Thursday, February 22, 2018

Vacationing in the 817 aka TX

Yes, this is a small novel and I hate reading long posts, so who knows why I continue this nonsense....but, I digress, for those who have been asking about my trip to Dallas, here you go!

It was fantastic.... I laid by the pool in 78 degree weather and read my kindle and relaxed and slept in and ate amazing food and...... just kidding. It sucked. But we can pretend right?! Reaching far for my glitter lining on this one.



But back to the medical stuff:

My doctors in Texas have actually found that my specific “PoTS” symptoms are actually more of an “Inflamatory PoTS” or, in other words, I have severe inflammation running rampant throughout my body. The inflammation in my body isn’t necessarily a problem but I now have a problem where the inflammation cells that have rushed to the area in the first place release chemicals which promote OTHER inflammation cells to rush to the area and NEVER stop replicating.. which CAN be a problem.

Because of this invasion of severe amounts of inflammation, my arteries, veins and ligaments have been taking a beating. Most importantly, there are increasing signs of inflammation build up inside my arteries and therefore, it's creating smaller and smaller passageways for blood to flow through to get all the way up into my Lioness heart. 💛
In my past and current blood tests, it has shown that my cholesterol is extremely high...but for those who know me, I obviously don’t eat four Big Macs for lunch every day (I’m lucky if I can eat ice for dinner some nights.... I mean COME ON, give a sister a break!) So, that being said, I should NOT have gunk inside my arteries. Upon looking closer, my arteries ARE gunked up but not because of a poor diet (as many immediately assume)... it’s the Inflammation.

It was also found that I have high levels of inflammation in my brain. Inflammation also can be a huge factor in changing small parts of my brain chemistry and impacting some major emotional chemicals and take over a large psychological presence in my life!! Many of these chemicals that may be altered are directly linked to feelings of OCD, anxiety, or even things as simple as easy irritability (So my husband can’t blame me for being a crazy psycho wife anymore... I’m like, “it’s my brain, boo!!")

Moving forward, I’ll be remedying the inflammation with some very specific anti-inflammatory medications as well as some basic vitamins and supplements to help get this blood rushing back through my Lioness heart more smoothly... 💛 In the last year or so, my body has been rebelling (I’m sure under the direction of Vinny the Virus) so I also haven’t been absorbing the necessary vitamins or nutrients through food or the current supplements I had been on. My body missed the memo about synthesizing or metabolizing these vital vitamins so my body could fight back against invaders like Vinny.

We also combed through my past records from my Wonderful Hospital Resort Vacation stays (I’d give them all a solid 1 star ⭐️ though...Maybe a 2 star for Mayo Clinic, 'cuz I'm feeling generous.) and discovered multiple blood tests I had done where doctors hadn’t revealed some key elements that seemed “out of range” of where normal levels should be.

Now, my friends, listen... I’m no mathematician but when someone’s adrenaline or more specifically my chemical, norepinephrine, SHOULD be between the numbers 200-400 and my readings come back at a whopping 2,200...........I’m almost positive that my numbers are a LITTLE “out of range.”
So yes!! Thank you Hospitals across the nation, for telling me my sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight instinct) is not only stuck ON, but I’ve got a nice little mixed drink boost of freaking Red Bull, 5 Hour Energy AND NOS..... and my para sympathetic (what tells my bod to CHILL the frack OUT) is TOTALLY off. And I was wondering why I couldn’t sleep...... hmm.....

Anddd, from the studies they’ve conducted thus far in Texas, they believe severe inflammation has been one of the major underlying problems the whole 2.5 years I’ve been sick. But it was BECAUSE of the combo of Inflammatory issues, the PoTS and horrible blood volume/circulation that completely crashed my immune system and allowed Vinny the Virus to attack.




We are so blessed to have found this so that we can begin working to reverse the nerve, ligament and misc. damage it was causing!! My wonderful Doctor in Texas has Inflammatory PoTS herself and has PERSONALLY experienced everything I am now facing myself. It feels amazing to have someone who can finally understand what I am going through and how I’ve been suffering for nearly 3 years now. They often call this an “Invisible Illness,” as more often than not, you look completely healthy and strong... but inside your veins and nerves are burning and it feels like you have acid in your veins and a vise around your rib cage and... yes, the list goes on. But she SEES me and understands. I am now in good hands, ladies and gents!



I know this will be (and already has been) a hard journey. However, I take pride in never asking for an easier path. If I’m comfortable, I know I’m no longer growing.
For now, I am reassured that I am on the right road; which is most assuredly dirt. (NO 5-lane highway is going to be MY “right road”)

I will definitely have a lot of High Mountains and some very Low Valleys along my journey but if you know me at all, you'll know:
that the High Mountains call to me and the Low Valley is always where home will be waiting....

No comments:

Post a Comment