Side-Lined But Not Out of The Game
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Well, it’s been a particularly hard week, well, actually 2 weeks. Many of you received an email from my husband asking for thoughts and prayers due to a CRAZY illness that has me flat on my back and miserable. I felt I needed to explain a bit, so here goes…
When I had Spencer in 1999 (my now 8 years old) I developed a strange “rash” but due to the fact I was nursing no one could treat me. I dealt with the pain and itch and it eventually went away. Since then I have developed the same “rash” each and every year, mainly in the winter.
Last year was probably the worst bout and I was forced to see 4 different doctors, each telling me it was some sort of strange case of hives and I was treated with Steroids and Allergy meds. Funny that none of them tried to help me figure out where it was coming from but rather just treated my symptoms, like a band-aid really (but I’m not bitter).
It lasted for over 2 months last year and I have to say was the absolute worst thing I have EVER dealt with or experienced. Even having 2 babies without so much as a Tylenol was NOTHING compared to this! Last time we thought we had made a connection to my hormones and after going on a particular birth control that took away most of my periods it seemed to go away. Guess that was coincidence.
Well, like clock work, the hives have returned…with a vengeance. This time the pain and itch are ten fold. I just really don’t think I can put into words how difficult it is for a “healthy” person to struggle with doing even the smallest, most mundane job, like doing the laundry or grabbing the milk at the grocery store. I’m the do all person, the daily exerciser, the never sits her butt down type of gal. I literally spend most of my time lying flat on a Lazyboy chair covered with bags of frozen peas (don’t laugh, they work). The cooling pea packs are like a savior from the fire that brews under the skin surface, the hot, red, swarming effect that these histamines carry are just excruciating and at times relentless. At the moment the hives have grown to cover all of my stomach, from hip to hip and breast line to bikini line and now have started on my back. It’s crazy really and let me say not so attractive. LOL
The only breakthrough I have had was that I tested very high for a thyroid disorder called Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder. Nice huh. It doesn’t explain the hives but it would explain why I have struggle with fatigue, “female issues” and a strange lump in my throat. Bad news is that I couldn’t get in to see the doc for this until January 7th. Geeze, can’t get a break.
My last hope is with an allergist this Thursday. The only connection we have made to this hives thing is the time of year. The last few years it has hit me almost exactly at the first of January and this year at the beginning of December. One connection…Christmas stuff. I got the hives a few days after putting it up and it would have been just after taking it all down in years past. LOL…Sounds like some CSI/ House episode huh. I did find several stories of mold and pollens that form on the Christmas stuff when in storage. It’s a long shot but enough we stripped most of the Christmas stuff down a few days ago. The kids understand but it’s been a little hard on us all.
It really has been very humbling and I have to say I WILL NEVER take my health for granted again. Not that I ever did but my heart really goes out to people who struggle with their health on an ongoing basis. It has sort of a snowball effect on your self-esteem, emotions and everything just feels WRONG! Let me tell you…that SUCKS! (sorry).
Well, I felt the need to fill you all in. I have received SOOOOOOO many emails and I appreciate each and every one of you. Many of you I have never met, but in a way, I consider you family. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. It really has helped and this season too shall pass. I promise you I will lick this thing. There IS an explanation and we WILL get to the bottom of it. FOR SURE!
As for the New Year….You guys had better hold on to your seats. I have a lot in store and once I’m back on feet there won’t be ANYTHING gettin’ in my way of helping ALL of you reach ALL of your goals for 2008!
Best of Health and Merry Christmas!
PS. If you haven’t received your FREE copy of my “Surviving the Holidays: Your “‘No Fail’” Plan of Attack for Staying Healthy and Fit” be sure to go to www.lifechanginghealthysolutions.com and download it. It’s a goodie!