Side Tracked by Chronic Illness Part One
I was in two minds in presenting the next topic because I wanted this blog to be about art only. However, recent events have affected art making. I have learned much about my experience and it is my hope that the information might help someone or at least let sufferers know they are not alone.
In a nutshell - I've been sick with a chronic disorder. It has been given a variety of names.
1. Rheumatoid arthritis
2. Polymyalgia rheumatica
3. Fibromyalgia
4. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The acute phase began November 21, 2016. I woke up with severe pain on the bottom left side of my abdomen. I went to see my internal medicine doctor (IMD) and he told me to go the emergency room immediately. So I went and had blood tests and a CT scan. Diagnosis = diverticulitis. I was given antibiotics and sent home. The pain subsided quickly and I got better. It was the week of Thanksgiving and I was able to cook our annual family dinner without too much difficulty.
Two weeks later, on December 5, 2016, I started having a difficult time breathing. I couldn't take in adequate amounts of air without my chest hurting. So, again, I went to see my IMD and he told me to go to the emergency room immediately. So I did, had blood tests, EKG, and slightly different CT scan. Diagnosis = pleurisy. I was given strong anti-inflammatory drugs (ketorolac and only 8 pills) and sent home. I asked the ER doctors if there might any connections between the diverticulitis and pleurisy and they responded that they didn't know. I got better and within a week, I was back to taking dance classes.
About one month later, (January 4, 2017), I went to see my dermatologist and I mentioned that I had been to the ER with the diagnosis of pleurisy and was on this wonderful anti-inflammatory drug. The drug not only made my skin look amazing, it got rid of the pain in my joints that i didn't realize i had until they went away. "Ha ha ha" was my attitude. My dermatologist became rather serious and suggested that I be tested for rheumatoid arthritis. In other words, I didn't know I had a problem until it went away. That news did not make me happy. I knew rheumatoid arthritis was an auto immune disease whereby the body attacks itself. I made an appointment with my IMD and got books from the library in addition to doing searches on the Internet. I wanted to make sure I was prepared with questions and to know what tests I needed.
Results and his diagnosis = general inflammation but not rheumatoid arthritis. After one week of being gluten-free, my body felt better. I re-introduced dairy and corn and did not suffer from these foods) I felt good enough to fly to Washington DC to attend the Women's March on Washington.
Sometime in February, I began suffering from fatigue, depression and brain fog. Even though I slept 8 hours most nights, I never felt rested. I felt like I would never be cheerful again. Doing the simplest things felt insurmountable. And, I still had pain throughout my body. I started getting migraines which I used to get in my 30s but thanks to acupuncture, stopped getting them. I still went to the studio but I wasn't very productive. I did painting exercises just to "keep in shape" but I didn't know where I was going. I don't like being in that state of floundering.
At this point, my 4-5 dance classes a week became 1-2 dance classes a week. I felt tired and weak.
On a overnight spa getaway with a friend (February 22) , I began having pain in my mouth. It turned out to be an infection and my face swelled up and it was painful. I went to see an endodontist and after clean up and a root canal, I was pain-free. I mention this because I have to believe, there is some connection to all the other symptoms. Just like there has to be a connection between the diverticulitis and pleurisy.
My IMD and I decided on staying gluten-free and to have my blood re-tested in 2 months.
Some additional background problems: I have had occasional flare-ups of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). I have what I call "fever spikes" where I feel like i am coming down with the flu but it lasts only one day. It is debilitating enough where i am confined to bedrest and take ibuprofen. I have suffered from a systemic yeast infection due to overuse of antibiotics. And that was related to my "leaky gut" which diet modifications, probiotics and a series of colonics helped immensely. Both the leaky gut and yeast infection have been taken care of.
Next, alternative treatments.
In a nutshell - I've been sick with a chronic disorder. It has been given a variety of names.
1. Rheumatoid arthritis
2. Polymyalgia rheumatica
3. Fibromyalgia
4. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The acute phase began November 21, 2016. I woke up with severe pain on the bottom left side of my abdomen. I went to see my internal medicine doctor (IMD) and he told me to go the emergency room immediately. So I went and had blood tests and a CT scan. Diagnosis = diverticulitis. I was given antibiotics and sent home. The pain subsided quickly and I got better. It was the week of Thanksgiving and I was able to cook our annual family dinner without too much difficulty.
Two weeks later, on December 5, 2016, I started having a difficult time breathing. I couldn't take in adequate amounts of air without my chest hurting. So, again, I went to see my IMD and he told me to go to the emergency room immediately. So I did, had blood tests, EKG, and slightly different CT scan. Diagnosis = pleurisy. I was given strong anti-inflammatory drugs (ketorolac and only 8 pills) and sent home. I asked the ER doctors if there might any connections between the diverticulitis and pleurisy and they responded that they didn't know. I got better and within a week, I was back to taking dance classes.
About one month later, (January 4, 2017), I went to see my dermatologist and I mentioned that I had been to the ER with the diagnosis of pleurisy and was on this wonderful anti-inflammatory drug. The drug not only made my skin look amazing, it got rid of the pain in my joints that i didn't realize i had until they went away. "Ha ha ha" was my attitude. My dermatologist became rather serious and suggested that I be tested for rheumatoid arthritis. In other words, I didn't know I had a problem until it went away. That news did not make me happy. I knew rheumatoid arthritis was an auto immune disease whereby the body attacks itself. I made an appointment with my IMD and got books from the library in addition to doing searches on the Internet. I wanted to make sure I was prepared with questions and to know what tests I needed.
Results and his diagnosis = general inflammation but not rheumatoid arthritis. After one week of being gluten-free, my body felt better. I re-introduced dairy and corn and did not suffer from these foods) I felt good enough to fly to Washington DC to attend the Women's March on Washington.
Sometime in February, I began suffering from fatigue, depression and brain fog. Even though I slept 8 hours most nights, I never felt rested. I felt like I would never be cheerful again. Doing the simplest things felt insurmountable. And, I still had pain throughout my body. I started getting migraines which I used to get in my 30s but thanks to acupuncture, stopped getting them. I still went to the studio but I wasn't very productive. I did painting exercises just to "keep in shape" but I didn't know where I was going. I don't like being in that state of floundering.
At this point, my 4-5 dance classes a week became 1-2 dance classes a week. I felt tired and weak.
On a overnight spa getaway with a friend (February 22) , I began having pain in my mouth. It turned out to be an infection and my face swelled up and it was painful. I went to see an endodontist and after clean up and a root canal, I was pain-free. I mention this because I have to believe, there is some connection to all the other symptoms. Just like there has to be a connection between the diverticulitis and pleurisy.
My IMD and I decided on staying gluten-free and to have my blood re-tested in 2 months.
Some additional background problems: I have had occasional flare-ups of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). I have what I call "fever spikes" where I feel like i am coming down with the flu but it lasts only one day. It is debilitating enough where i am confined to bedrest and take ibuprofen. I have suffered from a systemic yeast infection due to overuse of antibiotics. And that was related to my "leaky gut" which diet modifications, probiotics and a series of colonics helped immensely. Both the leaky gut and yeast infection have been taken care of.
Next, alternative treatments.
Comments
Love you for it.
I've had a hamstring tear in my left leg since Feb 2017 that was as a result of an injured SI joint
on the right side and my body being unbalanced for a long time. Who knew??