and taking in fluids. I had a Gastric Emptying Study done and according to my Gastro it is borderline. at 4 hours, only 72% of my food had left my stomach. Interesting to know. I’ve also finally gotten an endoscopy done. Turns out I have H. Pylori. Oh Joy!!! I also have white plaques in my esophagus, and gastritis. Very fun.. NOT. I was started on Antibiotics to get rid of the H. Pylori. Let’s hope it works.

I recently returned to Virginia to see my heart doctor. It was a very important and necessary trip. I’m also spending the summer at my mom’s in Tennessee.

I’ve learned that not all doctors care about their patients. This is truly horrible!! My gastro is amazing, as is my internist. My neurologist is also amazing! I’ve had no medication for my migraines (that don’t interfere with my POTS), and my legs are getting even weaker!! I keep hoping though! I’ve also been considering the use of a wheelchair. The pain when I walk is becoming unbearable. You learn to hide it, but i’m starting to not be able to do that anymore!

Let’s all focus on the good, and think of our blessings in life.

First Post, New Year!!

Hello My darlings! I know I’ve broken my promise about updating more often, and I’m sorry! Though I have good news! I’ve been busy working with my financial aid office at my school to get my financial aid back. I was on academic probation, and thanks to a dis-compassionate professor I lost my financial aid last fall. Luckily I was able to get it back, after contacting the Disability Services and working with them to document my illness and get a Memorandum of Accommodations. Once that was turned into financial aid, I was approved right away! I’m so happy I can finally continue with my education! Eventually I’ll have my Masters, or even PhD!

So.. what else have I been doing?? Well, I baked bread, yes home made bread! I was my first time, and I was nervous but excited. I used my wonderful Kitchen Aide mixer and let it do all the hard work! I do have to say for a first try it turned out alright! I need a bigger pan, and to cook it slightly longer, but it was delicious!

We also went to the park and launched my son’s bottle rocket! I know, what was I thinking?! Not to worry it was a little rocket powered by vinegar and baking soda! My dad was a big help, seeing as how I can’t really pour anything into a small little bottle, so he did it! I sat down and watched my son run around after the rocket and laugh! It was a very happy time for me! I’m not able to get out much, but it wasn’t a sunny day, or very hot, so I was able to get out, and enjoy the day with them!!

After that we got a bout of chilly weather, which just made things horrible with my pain, and I couldn’t regulate my body temperature! I went from freezing to burning up! Seizures a few times a day, it was just awful! So I ended up staying wrapped up in my jammies and Dysautonomia hoodie, and laying on my couch with my puppy!!

I’ve had falls, quite a few, and one really bad one, to where i’m not so sure I didn’t break a rib! Such is life for me! I’ve got my health insurance finally straightened out! I’m working on being happy and working on my book! I’ve also developed huge problems with eating. I’ve been unable to eat more than a few bites for two days now. I have only been able to drink about 2-3 oz of my meal replacement drinks too. So.. I’m starting to worry about it a little. I’m so hungry, and thirsty, but every time I eat I get so nauseous, and the pain is horrible, and no it’s not gas! LOL. So I’m guessing it’s time to see a GI! Oh the joys of Dysautonomia!!

That’s it for now my dear darling readers!!! Until next time, I bid you a wonderful day!!

End of the Year Review..

Hello my dear readers!! Tonight is New Years Eve. I’m home, ready for bed. LOL. It’s been a rough few days, this is not how I wanted to end the year. All I can say is, at least I haven’t landed in the hospital!

My goal for the upcoming year is to work on getting answers for my health, or as many answers as I can. I see my new neurologist next week, and I’m excited, yet nervous! I’m hoping things go well with him. I’m also working with University of Miami Neurosurgery Department to get an appointment with Dr. Green. They’ve been so helpful. I also hope to get a wheelchair. 🙂 And make it special, and just for me. I’m nearly completely unable to bear weight on my left leg due to the pain in my hip. I also have some silly goals I’ve set aside for myself:

1) Get the cooling bed so I can sleep!

2) Start crossing things off my bucket list, first is to experience the Northern Lights up close and personal.

3) Get special contact lens for my photophobia.

4) See my son graduate VPK (in May)

5) Write a book.

6) Make new and long lasting friendships.

These are just a few of mine! What about you?? Have you decided any resolutions for yourself??? This year has been very difficult, and at times i’ve wanted to give up, but I kept on fighting. Just as I will next year! Sometimes our trials seem so much, too much at times to handle, but we must remember, that we can overcome so much with our family and friends at our side. I want to help others as much as I can. To help others see that even though we battle this hell, we don’t have to let it consume us, we don’t have to let the darkness win. Let’s start this new year off right. With positive thoughts, and hope in our hearts! Hope for so many things, and people. Remember we are all battling something, who are we to judge others?? All we can do is be kind to one another, show compassion, and hope that our kindness helps someone else.

So my dear readers, as I mentioned in the last post, I’d truly like to make this more interactive. I’m working on making this an active site, and hopefully I can have that done!

Stay safe my dear readers, and Happy NEW Year!!!!!!!!

Day After—We Survived!

So, it’s the day after Christmas for those of us in the US..and guess what?? We made it, we survived the stress of the holidays! Maybe not by much, there may have been some falls, some passing out, some anxiety attacks, some arguments, but we made it! Lets all take a bow, or clap for ourselves! You know why? Cause dammit we deserve it! 🙂 This holiday was definitely hard on me, I was definitely a lot worse health wise this year than I was last year. I woke up Christmas morning, knowing it’d be a rough day, I was already exhausted from not sleeping well, and in a lot of pain. My son was already up and ready for presents, but first we had to have breakfast, and open our stockings from Santa, (he’s only 4). My dad made breakfast, our traditional Jiffy Blueberry Muffins, while my son and I opened our stockings. I got my cool gear cup, I’ve been looking for, in green! It seemed Santa didn’t want me to get sick since I got a lot of antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer, he also got my favorite lotion, which is the only one I can use now, Cocoa Butter! Also Got some Hello Kitty Lip gloss, Yes Hello Kitty! LOL. Some other stuff as well. My son of course got all boy stuff, matchbox cars, batman figurines, tattoos, minions toys, finger skateboards, and candy..sigh.. candy and my son do not get along well, we limit his candy intake to the extreme. LOL. It hypes him up so much. So we finish our breakfast, while Pop (my dad) goes through his stocking, my son is literally jumping in his seat for presents. Telling us to hurry. And yes Santa did come and he had already gone through those presents. He got a remote control truck, an Iron Man toothbrush holder thing (haha like my description?), and an outfit for school.

Soo….finally Pop finished his breakfast, and it was present time, so we all head to the tree. My dad gets me a blanket in case I get cold and a pillow for my back. And we start handing out presents for my son..This kid made out like a bandit!! LOL he’s loved. He got clothes, Duck Commander PJ’s, TMNT PJ’s, another shirt for school, Skylanders game, Angry Birds Light up shoes, and Perry the Platypus shoe, a special book I made him of his Bible verses they memorize in school, a build your own bottle rocket, solar system model to build, a rocket ship clock that lights up the room and shows pictures of the moon or galaxy on the ceiling. So much science stuff for him. He loves science so much!!!! He was so excited! I got some sheep pajama pants, a Kinect for xbox, and a game for the kinect. My dad got some pictures for his picture frames, a journal for himself from me, and a very special gift from my son: a poem “Walking with Grandpa” we also included pictures of them together, and my son signed it. I converted it to a picture file, printed and framed it. He choked up with emotion. And hugged my son so tight. 🙂 It was all worth it.

After presents, I rested a little bit, then started an apple pie.. Yes ladies and gents, an apple pie..home made! It turned out so so delicious! My dad made a standing rib roast, rubbed with steak seasoning and horseradish sauce, it was so delicious. I also made mashed potatoes and green beans. My uncle and his girlfriend came for dinner. It was a wonderful day with family.

As I was preparing for their arrival I decided to shower..of course I fell in the shower and seemed to have hurt myself pretty badly. I have a stiff neck, and weird numbness/pressure along my spine, along with tremendous pain in my neck, spine and hips. Of course unbeknownst to me, my uncle and his girlfriend arrived just in time to hear me scream and fall. Oh joy. But I brushed it off and made the best of the evening! I was determined not to let it ruin the day. I found a new friend in my uncle’s girlfriend. I’m glad to have met her. We ended up talking and sharing stories of our horrible experiences with doctors. She loves my uncle very much and I’m so happy to see him so happy! We exchanged numbers and hope to stay in contact with each other! 🙂

So my dear readers, while some of us are suffering through the pain, remember there is always someone there to help you, to love you. It may be someone you least expected. Instead of focusing on the bad, let’s start looking at the good. We’re alive, we’re loved, we’re supported. In many ways we’re blessed. We may not have good health, or be rich, but we’re rich in love, and support. To me, those things are worth more than money!

Let’s start thinking about our New Year’s resolutions! I want to start making this site more interactive! I want to interact with my readers! Let’s start working together and reaching out to each other and focusing on good, not all the bad!

You found what, where?

I was scheduled for an MRI and an appointment with an Electrophysiologist at Johns Hopkins on November 25. This C-Spine MRI was important. They were checking for spinal lesions for MS. I arrived in Washington DC, Sunday night after a 2 hour delay due to a mechanical problem with my plane leaving Chicago. I was exhausted by the time I got in, as my flight was at 8am that morning. I had trouble in security at FLL, there were no female TSA officers on the floor to do a pat down, as I have a pacemaker and unable to go through metal detectors, so I waited, sitting on the floor for 20 minutes. I thought this was unacceptable.

Once I got to DC, I was so tired I fell asleep pretty much as soon as I got to my hotel. The next morning, I was surprised with a trip through the capitol on the way to Baltimore to see the monuments. 🙂 Once arriving at Johns Hopkins we were prepared for the long day ahead. First was my MRI. Then my appt with my EP. Everything went well during the MRI. So I was off to see my electrophysiologist. He was apparently on vacation, but made arrangements to come in and see me. We went over everything. I show signs of pots, and NCS, but at intermittent times. I still have Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia. We agreed to continue monitoring everything. If I worsen, then we will seek medication or if necessary another surgery. We also discussed the possibility of MS, and other possibilities that could be causing my symptoms. He wanted to meet with a Rheumatologist to get their thoughts on it. And possibly schedule a phone consult. I’m excited I have him in my corner! Before I left the hospital I was able to get a copy of my MRI disc, and request my report be emailed to me.

The next morning the MRI report was in my inbox. I read it and cried. There is Disc Dessication from C3-C7, there is also a hemangioma on my C4. Degenerative Disc Disease and a benign tumor..not what I was expecting..AT ALL!!! But you know what??!! It’s ok. I’m strong enough.I have been in horrible pain for months in regards to my neck and back. Since I got back from Johns Hopkins the day before Thanksgiving, I’ve been basically bedridden. So, today I went to see and orthopedist that specializes in neck, and spine. And again, another shock. Today I learned I have Scoliosis, and A deformity of my femur in my hip socket, also there is a lesion on my left hip bone. He ordered CT Scans immediately. He seemed upset to learn that I’ve had x-rays recently by my other doctor and nothing was said or done. I’m still trying to remain positive. It’s all I can do. I refuse to let the darkness or whatever this disease is wins. I’m scheduled for CT scans Friday, and to see him immediately afterwards. My questions is this, how was any of this missed?? Or wasn’t it??? My family is trying to be supportive, but my dad is becoming increasingly frustrated and unpleasant. SO i’ve decided to stop telling him about any of it. If the scoliosis is as severe as my ortho fears, i’ll need surgery to help me, also surgery to help fix my hip. My dad informed me tonight that he has a curved spine, and that my uncle has scoliosis. He blames it on the way I walk. There is no way walking this way for barely a year could cause damage that way my back is now. The doctor said it’d take years.

So now we wait to find out how severe the curve is, what the lesion is, and we have to check bone density as well. One thing I do know. My friends, and family have been incredibly supportive. They’ve shown me such love and support throughout this past year and I’m so grateful.

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