dysautonomia

Six months after the Heartastrophe

Six months ago I woke up in the Cardiac ICU having no knowledge of what happened. No knowledge of how close to death I was. All I knew was the excruciating and agonizing pain I was in. The screaming, the struggle to breathe. That’s all I knew at the moment. My mom took my hand in hers and explained the surgery didn’t go to plan. That I suffered a catastrophic injury that nearly cost me my life.

Since then, I’ve faced so many complications. So much lingering pain. Still lingering issues with my lungs that require 3 inhalers a day. Complications that have caused my hernia repair to fail, and thus my parastomal hernia to reoccur. Complications of a wound dehiscence. An incision infection that was initially dismissed by the Nurse Practitioner at the surgeon’s office. “It’s just a surface infection”, is what i was told. Complications and actions that have led to trauma. There’s days the pain around my incision is a 9, there’s days it’s a 4. It’s always a dull ache though.

I can barely walk these days. I can barely last 10 minutes outside in the heat and humidity due to my lungs. Bibasilar Atelectasis..still at 6 months post op. The fatigue is awful. Simple tasks leave me utterly exhausted. Is this my new normal? What quality of life do I have?

I had to go to a local wound care clinic to get help for my incision to close back up. Daily dressing changes with packing. Weekly Wound Care appointments for debridement. Do you know how that feels? It’s not pleasant. Having to use special packing and dressings to prompt healing.

I’ve also received no accountability from the cardiology office. As it turns out, someone had shut off the home monitoring for my pacemaker March 2023. Had it been on, and monitoring my device, we could have caught the malfunctioning of the device when it began in August 2023. Instead it wasn’t caught until January 23, 2024. However, it was not known the leads had frayed, and the risk was tremendous.

See, Biotronik has a monitoring alert system for their devices. If the home monitoring isn’t connected, the Doctor’s office is notified by Biotronik. So to ask, who ignored the alerts? How was it missed that my home monitoring was not connected, thus not transmitting data from my device nightly. I’ve asked this many times. I’ve used my voice not only as a patient, but an advocate to get answers. I’ve received none.

I’ve read the operative report so many times. I’ve learned what I could about what happened. Maybe that’s the PTSD. Though there’s still so much I don’t know. One big question, how was i stable when pulled from Bypass in the OR, but on a ventilator less than an hour later? WHAT HAPPENED? I’ve never gotten an answer regarding that. There’s only one note in my paperwork about it. Absolutely nothing else.

I’ve tried to transfer care. I’ve tried to find a cardiac team. Unfortunately I’m in a situation where I need a specialized team. This requires travel. Which is what I’ll do. I want a better quality of life.

Six months of wanting answers. Six months of trying to piece together what happened. Six months of trying to process and heal the trauma. I think that may be the hardest part. The flashbacks, the memories of being in such agonizing pain not knowing what is going on. The anger, fear, anxiety, sadness at times is so overwhelming.

I get frustrated. I’ve built my name in advocacy. I’ve built my own voice, and have advocated for myself and my community. Yet in this I feel voiceless. I’m not though. Maybe they wish I were, but I truly feel there needs to be accountability for this situation. Accountability for the abysmal post op care, the astronomical medical costs I’ve incurred due to the complications. The medical costs have affected me tremendously. Complications that may be permanent.

Six months of wondering how this happened. We need transparency in healthcare. We need accountability. This is a situation that possibly could have been prevented if the malfunctioning lead was caught sooner. I refuse to just let this go. I refuse to be voiceless any longer.

Surgery….

On July 8th I had an open parastomal hernia repair, and colostomy revision. It required two surgeons for the surgery; my colorectal surgeon, (whom is amazing) and the hernia repair specialist. Both have extensive experience with EDS patients. We went over everything. The plan, the options, and knew it wouldn’t be an easy surgery, or recovery. We even met with the pain/anesthesia team to manage my post op pain with a povicaine pump. We were told the surgery would be 2 hours. That the incision would be on my right side, maybe 3-4″. However, That’s not what happened. None of it went to plan.

I remember waking up in recovery screaming from the pain. Just screaming. The pain was absolutely horrendous. The pain team (APS) came in to reprogram and fix the povicaine pain pumps. When I was finally awake enough, I learned my surgery was over 4 hours long. That hardly anything went to plan.

My colorectal surgeon told my mom there were so many adhesions, so much scar tissue. That at one point they had moved my entire abdominal cavity and organs. No wonder the pain was so horrendous. We prepared for a 2 hours surgery. What we got was a 4 hour surgery, with a 7″ incision down the middle of my abdomen, with a 6″ piece of mesh repairing the hernia. I was not prepared for that. It was so overwhelming when I saw it. I cried. I could fell myself spiraling. Another scar, another story, another battle victory. Is that what we call this surgery though? Yes, I will call this surgery a victory. Each surgery is a victory, a small win.

As discussed, I was admitted, and would be in patient for a few days. It was honestly a horrible experience. I’m on TPN, and a high dose of antihistamines to manage my chronic hives, and sensitivity to dressings. I also have a form of CKD. So fluids are important. To make matters more complicated, I went into surgery with low hemoglobin and hematocrit. I was anemic. Definitely not the best way to head into a major surgery. We managed though. What WASN’T managed though, was my TPN. The hospital pharmacist absolutely refused to do my TPN. My surgical team fought and fought, but he adamantly refused to make it for me.

How was this even acceptable? What’s even worse is the hospital dietician knows the pharmacist is like that. The nurses new, hell even my TPN infusion pharmacy warned me he’s difficult. What blows my mind is how he thinks he has the authority, and final say to fill TPN orders. Does he do this to every TPN patient? Who gave him this power? And why does NO ONE stand up to him or hold him accountable?? The dietician tried to put me on J-tube feeds…..That I don’t even have a tube for.

I was in the hospital for barely 48 hours before I wanted to come home. My antihistamines weren’t given to me correctly, the incorrect dressing was used. This resulted in blisters all over my abdomen where the dressings were holding there pain catheters in. The incorrect antihistamine dose resulted in my being unable to be accessed for my port in order to run my TPN, for 2 weeks. This should not have happened? I shouldn’t have been without my meds, I shouldn’t have had to suffer because instructions and orders weren’t followed.

My surgery was Friday, July 8th. By Sunday I was done, and wanted to come home. I didn’t feel safe. I wasn’t given the correct dose of my meds, not even my gabapentin. I wasn’t even given fluids the entire time I was in the hospital. The surgical team, after extensive discussion, decided it was best, and safest for me to come home Sunday, July 10th. Barely 48 hours after a major surgery.

How did we get to a point where coming home is safer than the hospital? What happened to patient care? What happened to following physician orders? Why does a pharmacists get to refuse TPN orders? Why weren’t the orders followed on the floor regarding iv fluids?

This surgery, and hospital stay has lingered on my mind. I’m upset at how so many things were ignored or just dismissed. What if I were a true TPN dependent patient? This has all left me questioning if patient safety and care are still a priority, because lately it doesn’t feel like that. We need better, not just us patients, but providers, especially nurses. None of this should have been ignored. No pharmacist should have that kind of power to refuse orders.

What I do know, is I won’t let this slide. Conversations need to be had. He needs to be held accountable for this behavior. It’s harmful. It’s dangerous.

I’m slowly recovering. It’s been a very difficult recovery. Very slow. I’m doing my best to heal, and ensure the repair holds. In time, I’ll feel better. For now though, the pain hits randomly. For now, I let go of the anger at how bad my in patient was stay. For now, I’m focusing on healing.

An Open Letter to Doctors

This was also published by The Mighty.

Dear Doctors:

We come to you for help. We come to you already scared, frustrated, anxious. We don’t need any additional added to us. What we don’t need is for you to medically gaslight us. That’s not acceptable. Not in any way. We KNOW that as a rare disease patient, or a chronically ill patient we can be complex. We already know this. We don’t need reminding. Many of us struggle with being heard. Unfortunately too many of us have been dismissed, belittled, ignored. Too many of us have been gaslighted by those that are supposed to help.

Medical gaslighting is term used to describe doctors or medical practitioners who blame a patient’s illness or symptoms on psychological factors, or deny a patient’s illness entirely, for example wrongly telling patients that they are not sick

This is prevalent in the chronic illness/rare disease community. So many have experienced. Oddly many have experienced this with neurology. Neurology seems to be the one specialty many of us experience this with. However, this does not just happen with neurology, but many specialists. So many tell us it’s in our heads, go to counseling, or we’re just looking for something to be wrong. We’re easily dismissed. This leaves us frustrated, confused and angry. Some patients have developed PTSD from the traumatizing experienced within the healthcare system. We experience negativity, dismissiveness and unacceptable behavior from doctors to the point we have developed PTSD.. That is extremely concerning. This is causing us to mistrust doctors, some even avoid them for years for fear of this reoccurring.

What prompted this “letter” you may ask? Well, I was referred to a neuromuscular doctor, I saw him about 2 months ago. He was great at the first appt. Said there were signs of ataxia and MS. I saw him again August 9th. He did a complete 180. Appt was less 10 mins, closer to 5. He said no MS, which is fine. I asked if my EDS diagnosis plus my collagen gene mutation could cause the muscle fatigue and such. He said maybe. Then…then he really upset me. He said “let’s not look for anything else to be wrong ok?” Not the worst to say but still awful. Obviously I don’t want extra diagnoses. However his next comment and note in my chart really solidified why I struggle with neurology as a whole. He stated at some point if surgical intervention is needed, a psych evaluation should be done beforehand. I have never asked for a surgery or test. I have never been through a surgery that was not absolutely necessary.

What?! Why? I’m genuinely baffled at why this is always what doctors fall back to. It’s insulting and so unacceptable. I posted my experience in several support groups. It was overwhelming by how many have similar experiences with not just neurology, but many specialties. Many specialties do this. As a Dysautonomia patient, neurology is one of the specialists to follow that diagnosis. Yet, many don’t want to, or they’re dismissive. Our symptoms are real. Our pain is real. Our concerns are real. It’s not all in our heads. It’s not just mental health or depression. Yes, we can develop depression and anxiety. However, let’s look at it subjectively. We’re chronically ill. We go to doctors to help us. We’re turned away, dismissed, ignored, told to go to therapy. How could we not develop anxiety, or depression? Perhaps BOTH are reactive to what we’ve experienced? Perhaps both are reactive to living with a life altering diagnosis?

Yes, I’ll say there is some depression. Yes there is some anxiety. However it is most often NOT the cause of our symptoms. Some already attend counseling in practice of mental health and self care. Not everyone with chronic illness is depressed. Not everyone with chronic illness has anxiety. You CAN be chronically ill and have STABLE mental health. It is possible. I am a strong advocate of counseling, and self care. A strong advocate of discussing mental health within the community.

We want help. We want to be listened to. Most importantly, we want to be HEARD. We want to be treated with respect, kindness and compassion. We want to work with out doctor as a team. We want to trust out doctors. We want to work together. We want open communication. If you don’t know how to help us, say that respectfully. Set your pride aside and think of the patient, of us.

Please hear this plea. It’s not just a plea from me. It’s a plea from the rare disease and chronic illness community.

Let’s work together to create change. Let’s work together to refine and improve our patient-doctor relationship. I have hope we can do this, together.

Sincerely,

All of us.

October is…dysautonomia

Dysautonomia awareness month! What does this mean to me? It means i try to raise awareness for dysautonomia. Educate, and share my journey.

In 2013, I was diagnosed with dysautonomia. Now, there’s 15 different forms. I have THREE! Three different forms. 8 years ago it was so bad I couldn’t stand up without fainting. It was terrifying. I had to give my dreams of getting a Masters in Psychology. I was angry, scared, unsure of what the future was. All while being a mom to my son, a single mom at that. I’m immensely grateful for the support and help of my family during that time.

I didn’t drive for over 6 months. In 2012, I had to have a cardiac ablation due to a rare form of SVT. This led to my needing a pacemaker. My electrophysiologist decided on the Biotronik Evia DR-T. This pacemkaer is unique in that it has a special programming feature specifically for Vasovagal syncope, which i had. This has been an absolute godsend for me. My fainting has dramatically reduced, actually i haven’t fully fainted in years.

Adjusting to life with a pacemaker was overwhelming. Learning my do’s and don’ts. Come to find out, i’m hypersenstive to certain things and could actually feel when my ventricle lead was working. Unfortunately this meant that lead couldn’t be on, or it had to be set very very low. I’ve learned in recent years, this pacemaker has become key for alot of dysautonomia patients to regain some quality of life.

Post op I developed complications. I couldn’t walk. I nearly lost complete use of my legs. I had to use a walker to get around, even in my house. Wheelchair rentals when going somewhere. I started physical therapy but no one had any clue what was going on. It seemed to come in waves. I’d be fine for a few weeks, then “relapse” worse than the last time. Through a lot of hard work, and physical therapy my gait has improved. I still tire easily and now use a cane. Though, we are awaiting a wheelchair for bad days and long walking days.

I dealt with temperature regulation issues, GI issues, heart rate issues, headaches, fatigue. Oh man was the fatigue horrible. Doctor after doctor. Treatment trial after trial. It was overwhelming, seemed never ending. Eventually i’d had enough. The medication side effects were worse than the disease symptoms. After much discussion with my medical team, we decided to stop the medications, and trial IV fluids. My EP in Virginia had success with other patients doing this, so we gave it a try. Well what do you know, it was like a battery charger for me! I wasn’t as fatigued, heart rate wasn’t as erratic and my blood pressure stayed stable. This was amazing!!! So, it was decided to place a central line so i’d have constant access for fluids.

So fluids was my magic elixir! A picc line was decided. We placed it in spring 2014. It was honestly a horrible experience. in August 2014, I became very ill. Incredibly ill. Vomiting for hours, fever that reached 104.9. I was scared, and out of it. I don’t recall much of that particular night. My dad rushed me to the hospital. My primary doctor met me there. Labs taken, cultures done.. Picc line removed. I remember waking up the next morning. Apparently my team did not expect me to make it through the night. How terrifying is that to hear? It’s really hard. It turned out I had a septic infection. Dangerous and potentially life threatening. I’m immensely lucky we caught it early on. What caused this? Honestly, I feel it was the lack of proper protocol by home health. I am now a stickler for protocol. If you do’t know it, or can’t follow it, I will NOT allow you to touch my central line. This is non negotiable to me.

So here we are, it’s 2020. How am I? I have good days, and bad days. Every day I strive to make it a good day. To make memories with my son. I strive to live. By learning my triggers, by learning my limitations I was able to adapt my life and still live! Yes you read that right. I adapted to my limitations and still live. I choose to not allow dysautonomia to take my goals, hopes and dreams from me. I don’t want you to do that either. Yes dysautonomia is life changing, but it doesn’t have to be life ending. With treatment catered to you, learning your safe activities, you can still live. I want you to live. I want you to believe. I believe in you.

Stay true to who you are. Stay true to your goals, hopes and dreams. Please never give up.

From a Spouse’s Perspective

We hear so much of how being chronically ill affects us, but how does it affect our partners? What is it like from their perspective?? I quickly sent a text to my boyfriend, I explained I wanted to write a piece, essentially from his perspective. This is his view.

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Last night as I sat reading an article on The Mighty, about partners of those that are chronically ill, I was hit with curiosity. We hear so much of how being chronically ill affects us, but how does it affect our partners? How do they feel? What is this like from their perspective?? I quickly sent a text to my boyfriend, I explained I wanted to write a piece, essentially from his perspective. He said he’d love to help me. So, I sat down, typed out some questions and emailed them to him late last night. By 7:30am I had his replies.

Let me preface with this, we met in September 2011. He was there from day 1 when all of this started.

Without Further Ado,

From a Souse/Partner’s Perspective:

1) When at first when my health deteriorated, how did you handle or adjust to that?

I handled it like every other day and I don’t feel like I had to make any adjustments that I didn’t want to make on my own.

2) Did/Do you ever feel overwhelmed? If so, how did you deal with it?

I never feel overwhelmed personally, but I do feel bad that you get stuck, probed and prodded regularly by nurses, and doctors. You’re shuffled from specialist to specialist, all while hoping for answers.

3) Have you ever felt helpless? Being my partner and unable to fight off this monster of a disease.

No I don’t feel helpless because you’re the strongest person I know and if anybody can get through this, you can.

4) What is the hardest thing you’ve had to face in dealing with my health?

I would say the pacemaker scared the living hell out of me. That’s dealing with the heart, so many risks with that. It was kind of hard to handle but you amazed me with how you handled it like a champ.

5) Do you prefer when I shield you from the bad days, or disease progression? Or do you want the truth of how things are?

I want the truth about how things are, no matter what, your love and well being are my first priority.

6) What is your biggest frustration in dealing with my health?

My biggest frustration in dealing with your health is that sometimes your attitude on life gets to me. The eating/drinking issues, you won’t do it some days because you know how sick you’ll be after. So you don’t want to do it. That you won’t do the feeding tube, even though you need it. You let your family talk you out of doing what your doctors suggest. You also don’t see yourself as beautiful, you feel like the feeding tube, will make you less beautiful to me. Scars, or a feeding tube won’t make me love you any less, or see you any less beautiful and amazing. That’s really frustrating for me.

7) Being a caregiver to your girlfriend, have you ever resented the role?

I never resented the role. It’s a role that I choose to be in, because I love you.

8) If you could tell me anything about how you’ve seen my struggle with my body, what would it be??

Nothing, your body is flawless. Scars tell stories and you have a lot of stories to be told. Your never ending strength is amazing to witness.

9) What’s the most vivid memory you have of dealing with all this?What memory sticks out the most?

The day you got your walker. I felt you used it as an excuse to give up on physical therapy, of getting better, stronger.. You have problems walking yes, you tire easily, but I could see that you wanted to give up, instead of pushing through to overcome it. That was hard for me to see.

10) What’s the hardest thing you’ve had to deal with in regards to watching me struggle with my health?

When your self esteem drops. You’ve grown stronger in who you are, you’ve found your inner strength, your voice. You inspire people with your words, and your realness. However, Nothing about YOU has changed, you’re the same person you were when I met you. You don’t see the beauty I see when I look at you. That’s hard for me, that you don’t see what I see, what others see.

11) If there was anything you could change about my health or how I see things, what would it be?

Your health does not bother me, but how you see things does. Open your eyes, look around, you have a lot to live for. You have a lot to be happy about.

12) Have you ever wanted to walk away, leave?

I didn’t think that was an option. A real man or woman would stand next to their partner no matter what.

13) If you could give spouses/partners new to this any advice, what would it be?

Work hard with what you got, and above all find happiness and peace within yourself.

Reading his replies, it really put things into perspective. It made me see myself with different eyes. This man, he’s loved me unconditionally for 7 years. He’s held me as I cried, he’s calmed my fears. He was there through cardiac ablations, my passing out, losing strength to walk. He’s seen the good, the bad and the hell. He’s seen me angry, cry, and grieve over losing my healthy body. He’s talked to me as I had convulsion like episodes, he calmed me when I was upset. He reassured me when I was scared. He was my strength when I wasn’t strong. Most of all though, he’s loved me when I couldn’t love myself. He’s watched me as I slept to make sure I was still breathing. His never ending strength and love have really helped me grow as a person, it’s helped me grow into myself. He’s encouraged me, embraced me, challenged me, and loved me. He has pushed me to do things I love, to do things i’ve dreamt of. He’s my steadfast rock, my cheerleader and my biggest supporter.

It’s not easy being with someone that has many health issues, but as he said, nothing about that person has changed. Love is love. Love them wholeheartedly. Love them despite it all. Love them through the good and bad. When they feel like giving up, lend them your strength, cheer them on. I assure you, your love, strength and encouragement mean everything to us.

So to my amazing, loving boyfriend, from the bottom of my bionic heart. Thank you for all you’ve done for me, all you do for me, and all you will do in the future. Your encouragement and love mean the world to me.

Grá Go Deo,

My new reality…

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I’ve been dealing with health issues. My gastroparesis has flared to a hellish point. It’s become extremely problematic, to the point i’m hardly able to eat, and i’m living in constant severe nausea. I’ve lost weight, most haven’t noticed because i’m wearing baggy clothes to hide how much I’ve lost.

However, things have come to a head. My kidneys are struggling, my POTS is out of control, and i’m beyond exhausted. I’m malnourished and not absorbing what I need from the food I am eating. Last Monday I saw a specialist 3 hours away. My best friend Jen was with me. She held my hand, and rubbed my back as the doctor told me, I need to accept this particular procedure I need done..a feeding tube. A J-Tube to be exact. I cried, I immediately had a moment of panic.

The doctor said I’m basically starving…. Now you may ask, how did no one notice? How did no one close to me realize this?? Simple, I’ve kept just how bad things have gotten to myself. My family didn’t know, my best friends didn’t know. Only one person had an inkling, he knew something was wrong beginning of November, but I tried to seem fine, I tried to brush it off. Until I couldn’t. Now things have come to a head. Things are bad, but we can still salvage it. There’s hope, I just have to push like hell to turn it all around.

Today as I sat in my local gastro’s office, we made a plan. A new Gastric Emptying Study, another endoscopy, then we do the J-Tube. I need it done soon, before I land in the hospital. I’m scared, i’m angry, I feel so alone. My family hasn’t been very supportive the last few months. I’m basically coping with all of this and more on my own, and a few, select friends. I texted my best friend telling her this is why I walked away 5 years ago from a relationship. I didn’t want to be a burden, I didn’t want to drag him down this hell with me. 5 years ago I walked away from someone that loved me unconditionally because I didn’t feel worthy. Today, I had the momentary panic of doing it all over again. We came full circle 5 years later, and here i’m facing this hell. I’m facing my body failing me, but I can’t make that decision for him. Not this time.

Why did I panic? I felt unattractive. Realizing i’ll have this tube sticking out of my stomach, and an iv in my chest, it was too much. Why would someone want to deal with all this? Why would someone put up with all this? The answer is so simple..Love. However, I am still so scarred from the abusive past I had, i’m still insecure in moments, I get stuck. Now though, i’m tired of it. I’m tired of letting my insecurities rule me. I’m fierce, i’m strong, i’m witty, I have amazing eyes. I’m beautiful. I’m me. No one can build me up, but me.

“You will be sexy and beautiful no matter what.”….. thats the text I got when I shared my concern with him. I’m so stuck on seeing it all as bad, he’s busy seeing me a a warrior, a fighter. He’s busy seeing PAST it all.
So, while I fear living with a feeding tube, i’m determined to own it. I’m determined to rock it like a damn pin up model. I’m determined to let go of my insecurities and live life, and love life. More importantly, to love myself and my body. I’m determined to find a photographer to work with me, and rock some pictures. Some might find it odd. Me? I find it empowering. This feeding tube is literally my lifeline right now. I need this, I need to let go of my fears, my insecurities and do what I need to feel confident. Having a feeding tube doesn’t make me unattractive. It doesn’t make me less of a person. I think as patients we can’t see the good, we can’t see our beauty. We’re too focused on the bad, too focused on what makes us feel bad, unattractive. Let’s break the cycle. Let’s silence those thoughts. Let’s lift each other up, lets build ourselves up. We’re worthy, we’re beautiful and amazing. We’re so much more than our health. We’re warriors, we’re strong. We deserve all our hopes and dreams.

So dream, love and live!! Let’s work together to let go of the negative and embrace what we do love about ourselves… Lets create a community of being empowered.

Be+Empowered

What do I love about me??

Fierce
Strong
Independent
loyal
Caring
Supportive
Witty
Funny
Inspiring
Ambitious
Hopeful
I’m beautiful.
I’m me.

Be Fierce..Be Strong, Be YOU!!!

SXcm1cZ

Down the Rabbit Hole..

This post is going to be raw, unfiltered, and real. This is me being laid bare.

Devastation, anger, betrayal, relief… those are the emotions i’ve felt in the last week and a half. Watching my future plans just fall apart. I’ve been so strong for so long.. When will someone be strong for me? When will I be held and told it’s ok? I’m angry, i’m SICK of being stronger. I’m so damn tired of it all. I’m damn tired of battling my body. I’m tired of battling doctors for help. I’m tired of not being able to eat. I’m tired of wanting another child, and seeing my hopes and dreams fade away. Most of all I’m tired of my self doubt. I’m tired of worrying i’ll be a burden to someone. I’m just tired…

No one understands my anger, my fears, my insecurities. I don’t want to be a burden. I want to be a wife. I want to be someone that my spouse is proud of to have as a partner in life. I want to inspire others. I want that, and I deserve it. However, in my lowly depression I CAN’T see that. I can’t see I deserve it. I can’t see how others see me. I can’t see myself as inspiring, or real. I am so scared of not being enough for someone. I’m so scared that years into a marriage or relationship my partner can’t handle it anymore. Will it be when I can’t give them a child? Will it be when i’m dislocating my hip during sex? When i’m hooked to an IV multiple days a week? Will it be when i’m in a wheelchair? I am so terrified of NOT being enough. I want to be enough.

I call my depression my rabbit hole. Falling down the rabbit hole.. It’s never good. Sometimes it’s a quick visit… sometimes it’s longer: days, weeks, months. I feel it swirling around the edge of me. The darkness becomes soul crushing. The depression yearns to take over. I’m stronger than this.. but at the moment, the darkest is tempting. This rabbit hole, this spiraling blackness, we all have it, just varying degrees. Some are masters of their depression, while some succumb to it. It’s our character, our strength that decides that.

Strength…we all have it. Control…we all want it. What if we submit the control? What if we submit the control to acceptance? Acceptance that this battle will not end, but that this battle will not END us! We yearn for control of our life, our emotions, our everything. Really though, we have no control. When I feel out of control of my emotions, I get scared, I tend to “run”.. I tend to become so seized up with worry, and fear I can’t handle and process these emotions. I simply shut down..It’s a defense mechanism. I can’t help it. I try, I try not to shut down, but that swirling darkness… that old peaceful friend of mine.. yeah it’s tempting. The silence, the peace I find there by embracing it is a welcome reprieve from my overwhelming emotions.

Ahh… that swirling darkness, with the taste of yearning, longing, peace.. but it’s fake peace. I know it. You know it. Everyone with depression knows it. However we still welcome it like a comfort blanket. Why? Why do we do this?? Perhaps it’s because we feel no one actually cares how we are? No one wants to hear us yell, scream and cry our feelings out. We need to do that though. We need to purge them. We need to stop faking that we’re ok. It’s ok, to not be ok. We’re so afraid of someone seeing the crack in our armor, we hide it. We’ve become masters at hiding it. I’ve mastered that skill. I’m so tired of hiding it. I’m so tired of faking it. I’m so tired of the lonely darkness swirling around. Our partners don’t understand, our family doesn’t understand. We do though, we as warriors understand each other’s battle. That taste of peace we find in the darkness, it calls to us. It sings the song of a siren. It beckons us. Resisting it, it’s not always easy. It’s not always to see the light in the darkness. We can’t see the wonderland through this darkness of a rabbit hole. We, in our swirling peaceful darkness can’t see the light. We need to always remember, light will ALWAYS come. Light will always shine. The sun will always come after the storm.

We all go though ups and downs. We overcome them. We go through relationships, friendships and family issues. How we handle it is what builds our character. We can fall apart, we can break down, but from that we need to find our strength and rise again. Stronger, and wiser. For we are The Phoenix.

From a child’s eyes…

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Hope you all are well!! I’ve been busy with summer break and had a few health issues. Hopefully we’re heading into right direction now!

This post I wanted to do something different. My son is super excited to be a part of this! He has such a heart of gold. He’s so compassionate, understanding and just amazing. He is a big help. When we go out to eat, he asks the waiter about peanut oil, and such due to my severe peanut allergy. He makes sure it’s safe. He’s my little big helper. I see he gets upset sometimes when I can’t do things other moms can. I can’t walk through Disney, or go play soccer with him. I can’t go sit at the beach all day due to my heat intolerance.

As much as I know he’s a happy child, I really wanted to know his view on all this. How he sees it. So I sat him down and did an interview with him. He’s super excited to be apart of this. He’s also wanting to record a video, which we will be doing today or tomorrow and uploading. Without further ado, here’s his answers.. Here’s what it’s like from a child’s eyes..

From a child’s view..

1) When I first got sick, and had to adjust to doing things, how did you feel about that?

Mathew: I got sad, because you couldn’t do fun stuff with me anymore.

2) Have you often felt overwhelmed? If so, how do you deal with it?

Mathew: Sometimes.

3) Do you ever feel angry? If so, why?

Mathew: Yes, Because you’re always tired, we can’t ride bikes or play soccer.

4) What is the hardest thing you’ve had to face in having a mom that is chronically ill?

Mathew: That you’re always tired. That we can’t go to Disney or the beach. That you can’t walk around fun places. Even if you use a wheelchair, I don’t care, I just want to go to fun places with you.

5) Do you prefer when I shield you from the bad days? Or do you want the truth of how things are?

Mathew: Sometimes I would prefer you to lie about the bad days, sometimes be honest.

Me: If you could give parents and kids new to this any advice, what would it be?

Mathew: For kids: Journal your feelings. Be honest about how you feel. Adjust to doing things at home. We play board games on bad days, we read together, watch. movies. We do what we can together.

For Parents: Your child will get angry, but understand their feelings, and talk them through it. Find things to do at home together that’s low energy. Make memories together. You don’t have to go somewhere to make good memeories.

6) If you could tell me anything about how you’ve seen me struggle with my body, what would it be??

Mathew: You’re a good mom, you do everything you can for me. You make sure i’m happy. And You need to use your walker more, dad says so too.

7) Do you know how much I love you?

Mathew: Yes, I do.

Well, that was enlightening. He’s wise beyond his years. He’s honest, and understanding. We trying to hide things from our kids, to protect them, but maybe that’s leading to more anger, more resentment. We should open a dialogue with them about it. Explain what we can and can’t do. Most importantly, make memories together. He’s right, you don’t have to go places to make memories with them. We do movie days/nights. We play silly games on the iPad. We play board games. We find ways to create those memories that we will both cherish.

I know our health can take a lot from us, but it’s not just us that it’s affecting. Often times we push our bodies to exhaustion, pain and till we simply fall. We need to stop doing that. That does more harm than good. We need to listen to our bodies, we need to adjust what we do to be within our limitations. We need to adjust and adapt to what we do to have spoons to make these precious memories with our kids. I know it’s not easy, I know there will be trial and tribulations. There will also be laughter and joy. Our kids don’t need expensive things, or expensive trips. They need us, they need our attention, and time. Simple things can make great memories.

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Going Ghost..Don’t do it.

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This is going to be raw, deep, and i’ve held it in for so long, I need to tell it.

Two years ago I went “ghost” as my best friend calls it. She had just been through hell, she needed me, and I just fell of the radar. I wasn’t the friend that I should have been for her. I was going through such a dark time emotionally and mentally. Instead of leaning on my friends, I just pushed everyone away. “Going Ghost” caused me to lose one of my closest friends, and nearly lose my best friend. It’s now 2 years later, and I’m still recovering from losing my friend, and from my friendships changing..

I had been dealt a blow with my health, told i’d be an idiot to have another child, that I need to get a hysterectomy. That i’d eventually end up in a wheelchair. That my immune system was weaker than we thought. I shut down. I became angry, bitter, depressed. It was probably one of the darkest moments in my life. My family rallied around me, told me not to shut them out, not to shut my friends out. They all tried to get me to see the light, but I couldn’t. I was in a never ending battle with anger, grief and feelings of being a burden. The darkness was soul crushing. Constant drowning in emotions I couldn’t understand or even verbalize.

Being a burden..i’ve said that more times than I can count to my family, my friends.. I’ve thought they deserve so much more than this sick person, draining them mentally. They didn’t need a burden. We’ve all thought that in this journey. This diagnosis, whatever diagnosis you have, we’ve all felt that way at some point. We’re not a burden, never think that. My biggest piece of advice, take to your spouse, your family, your friends when you start to feel that way. Listen to them. Share your worries, fears, goals. You are NOT your illness. It doesn’t define you.

Grief… We all deal with grief differently. We all grieve different things. Those of us that can’t work, we grieve that, or not being able to walk, have children, that extreme changes in our lives. These are all life changing things, these are all things we can experience grief over. Don’t let it consume you. Please. I did, and it caused so much damage.

I put up a front, I pretended i was fine, my dad saw right through it, so did my boyfriend. Finally everything came to a head. I missed important things in my best friend’s life. I can’t ever get that back, I can’t ever get a do over. That’s something that sticks with you. I decided to seek counseling. Through my sessions with my counselor, I learned so much. I learned coping skills, I learned that leaning on your friends is an amazing thing, friends are there, they love you. I learned I can’t control everything, I can’t shut people out like I was. More importantly, I learned it’s OKAY to grieve your old life, grieve who you were, and what you could do, but that you should rise from the ashes like a Phoenix.

We always try to protect others from our moods, our bad days. That doesn’t help, that in a sense can make things worse. Shutting people out hurts not just you. I look back and realize had I let my friends in, let them know the darkness swirling, they would have cared! They would have been there. Instead I acted like I was a burden and shut them all out. I can never apologize enough to those I hurt during that time, to those I lost their friendship over it, it’ll always be something etched in my heart. All I can say is that I wish I could have done it differently, but when you’re in such a dark place, you see NO OTHER options.

Depression, anxiety, anger, grief.. We in this community experience these. We need to not shut people out. We need to not feel ashamed for feeling these emotions. Going thought the motions won’t help, it’ll drag you further down. Lean on those closest to you, reach out to me if you need to, but please don’t bottle it all up. It will eat at you, it will hurt you. It’s ok to feel broken, it’s ok to feel pain, anger, bitterness. Let it strengthen you, let it transform you from the ashes into a beautiful soaring Phoenix. You are a warrior, you are beautiful, strong, amazing. YOU are YOU!

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Self Esteem Struggles

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As I scroll through the many dysautonomia groups i’m in, I notice a recurring thing.. Quotes, concerns and just venting about relationships, self esteem, sex. So many of us go though relationship break ups, marriages, fertility issues, hard decisions regarding dating, or just to have children. We all look to each other for support and guidance. However, i’m noticing a distinct lack of community for these topics, and it’s disheartening.

Lets really delve into this. Being chronically ill, we deal may deal with fatigue, wheelchair use, mobility aids, allodynia, hair loss; many others things that affect our self esteem. We may have had horrible dates, or our partners leave us. Guess what? It’s their loss! You’re a warrior, you’re stronger than you think! Most importantly, you are NOT alone. We’ve all been there.

I’ve struggled with self esteem issues for years, i’m not ashamed to admit that. I struggle to like my body, weight or smile. I’ve struggled to see what others see. In the last year, through counseling and the amazing support of my family, I’m starting to see what others do. I used to worry I wasn’t skinny enough, or pretty enough for some. I always felt I had to overcompensate for it. I hated dating, and the inevitable questions like: “Do you work out?”; “Do You work?”, or my personal favorite “So you just read all the time?Like you sleep all day? That must be nice.” No, no it’s not nice to be so bone tired all the time! It’s not nice to take a shower and then feel like you need to nap!

Dating was anxiety ridden hell at times. You know what though? I had faith that at some point, it’d be worth it. That there is someone out there that was willing to be my cheerleader, rock and partner through all this. It didn’t happen overnight for that realization to come to me, it took a while. That shift in outlook isn’t overnight. It takes time. Time to realize that you, my darling reader ARE worth it. You deserve all the happiness. Your health doesn’t make you worth less!

Sex… yes sex.. We can all chuckle at that for a minute! With our lack of energy, self esteem, and health greatly affects our sex life. Let’s not hide, or not discuss it. We need to discuss it. We are all adults here (at least I hope everyone is). We want to feel that intimacy with our partners, the desire. Though, I can guarantee you, that there’s times you feel it’s a chore. No! Don’t think that. This is a way to increase intimacy snd strengthen your bond with your partner. It’s important to find ways to do this. Difference positions, are important. Communication is key. Communication is vital in a relationship. We’ve all felt less desirable at some point due to our health, don’t hide it. I’m a firm believer, though I know not everyone is, that sex is important in a relationship and maintaining intimacy. Communicate this with your partner, more importantly, listen to them. Adjustments, trial and error are vital in finding what works best for you as a couple!

Kids.. some want them, some don’t. I have a son. I’ve always wanted one more. Learning that your illness is so debilitating, that having a child would be difficult is heartbreaking. I’ve been there. Some choose not to have a child due to their health, some choose to try for one. Some experience heartbreaking fertility issues. It’s not easy. These aren’t easy decisions to make, easy things to experience. I’ve had 6 laparoscopies for endometriosis. One oophorectomy-right side. 4 cardiac ablations,. I have mobility issues, GP, POTS, OI, endo, IST/SVT, migraines, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, EDS and Nephrotic syndrome. I’ve spent the last year with my doctors, discussing everything about a pregnancy, the what ifs, plans, good, bad and ugly. I’ve been told brutal truth, to where i cried. I was in therapy to help in the event I made the decision not to have another child. I was in therapy to process my emotions. To process feeling like a failure as both a woman, and future wife.

I’ve wondered, and cried thinking about my son having a disabled mom. There’s times i’m upset that I’m not a soccer mom, but honestly I still feel blessed and happy to have him. I know my limitations, and I do what I can. We have a very open communication with him about my health. He loves our movie days. He actually pushes me to use my walker or wheelchair more. Though I know some wouldn’t agree, but I think my son growing up as he is, is learning to be more compassionate, caring, empathetic and understanding. He has a heart of gold, and is such a helper. As much as I struggle, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

I know i’ve made comments about feeling fat, or ugly. My family hates when I put myself down. The self deprecating comments, we’ve all said them. We’ve all dealt with all these issues at some point in time. We feel there’s no one to talk to about all this. That no one understands,. You’re wrong. There’s so many just waiting on a community to forge this support! There’s men, and women that struggle. This isn’t just a woman problem. We’ve all struggled. Living with an illness that affects us so much, that has us disabled, or not, we all experience these issues. It’s up to us to build that comity with each other. I see on facebook, people tearing each other down. That’s unacceptable. Be the light! We, as a community should be lifting each other up, not tearing each other down.

Personally, I absolutely refuse to let dysautonomia destroy my goals, hopes and dreams. I won’t let it control me, I won’t let it rob me any more than it has.

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From a Souse/Partner’s Perspective:

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Be Fierce..Be Strong, Be YOU!!!

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