Our day was a big one!
So hang in there. I promise my other daily updates won't (or shouldn't) be as long.
*fingers crossed. lol
So, I guess the best place to start would be...
THE BEGINNING
*** I feel it necessary to bring up that NONE of us could even say that we could speak "a little bit" of Spanish. SO.... you get the picture. (aka: unknown area, unknown language, unknown culture..etc!)
WE ARE FISH OUT OF WATER HERE.
So at 8:00 am, our day began with our main travel contact for the clinic and who we had been corresponding with (who can speak English) kinda (read as: "REALLY") bailed on us because he hurt his back this morning..... or something... whatever.
So this left us, 3 GLARINGLY OBVLIVIOUS tourists, trying to follow our contacts instructions on how to walk to the lab to get my blood work drawn and have ready for day 2.
8:30 am: We then got to eat breakfast!!
Which was AMAZING...and I managed to order AND get exactly what I wanted! - Avocado toast with ham & cheese on top w/ Fruit Smoothie) SCORE!!
The head doctor of this clinic is rumored to own this small bistro type restaurant - it's literally on Floor 1 and the clinic is on Floor 6. So it was very "Americanized."
But along with being "Americanized" it was a very HEALTHY conscious menu. For example, their fruit smoothies were assembled for you like a subway sandwich.
First, you picked 3 fruits...then you pick what milk to put in it (but only "healthy" kinds of milk like: coconut or almond milk)...then you pick you "sweetener" (these were all NATURAL sweeteners like honey, agave, etc)....and lastly you pick a dried fruit that you can put on top. (I opted out of that one)
9:00 am: Signing into the Clinic
Now it's GO TIME.
So of course, that really means that you start the massive stack of paperwork and information (just like any other doctor would need).
BUT THERE WAS A SLIGHT CATCH.....
All of the questions were in Spanish. (yikes) However, they were super accommodating and had laminated sheets of paper that was an Englsih version with the translations of what the questions were asking.... So my trusty and always helpful hubby helped me out with that. (Notice our confused and overwhelmed faces!) It was like a mini brain game or puzzle at 9:00 am. YAY!
9:30 am:
We were then lead into a room that has about 30-40 semi-comfortable chairs with pillows in them with IV hooks hanging above each chair. No individual rooms here!
We are too spoiled in the US of A.
BUT! I initially thought I wouldn't actually like it being so open and if I had a bad flare up... I wasn't too keen on wanting people literally seeing me sob and be at the lowest of the low.... ya know?
I was quickly surprised that the very "communal" feel may even be intentional and I immediately felt that these strangers (all American and honestly, a lot of people from AZ and Utah!) were my army of supporters! And the stories just began to flow out of all of us in our health "journeys" and how many of them mirrored my own story so closely... for example, many doctors not knowing how to diagnose you and so suddenly all of our ailments are "all in our heads" or "we were faking being ill."
So to be honest, it almost turns into a mini support group session and you suddenly have 30-40 friends and people who FINALLY TRULY UNDERSTAND all of the heartache and disappointment and pain and frustrations and grief and helplessness that comes with this bumpy/crazy road. And this was a feeling felt by EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. of them.
** I will try to get a photo of the entire room to edit and post in this spot tomorrow!!
Additionally, the nurses working in this area are who help with the IV treatments and immune boosters, are all the SWEETEST and most COMPASSIONATE souls ever!!!
There was a woman who literally went around the entire room and held both of my hands as she looked me straight in the eyes to tell me "Good Morning" and that "Today....IS A GOOD DAY" and then she would hug you and kiss you on the cheek.
(Rathen got this fun experience as well..... lollll)
12:30 pm:
We finally were able to meet with Dr. Ben Fuentas (sp? haha) and this is where stuff gets SO INTERESTING and EDUCATIONAL.
Dr. Ben simply pricked my finger and put it between microscope glass slides and zoomed WAYYYYYYYYYYY the freak in..... we could see my individual blood cells.
Here's what we found!
1. (Most importantly) Dr. Ben found us some live little wormies aka spiral looking worms with 2 heads that was a LIVE LIL LYMIE.
(Do you feel itchy and creepy crawly now??) lol
This was FINALLY the desperately awaited answers we have searched so relentlessly for now for over 4 years and the PROOF right in front of all 3 of our eyes that I'M NOT FAKING and I DON'T NEED ATTENTION (well, maybe a little...), and IT WASN'T ALL IN MY HEAD.
I had so many emotions flood through me at that moment and it seems pretty morbid to admit that I was happy at what he found.... because although this journey is FAR from over.... the frustrations and hopelessness is all behind us now,
2. Next, we took a look at the importance of the cell shape overall
* Regularly shaped blood cell walls are supposed to be smooth and a perfect circle
Mine, however, was a trainwreck. Many of my cells look like spiked cockle burrs.... this was proof of some specific co-infections that I have also been fighting off.
Another cell he pointed out was in the shape of a teardrop. These cells show that I have severe inflammation.... which wasn't entirely "new news"....but it was validating for him to confirm this, all the same.
Other cells appeared to have a find the OUTER line, but the inside of the cell is supposed to be "filled in" but a few of mine basically looked like donuts and were "lit up" inside. This means I am either severely Vitamin B deficient or Iron deficient.
We will find out more specifically tomorrow, as we study the lab results with Dr. Ben.
3. Dr. Ben was also able to point out some of the more obvious co-infections found
A. The first co-infection he pointed out was Barnelli. He said that this sucker was my prime suspect for all of my painful SPASMS. (This being a symptom of Barnelli)
(Note that we are double checking this information tomorrow -- A LOT was thrown at us and I can fix the spelling of this when I confirm tomorrow.... been a long day.)
B. Next, he was unable to find the Candida co-infection that some labs said I had but we will be digging deeper throughout the week. So this was a "no answers yet" category!
2:00 pm:
We then were escorted back to our "communal" room where I was started on my own personalized IV bag full of B Vitamins and other essential nutrients or medication that Dr. Ben ordered for me. The women who work in this area were so gentle and compassionate and only poked me ONCE to get the IV started (if you've followed my journey at all, you know this is AWESOME!!)
** I know I already brought up how amazing these women were/are but I'm saying this again because they deserve soooo much praise.
As my IV bag was finishing up, I began having severe spasming from being in a "semi-comfortable" chair ALL DAY and was in a large amount of pain.... beginning to lightly and as privately as possible, wipe those betraying tears before anyone noticed.... but of course, a nurse noticed and simply walked over to me and came over to simply hold my hand for a moment and gave me a few light squeezes, almost saying, "Everything will be ok." Although she couldn't verbally speak with me extensively, she was able to give me strength simply by reminding me that they are there to help me and they truly CARE about me.
At this point, I had a scheduled lymphatic massage that is aimed towards releasing toxins and detoxifying my body as well as an ionized foot soak.
Unfortunately, as mentioned, I was having severe spasming and didn't think a massage would be a good idea today. They were very accommodating and simply rescheduled.
(Don't worry!! I won't miss out on my massage!!)
3:00 pm:
Since I couldn't do my massage, I was able to go right back in with Dr. Ben and get my first round of stem cell shots!! Today, I received about 9 injections around both my right and left shoulder blades and straight into my vertebrae. (Kinda didn't feel great!)
I immediately felt very sore and stiff but just from the shots, the spasming in that area IMMEDIATELY stopped. (However, they just shifted up and down so I am now spasming in my lower back and trap/neck area!! LOL.... You can't win 'em all!)
Throughout this week he will end each day with a series of these stem cell injections in each part of my body that is in the most pain. Tomorrow, I think we will be attacking the neck!!
(It was a great day to sport my mantra)
THIS WON'T KNOCK ME DOWN FOR MUCH LONGER!!
4:00 pm:
First meal since this morning's toast and smoothie!!!! Ugh. So we WOLFED some food down at the Hotel Restaurant and immdiately returned to our room to rest.
* and by "rest", I mean that I layed head to butt on allllll of my heating pads, cuddled into my blankie and my Ray Ray and slept from 5:30 - 9:30 pm.
Sooo.....dinner tonight was more of an 11:00 pm snack.
Overall, a LONG DAY..... but also a victorious one. I'm feeling grateful and hopeful.... these are things I haven't had the chance to feel in a while.... and ohhhh boy, it feels SO GOOD!!
MORE TO COME TOMORROW!!!
(I'll be telling you about the world's most incredible cup of hot cocoa that I had!
and YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THAT..... Stay tuned.)
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