Chronicle XVIII: Detoxifying My Life One Step at a Time
When I received my diagnosis of POTS, I started to do a lot of research on how I could help myself feel better, apart from the medications, supplements and increasing fluids. Being that my body was suddenly in this fragile state, I wanted to support it in every possible way I could. In my early… Continue reading Chronicle XVIII: Detoxifying My Life One Step at a Time
Chronicle XVII: A Bittersweet Diagnosis
Today, I found out that I have chronic, late stage Lyme Disease. This comes over a year after my POTS diagnosis and almost two years after the onset of my symptoms. Chronic Lyme Disease is a very controversial diagnosis, in which most people, including various doctors don’t actually believe exists. However, more and more research… Continue reading Chronicle XVII: A Bittersweet Diagnosis
XVI: Happy 2020!
Happy New Year! I know I am little late on the 2020 wishes – my apologies! This year started off no different than the end of my 2019. I was in the ER a total of three times thanks to my chronic illness. I had just arrived back home from a trip to California over… Continue reading XVI: Happy 2020!
Chronicle XV: Cleveland Clinic or Vanderbilt University?
So as you know, I have been seeing an out-of-state Autonomic specialist in Virginia. Well, per my last visit on November 18th, I am now being referred out-of-state yet again to either Vanderbilt University's Autonomic Dysfunction Clinic or Cleveland Clinic's Neuromuscular Center. Vanderbilt is located in Tennessee and Cleveland Clinic is located in Ohio. Cleveland… Continue reading Chronicle XV: Cleveland Clinic or Vanderbilt University?
Chronicle XIV: Grieving My Old Self
No one could have ever prepared me for the journey of chronic illness. All of the countless doctor appointments just to find answers, all the times spent in the ER, the blood work, the scans, the countless tests...I am 29 years old and if there is one thing I can tell you, it's this: I… Continue reading Chronicle XIV: Grieving My Old Self
Chronicle XIII: Hope
My chronic illness saga continues… Last week, I broke my "record" of the most amount of times in the Emergency Room totaling a whopping three times in seven days. It all started with numbness in my left arm when I was trying to sleep. It felt like a dead weight and like all of the… Continue reading Chronicle XIII: Hope
Chronicle XII: “How’s it Going?”
It's been a while since I provided a formal update on here! Where to begin? So, it turns out that I also have Pelvic Congestion Syndrome which is possibly being caused by May-Thurner Syndrome. Both of these syndromes are a direct result of having Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. This is what has been causing my intense pelvic… Continue reading Chronicle XII: “How’s it Going?”
Chronicle X: The Guilt
You know that feeling of utter guilt that hits you dead in the stomach when you know you've done something questionable? Or those seemingly endless thoughts that convince you that everything is your fault? Guilt and helplessness often sink in when you become chronically ill. Maybe if you had eaten better or if you had… Continue reading Chronicle X: The Guilt
Chronicle IX: More Updates
I had my second appointment with the Autonomic Specialist this past week and he is sending me off to a Vascular Surgeon, because he confirmed vascular compression issues on my CT Angiogram. I am going for a consultation on August 6th with vascular surgery here at Duke in North Carolina to find out next steps… Continue reading Chronicle IX: More Updates
Chronicle VIII: My Chronic Illness Travels
It's a been some time since I last posted on here - sorry all! The last couple of months have been non-stop. As mentioned in one of my previous posts, I was going to be sent out of state for further autonomic testing. Well, last week I traveled to Virginia to a Dysautonomia Specialist to… Continue reading Chronicle VIII: My Chronic Illness Travels
Chronicle VII: The Negative Thoughts
It seems that those of us who suffer from chronic illness, especially those who have what are called “uncommon disorders,” are continuously put to the test and we must be our number one advocates for ourselves and for our condition(s). Physicians often wonder why patients resort to looking up information online. Well, it’s because most… Continue reading Chronicle VII: The Negative Thoughts
Chronicle VI: To My Friends and Family That I Make Plans With – I Am Sorry
I have come to realize how difficult it is to be “okay” when I am not actually okay. In the past, when someone asked me how I was doing, I would be honest and say, “I am good. How are you?” Now when I say, “I’m good,” it’s often a lie. I find it’s easier… Continue reading Chronicle VI: To My Friends and Family That I Make Plans With – I Am Sorry
Chronicle V: An Open Letter to Past Friends
Dealing with chronic illness has shown me a lot over the last year or so. While in between working, the various doctors’ appointments and hospital visits, I have had a lot of time to reflect on my current health situation, my life experiences, the things I wish I could do and still hope to do,… Continue reading Chronicle V: An Open Letter to Past Friends
My Promises to My Body
Over the past few months, things have been pretty tough. My family lost my Nana to lung cancer in February and life hasn't been the same since. There are days I want to pick up the phone and call her. Talk to her about all this craziness going on in the world. Ask for her… Continue reading My Promises to My Body
Chronicle XI: “We’ll Get You Figured Out”
“We’ll get you figured out.” This is a phrase I’ve heard quite often over the last of a year and a half. I used to believe it was true. I used to put so much faith into that one sentence. I used to think that my issues were so simple; nothing a medication or two… Continue reading Chronicle XI: “We’ll Get You Figured Out”
The Chronicles of Chronic Illness 