According to a study just released, early exposure to diesel fuel increases a child's risk of developing asthma. The study tracked children's primary address to determine their level of exposure. This is yet another study linking environmental factors in early life to the development in asthma, both in childhood and adulthood.
For several years of my childhood, I lived in a neighborhood just off a main road, and a couple of blocks from a major roadway into the city where I grew up, blocks away from major industrial areas and other sources of pollution. From an early age I noticed a sensitivity to diesel fumes. I remember it made me feel extremely nauseous, and I would gag until it went away. The worst was living in a city and being stuck in traffic behind a bunch of semi-trucks! Now that I'm an adult, and in charge of the car, I tend to keep my air conditioning on "recirculate" so this doesn't happen anymore.
I find all of these environmental links to asthma to be incredibly interesting. It seems like more evidence comes out every day. Hopefully scientists will continue to study early risk factors for asthma so we can prevent it in future generations of children.
Please see http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130923114152.htm for the full story.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Friday, December 21, 2012
Looking Back on 2012
A phone call with a dear friend has prompted me to (finally!) post an update on my blog. As I explained to her, I had needed to take a break from the blogging in order to focus completely on my healing, and it was worthwhile. Looking back at my last post, I realize a lot has changed since April. As of today, I would say that I have finally broken the endless cycle that I was in for over five years. Not that I am completely without problems, but when I do struggle with my symptoms, I am able to implement changes to my diet, routine, or add a medication and my body will respond and get back to a normal point. In the past, once I started to "crash," nothing could stop the derailing train.
Much of my healing has come through the move to Florida. I believe that for me, reducing the exposure to extreme weather changes (particularly the cold), has allowed my body to recover. The clean air we experienced while living on the Gulf Coast was amazing for my nasal passages, as were the frequent trips to the beach and swimming in both the ocean and our saltwater pool. I rested a lot. I limited my social commitments to almost nil, and slept a good deal more than is recommended. I struggled with severe fatigue until late May or early June, when I connected with an amazing woman from our church who counseled me in both nutrition and emotional wellness. While I knew my illness had a connection to stress, I never knew how much it played a role in my health issues until Michele gave me some much-needed insight. With her help, I went on a dietary detox and found my energy returning within days. Days led to weeks of living without the fatigue, even when I gradually returned to a more normal diet. I fully believe that Michele helped guide me to both physical and spiritual healing, and that although it took almost an entire year, by the time we left Cape Coral I finally had found the complete healing that we had come for.
By that time, we knew we wanted to stay in Florida but decided to settle down closer to a city. We had to trek back up North to close on the sale of our home there, while still not knowing exactly where we wanted to live in Florida. Moving out of our rental home into a storage unit three hours away was not an easy task, but we were glad we did that when, a few weeks later, I experienced the worst asthma attack of my life while staying in PA. It was a day of high heat and humidity, worse than any I had experienced in Southwest Florida, and, combined with what I believe is my body's sensitivity to the conditions of the local environment in that region, I had a severe reaction. Unfortunately, I was back on the couch, without energy and without a plan of how to get back to Florida. Thankfully, God once again was with us as we looked into renting an apartment in the area where we thought we wanted to settle, and our plans once again came together rather seamlessly. Despite planning to spend an indefinite period of time visiting with our friends in our old community, we left in rather a haste as I was still recovering.
We now are back in Florida, in a beautiful, friendly town where we met many lovely families and friends. It took several months of house-hunting while homeschooling the three children (and Jon working) out of an apartment before we finally landed back into a home of our own on October 24, 2012. Jon took another trip to PA in November to get the rest of our furniture and belongings, so that we are finally truly settled into our new home.
It took a year and a half of living a gypsie's life of wandering, but by the mercy of God we are home again, at last. Truly we have so much to be thankful for as we look back on 2012. At the beginning of this year much of our life was uncertain: where we would live permanently, whether my health would ever improve, and many other questions that lingered. Now we can look back and praise God for his wonderous work in our life as a family. There are still a lot of questions and aspects of our life that remain uncertain. Even my health being strong is not a guarantee.
Over the course of the year I was given a more concrete diagnosis and explation for my ongoing sinus struggles: Samter's Triad. Another name for it is AERD (Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disorder). In fact, this blog helped to connect me with a group of individuals suffering from the same cluster of symptoms that can overtake one's life. I am thankful that for the moment mine are under control, but it is something that I will live with likely for the rest of my life. I have to be very careful what I eat and how I spend my energy, but no where is it near the point where it was even six months ago. I am back to running again, which feels amazing (last spring I tried to go from walking to running but it would wipe me out for days; now I have no reaction other than the normal soreness if I push too hard). I can enjoy foods I love, in moderation and while listening very carefully to my body for signs that I am having a reaction. Most of all, I am so thankful for the energy that I have again, which allows me to enjoy my kids on a daily basis, and not just from the perspective of the couch! It is such a priviledge that I have this year to be teaching them at home, with the help of an amazing homeschool community that has become like family to us.
I pray that 2013 continues to bring us good health. But I also pray that I will continue to be challenged enough by my circumstances to remember to put my faith--and my trust, my strength, my very self--into the hands of our Lord.
"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;...
Much of my healing has come through the move to Florida. I believe that for me, reducing the exposure to extreme weather changes (particularly the cold), has allowed my body to recover. The clean air we experienced while living on the Gulf Coast was amazing for my nasal passages, as were the frequent trips to the beach and swimming in both the ocean and our saltwater pool. I rested a lot. I limited my social commitments to almost nil, and slept a good deal more than is recommended. I struggled with severe fatigue until late May or early June, when I connected with an amazing woman from our church who counseled me in both nutrition and emotional wellness. While I knew my illness had a connection to stress, I never knew how much it played a role in my health issues until Michele gave me some much-needed insight. With her help, I went on a dietary detox and found my energy returning within days. Days led to weeks of living without the fatigue, even when I gradually returned to a more normal diet. I fully believe that Michele helped guide me to both physical and spiritual healing, and that although it took almost an entire year, by the time we left Cape Coral I finally had found the complete healing that we had come for.
By that time, we knew we wanted to stay in Florida but decided to settle down closer to a city. We had to trek back up North to close on the sale of our home there, while still not knowing exactly where we wanted to live in Florida. Moving out of our rental home into a storage unit three hours away was not an easy task, but we were glad we did that when, a few weeks later, I experienced the worst asthma attack of my life while staying in PA. It was a day of high heat and humidity, worse than any I had experienced in Southwest Florida, and, combined with what I believe is my body's sensitivity to the conditions of the local environment in that region, I had a severe reaction. Unfortunately, I was back on the couch, without energy and without a plan of how to get back to Florida. Thankfully, God once again was with us as we looked into renting an apartment in the area where we thought we wanted to settle, and our plans once again came together rather seamlessly. Despite planning to spend an indefinite period of time visiting with our friends in our old community, we left in rather a haste as I was still recovering.
We now are back in Florida, in a beautiful, friendly town where we met many lovely families and friends. It took several months of house-hunting while homeschooling the three children (and Jon working) out of an apartment before we finally landed back into a home of our own on October 24, 2012. Jon took another trip to PA in November to get the rest of our furniture and belongings, so that we are finally truly settled into our new home.
It took a year and a half of living a gypsie's life of wandering, but by the mercy of God we are home again, at last. Truly we have so much to be thankful for as we look back on 2012. At the beginning of this year much of our life was uncertain: where we would live permanently, whether my health would ever improve, and many other questions that lingered. Now we can look back and praise God for his wonderous work in our life as a family. There are still a lot of questions and aspects of our life that remain uncertain. Even my health being strong is not a guarantee.
Over the course of the year I was given a more concrete diagnosis and explation for my ongoing sinus struggles: Samter's Triad. Another name for it is AERD (Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disorder). In fact, this blog helped to connect me with a group of individuals suffering from the same cluster of symptoms that can overtake one's life. I am thankful that for the moment mine are under control, but it is something that I will live with likely for the rest of my life. I have to be very careful what I eat and how I spend my energy, but no where is it near the point where it was even six months ago. I am back to running again, which feels amazing (last spring I tried to go from walking to running but it would wipe me out for days; now I have no reaction other than the normal soreness if I push too hard). I can enjoy foods I love, in moderation and while listening very carefully to my body for signs that I am having a reaction. Most of all, I am so thankful for the energy that I have again, which allows me to enjoy my kids on a daily basis, and not just from the perspective of the couch! It is such a priviledge that I have this year to be teaching them at home, with the help of an amazing homeschool community that has become like family to us.
I pray that 2013 continues to bring us good health. But I also pray that I will continue to be challenged enough by my circumstances to remember to put my faith--and my trust, my strength, my very self--into the hands of our Lord.
"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;...
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you."
Psalm 63: 1-3
Friday, April 6, 2012
Spring Update
With Easter weekend approaching, I have been reminiscing a lot lately about where I was a year ago. So much has changed in one year, and yet, so little.
It was this time last year that we packed up the three kiddos and headed South for the long journey to Florida. In the course of a two-day visit to Southwest Florida, we picked Cape Coral as the place to settle down for our year of respite and healing, then drove the 9 hours back to Hilton Head to spend Easter with my family there.
This year, we are celebrating a much quieter Easter right here in Florida, with good friends and almost no driving. I am not as sick as last year, but I am also not as healthy as I had hoped I would be at this time.
It was a great winter, though. The weather could not have been more perfect: sunny days, breezy warm air, perfect for leaving the windows open. My last official sinus infection was in November. I ended up being on a nasal nebulizer treatment for three weeks, three times a day which knocked out the bacteria that had likely been making me sick since we moved in July. After Thanksgiving, I felt great! We decided to celebrate the starting-to-heal me by taking the kids to Disney for a weekend in early December. It was a blast! I did have to take it easy, as my energy levels were still low. Afternoons were still my low point, when achiness would hit and a rest was necessary in order for me to have the energy for the rest of the evening. So we didn't quite "conquer" Disney like I wanted to, but we had a pretty full day, and it was definitely magical.
After Christmas, my energy somehow began to come back. Probably because we had Jon's parents here for more than a week and I got so much help around the house, plus lots of extra sleep! What a blessing it is to sleep in past 7 am AND wake up to have the kids all fed and dressed! Plus, I met a new friend who put extra sparkle in my life and gave me a reason to at least try to be more friendly and get out of the house more. This combination of rest and friendship, along with having finally cured a very stubborn infection, sent me along the recovery path I had been hoping for. Most of January through March I was my old self again! A miracle, truly! Pain and fatigue was gone, sinuses were clear, I was not exhausted in the afternoons. Amazing. Granted, my life was still very low-key, but that is my new life. I have to pace myself, even when I am feeling well.
The past few weeks have not been going as well. I went to the ENT twice before and after our March trip back to Disney with Jon's parents, and both times he said I did not have an infection (even though I felt like I did). My asthma is bothering me, and while I don't have pain, I am fatigued. I guess this is what is prompting me to write again, mainly so I can keep track of my own story and be reminded of why we live here, and what work is still left to be done in regard to regaining my health.
I am now looking again more closely at the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosis. At this point, I am told I do not have sinusitis, so there has to be more going on. I haven't been on any special diets all winter, so I am going to look back into that area, as well as start taking all the supplements recommended by the CFIDS experts.
Compared to a year ago, I am SO much healthier than I was. But I still have a long way to go. I had a taste of the "old me" for a few months this winter, and it was wonderful. I know that good health is possible for me, which gives me hope. God is good, and He is directing our every step as we continue to trust that we are exactly where we are supposed to be, right now, today. The hard part is trying not to look back, and especially not too far forward. I am thankful for each day that I have the health I do have, for family and friends, for three beautiful children who bring me such joy, and a wonderfully caring (and cute!) husband that makes me feel like the most special woman alive.
It was this time last year that we packed up the three kiddos and headed South for the long journey to Florida. In the course of a two-day visit to Southwest Florida, we picked Cape Coral as the place to settle down for our year of respite and healing, then drove the 9 hours back to Hilton Head to spend Easter with my family there.
This year, we are celebrating a much quieter Easter right here in Florida, with good friends and almost no driving. I am not as sick as last year, but I am also not as healthy as I had hoped I would be at this time.
It was a great winter, though. The weather could not have been more perfect: sunny days, breezy warm air, perfect for leaving the windows open. My last official sinus infection was in November. I ended up being on a nasal nebulizer treatment for three weeks, three times a day which knocked out the bacteria that had likely been making me sick since we moved in July. After Thanksgiving, I felt great! We decided to celebrate the starting-to-heal me by taking the kids to Disney for a weekend in early December. It was a blast! I did have to take it easy, as my energy levels were still low. Afternoons were still my low point, when achiness would hit and a rest was necessary in order for me to have the energy for the rest of the evening. So we didn't quite "conquer" Disney like I wanted to, but we had a pretty full day, and it was definitely magical.
After Christmas, my energy somehow began to come back. Probably because we had Jon's parents here for more than a week and I got so much help around the house, plus lots of extra sleep! What a blessing it is to sleep in past 7 am AND wake up to have the kids all fed and dressed! Plus, I met a new friend who put extra sparkle in my life and gave me a reason to at least try to be more friendly and get out of the house more. This combination of rest and friendship, along with having finally cured a very stubborn infection, sent me along the recovery path I had been hoping for. Most of January through March I was my old self again! A miracle, truly! Pain and fatigue was gone, sinuses were clear, I was not exhausted in the afternoons. Amazing. Granted, my life was still very low-key, but that is my new life. I have to pace myself, even when I am feeling well.
The past few weeks have not been going as well. I went to the ENT twice before and after our March trip back to Disney with Jon's parents, and both times he said I did not have an infection (even though I felt like I did). My asthma is bothering me, and while I don't have pain, I am fatigued. I guess this is what is prompting me to write again, mainly so I can keep track of my own story and be reminded of why we live here, and what work is still left to be done in regard to regaining my health.
I am now looking again more closely at the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosis. At this point, I am told I do not have sinusitis, so there has to be more going on. I haven't been on any special diets all winter, so I am going to look back into that area, as well as start taking all the supplements recommended by the CFIDS experts.
Compared to a year ago, I am SO much healthier than I was. But I still have a long way to go. I had a taste of the "old me" for a few months this winter, and it was wonderful. I know that good health is possible for me, which gives me hope. God is good, and He is directing our every step as we continue to trust that we are exactly where we are supposed to be, right now, today. The hard part is trying not to look back, and especially not too far forward. I am thankful for each day that I have the health I do have, for family and friends, for three beautiful children who bring me such joy, and a wonderfully caring (and cute!) husband that makes me feel like the most special woman alive.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Something New
Over the past few weeks my sinus symptoms have been gradually worsening to the point that, after waking up throughout the night Thursday in pain, I woke up Friday morning informing Jon that it was time to see a doctor. Miraculously, I was able to get a same-day appointment with a local ENT, and even more miraculously, I was also able to have all of my records sent from Pennsylvania Hospital, no small feat. All of this was accomplished by 9:30 AM.
Well the ENT visit was interesting. It proves why it's helpful to get 2nd (and 3rd, and 4th as the case may be...) opinions. This new doc attributed my problems to a condition I was diagnosed with a couple of years ago, but which my previous doctors did not give much importance to (other than telling me not to take aspirin or advil, since it did cause a severe asthma attack more than once), which is called Samter's Triad. It is an inflammatory condition associated with asthma, aspirin-sensitivity, and nasal polyps.
At the visit Friday, the endoscopy of my nasal passages showed polyps, which had been removed during the surgery in May. More proof that I have the condition and that it is probably the driving force behind my needing repeat surgeries and a lack of improvement all around. After doing lots of online research this weekend, we have found that there are plenty of studies demonstrating that individuals with Samter's Triad are more likely (one study cited 10 times more likely) than those without it to have repeat Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. So, at least this is an answer to the "Why" question, even though it doesn't give much cause for hope that the future will be much different. The doc said some people find it goes away in their 50s or 60s, then he asked how old I was, and when I said "33" gave me a pitying look insinuating that I had a long way to go... great!
In the meantime (is that the right word to use when you are referring to twenty or thirty years...?) anecdotal evidence suggests some people with Samter's are having a little improvement while following a special diet, such as the Feingold diet, which limits salicyclates found naturally in plants and in food additives, which can act similar to aspirin and trigger worsening of symptoms. So, I am about to start writing a grocery list using the "approved" foods, and trying to figure out what I can eat! While there is a lot to choose from, unfortunately many of our favorite foods are on the "bad" list, such as tomatoes, apples, grapes, and anything processed (not that we eat a lot of processed food, but it does limit the variety you can enjoy).
Another treatment that is being met with some success, according to Wikipedia, is "desensitization" to aspirin, with some improvement in chronic sinusitis symptoms We will look into that also.
Well the ENT visit was interesting. It proves why it's helpful to get 2nd (and 3rd, and 4th as the case may be...) opinions. This new doc attributed my problems to a condition I was diagnosed with a couple of years ago, but which my previous doctors did not give much importance to (other than telling me not to take aspirin or advil, since it did cause a severe asthma attack more than once), which is called Samter's Triad. It is an inflammatory condition associated with asthma, aspirin-sensitivity, and nasal polyps.
At the visit Friday, the endoscopy of my nasal passages showed polyps, which had been removed during the surgery in May. More proof that I have the condition and that it is probably the driving force behind my needing repeat surgeries and a lack of improvement all around. After doing lots of online research this weekend, we have found that there are plenty of studies demonstrating that individuals with Samter's Triad are more likely (one study cited 10 times more likely) than those without it to have repeat Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. So, at least this is an answer to the "Why" question, even though it doesn't give much cause for hope that the future will be much different. The doc said some people find it goes away in their 50s or 60s, then he asked how old I was, and when I said "33" gave me a pitying look insinuating that I had a long way to go... great!
In the meantime (is that the right word to use when you are referring to twenty or thirty years...?) anecdotal evidence suggests some people with Samter's are having a little improvement while following a special diet, such as the Feingold diet, which limits salicyclates found naturally in plants and in food additives, which can act similar to aspirin and trigger worsening of symptoms. So, I am about to start writing a grocery list using the "approved" foods, and trying to figure out what I can eat! While there is a lot to choose from, unfortunately many of our favorite foods are on the "bad" list, such as tomatoes, apples, grapes, and anything processed (not that we eat a lot of processed food, but it does limit the variety you can enjoy).
Another treatment that is being met with some success, according to Wikipedia, is "desensitization" to aspirin, with some improvement in chronic sinusitis symptoms We will look into that also.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
There hasn't been much to write about these past few weeks. Ever since I wrote about my "cautious optimism" my symptoms have continued to be up and down, which makes it difficult to give any kind of summary. When asked, I am telling people that overall I am feeling much better, which is true. Most noticeable has been an almost absence of the achy fatigue that was so prominent for the past several months.
I do, however, know that it isn't gone forever. It reared itself back up again yesterday after a good week and a half of activity above my normal very low level. Lots of unusual events these past two weeks (business trips, birthdays, colds in the family) have required me to step up my efforts around the house and with the kids, which is starting to take its toll on my body. Today I took a brief catnap in the afternoon but am still needing a cup of coffee right now to help me get through the rest of the day. And it's only Wednesday! Hopefully things will be back to normal soon, and I can rest up enough to get back to my normal level of energy.
It sure was feeling good to be fatigue-free and almost feeling like my old self, energy-wise. It is just unfortunate that I can't sustain it for long. Once again, this little episode proves that a low-key lifestyle is necessary for me to maintain equilibrium. And even with that, I am not 100% healthy. I am still fighting an infection that started in June and with asthma and allergies which appear without rhyme or reason. Saturday I go back for my every-three-weeks peptide injection, which should now be tailored more toward those upper respiratory symptoms since the fatigue is less intense.
I can't say I am looking forward to it, especially since the last time I almost fainted (!), but it will be a good chance to see whether or not I feel any immediate improvement afterwards. Plus, a visit to the doctor's office gets us out of our neighborhood and significantly closer to the beach, which we plan to take advantage of this weekend!
I do, however, know that it isn't gone forever. It reared itself back up again yesterday after a good week and a half of activity above my normal very low level. Lots of unusual events these past two weeks (business trips, birthdays, colds in the family) have required me to step up my efforts around the house and with the kids, which is starting to take its toll on my body. Today I took a brief catnap in the afternoon but am still needing a cup of coffee right now to help me get through the rest of the day. And it's only Wednesday! Hopefully things will be back to normal soon, and I can rest up enough to get back to my normal level of energy.
It sure was feeling good to be fatigue-free and almost feeling like my old self, energy-wise. It is just unfortunate that I can't sustain it for long. Once again, this little episode proves that a low-key lifestyle is necessary for me to maintain equilibrium. And even with that, I am not 100% healthy. I am still fighting an infection that started in June and with asthma and allergies which appear without rhyme or reason. Saturday I go back for my every-three-weeks peptide injection, which should now be tailored more toward those upper respiratory symptoms since the fatigue is less intense.
I can't say I am looking forward to it, especially since the last time I almost fainted (!), but it will be a good chance to see whether or not I feel any immediate improvement afterwards. Plus, a visit to the doctor's office gets us out of our neighborhood and significantly closer to the beach, which we plan to take advantage of this weekend!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Anniversaries
A couple of weeks ago Jon and I had our 12 year wedding anniversary, on August 7th. We didn't do anything special this year, since, of course, I wasn't feeling well! Two years ago we really celebrated by taking an amazing "second honeymoon" trip back to Aruba, where we had spent our honeymoon. It was amazing, even though I was, even then, sick! Luckily the trip fell during a time when I wasn't as bad as I had been (in the past I was virtually symptom-free during the summertime, but I was still on tons of meds).
Another anniversary that I am marking (although decidedly NOT celebrating!) is that of the beginning of this illness. Four years ago, on our wedding anniversary, I reacted violently to the beautiful bouquet of roses I was given. That was the beginning, and it just got worse from there. I had never been allergic to anything before, so it was a weird event that we attributed to my being pregnant. A month or so later, another severe reaction to cigarette smoke, and my sinuses filled with fluid and intense pain and pressure that did not subside until over a year later when I had my first sinus surgery.
The truly strange thing about this four-year anniversary is that it surpasses the age of my youngest child, which means I have been sick for her entire life! And for my older kids, ages 6 and almost 8, it's been more than half of their lives as well! Four years ago, no one would have imagined I would still be struggling with sinus issues and chronic fatigue. It's just sinus issues! It's just fatigue! How could that be so devastating? Well, it is. Our life is on hold this year as we are finally doing something to interrupt the vicious cycle I have been in. So far, it is too soon to tell if anything is working for the long-term. If it does, then I will start celebrating THAT anniversary! But, skip the flowers (just in case!).
Another anniversary that I am marking (although decidedly NOT celebrating!) is that of the beginning of this illness. Four years ago, on our wedding anniversary, I reacted violently to the beautiful bouquet of roses I was given. That was the beginning, and it just got worse from there. I had never been allergic to anything before, so it was a weird event that we attributed to my being pregnant. A month or so later, another severe reaction to cigarette smoke, and my sinuses filled with fluid and intense pain and pressure that did not subside until over a year later when I had my first sinus surgery.
The truly strange thing about this four-year anniversary is that it surpasses the age of my youngest child, which means I have been sick for her entire life! And for my older kids, ages 6 and almost 8, it's been more than half of their lives as well! Four years ago, no one would have imagined I would still be struggling with sinus issues and chronic fatigue. It's just sinus issues! It's just fatigue! How could that be so devastating? Well, it is. Our life is on hold this year as we are finally doing something to interrupt the vicious cycle I have been in. So far, it is too soon to tell if anything is working for the long-term. If it does, then I will start celebrating THAT anniversary! But, skip the flowers (just in case!).
Monday, August 22, 2011
Cautious Optimism
Today is the first day in weeks that I have felt like writing. It is a beautiful day here despite the threat of a hurricane by weeks' end. The sun is shining, and so is my heart: it has been five days now since I last had symptoms of any kind!
I can't even believe I am writing that! The statement begs for more hope and optimism than I am willing to dole out just yet, since the weeks leading up to this reprieve have been so horrible. But still, I am both hopeful and optimistic that things might be starting to turn around for me.
Nine days ago I underwent the first of a series of almost-monthly peptide injections aimed at repairing my broken immune system, which I now believe is the most likely cause of my recurrent sinus infections. My new doctor is treating me for Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrom (CFIDS, for short), as well as Chronic Sinusitis and Asthma. The website cfids.org has some great information for more on this condition. Here is a quick overview:
The local doctor I am working with is one of only a handful in the US performing this rather cutting-edge treatment for autoimmune and immune dysfunction diseases such as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Asthma, and others. It is amazing to us that we even found him: his ad in the yellow pages was located below that of a typical ENT/Allergist, and it stated: "We treat the cause, not the symptoms." THAT got my attention!
The treatment I have been receiving for four years (yes, we have now passed the four-year anniversary of the onset of my initial symptoms-- wow!) has been doing just that, to little or no avail. It was time for something new. Granted, I didn't expect to have to seek care in Florida at all. I thought, having just had sinus surgery and it being summertime, my most healthy season, I would be all set, at least for a few months. But that has not been the case. This past month has been perhaps the most painful of my life. The achy flu-like fatigue, headaches, and sinus pressure were nearly unbearable at times. Until just five days ago, I had to take one or two Extra-strength Tylenol every day by about 4 PM or I could not make it through the bustling after-school, dinner, and bedtime hours.
Now, for five days, I have had no pain, no pressure, and feel my energy is back to at least 90% of my normal energy/functioning level. Typically when I am "feeling good," my energy baseline is at 70% of my "normal" with occasional increases coinciding with a strong dose of oral steroids and/or Sudafed. This time, I am happy to say, it is all-natural. I have even been able to go walking on a daily basis, without any consequences! This feels fantastic.
So, as I labeled the title, I am now cautiously optimistic that I am on the road to recovery, Lord-willingly, once and for all. I am taking one day at a time, however, and will continue to keep my activity level low and my state of mind calm and relaxed. Thank goodness for my husband, who has stepped up tremendously in helping me in so many ways, any time I feel I need to stop and rest. He encourages and supports my newfound ability to relax (aka be lazy!) which for the first time in my life I am actually enjoying!
I can't even believe I am writing that! The statement begs for more hope and optimism than I am willing to dole out just yet, since the weeks leading up to this reprieve have been so horrible. But still, I am both hopeful and optimistic that things might be starting to turn around for me.
Nine days ago I underwent the first of a series of almost-monthly peptide injections aimed at repairing my broken immune system, which I now believe is the most likely cause of my recurrent sinus infections. My new doctor is treating me for Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrom (CFIDS, for short), as well as Chronic Sinusitis and Asthma. The website cfids.org has some great information for more on this condition. Here is a quick overview:
Almost everyone experiences fatigue from time to time. But for at least one million U.S. adults, teens and children, the fatigue is crushing, unrelieved by rest and accompanied by a constellation of other punishing symptoms. They suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS, also known as chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (or CFIDS). Its symptoms are debilitating enough to destroy good health and active lifestyles, end fulfilling careers and devastate families.
More people suffer from CFS than MS, lung cancer or AIDS. Yet 80% have not been diagnosed by a medical provider.
The local doctor I am working with is one of only a handful in the US performing this rather cutting-edge treatment for autoimmune and immune dysfunction diseases such as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Asthma, and others. It is amazing to us that we even found him: his ad in the yellow pages was located below that of a typical ENT/Allergist, and it stated: "We treat the cause, not the symptoms." THAT got my attention!
The treatment I have been receiving for four years (yes, we have now passed the four-year anniversary of the onset of my initial symptoms-- wow!) has been doing just that, to little or no avail. It was time for something new. Granted, I didn't expect to have to seek care in Florida at all. I thought, having just had sinus surgery and it being summertime, my most healthy season, I would be all set, at least for a few months. But that has not been the case. This past month has been perhaps the most painful of my life. The achy flu-like fatigue, headaches, and sinus pressure were nearly unbearable at times. Until just five days ago, I had to take one or two Extra-strength Tylenol every day by about 4 PM or I could not make it through the bustling after-school, dinner, and bedtime hours.
Now, for five days, I have had no pain, no pressure, and feel my energy is back to at least 90% of my normal energy/functioning level. Typically when I am "feeling good," my energy baseline is at 70% of my "normal" with occasional increases coinciding with a strong dose of oral steroids and/or Sudafed. This time, I am happy to say, it is all-natural. I have even been able to go walking on a daily basis, without any consequences! This feels fantastic.
So, as I labeled the title, I am now cautiously optimistic that I am on the road to recovery, Lord-willingly, once and for all. I am taking one day at a time, however, and will continue to keep my activity level low and my state of mind calm and relaxed. Thank goodness for my husband, who has stepped up tremendously in helping me in so many ways, any time I feel I need to stop and rest. He encourages and supports my newfound ability to relax (aka be lazy!) which for the first time in my life I am actually enjoying!
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