Living with Chronic Illness & Disorders: Are You a Survivor?

Once upon a time, I was a vibrant, youthfulobviously unable to work. I attempted to go back to
teenager...My First EncounterDuring my first pregnancy,work as an office manager for a wonderful &
I had contracted chicken pox from my youngunderstanding employer, (I figured it was light work.)
nephews and niece. Though it made for an irritableand performed fairly well for a few months. Suddenly, I
time in my initial trimester, I hadn't given it muchwas in a hospital emergency room - this time, I came
aforethought. In the last part of my pregnancy, I noticedout in a wheelchair. Not only did MRI tests confirm I had
some weakness in my legs and arms, but naturallya herniated disc at the C-3/4, but I also had a spinal
assumed it was part of the gestational effects.It waslesion (myelopathy) at the C-1/2. Strange that workers
after I gave birth, that I began having more frequentcompensation doctors coudn't find it, but numerous MRI
physical difficulties, but again, attributed these nuisancestests this time, confirmed it.After seeing a few,
to normal post-partum effects. As time progressed, Ireputable Neurologists, I was additionally diagnosed with
began losing balance & coordination; and even droppedTransverse Myelitis (TM) and a 'bulging disc' (herniated
everyday household items such as glasses, keys, anddisc). This explained why I had been encountering all
other things as well. I had finally had enough when mythese unrelated physical problems.Giving UpI guess
rib cage began to feel broken and I couldn't stand thewhen I first sat in my wheelchair, I instinctively gave in
pain any longer. Over a decade later, and afterto my physical condition. Why bother living anymore, I
numerous doctor visits, MRIs and multiple lab tests; Ithought. I couldn't function properly and felt like a
was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.What iscomplete invalid. How was I going to make my
Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain illness thathousehold payments? How was I going to care for my
can cause musculoskeletal pain in various areas of thetwo, then elementary schoolers? How was I even
body, is characterized by fatigue, and is oftengoing to live? While all these thoughts ran through my
associated with Restless Leg Syndrome, Migraine andmind, I was becoming an emotional wreck.Because of
rheumatism - to name a few. Additionally, attacks ofmy health, I was taking so many medicines that I
fibromyalgia seem to spontaneously come and go.Atcouldn't tell if I was coming or going. I would take one
first, I was treated with multiple 'pain aids' that did helpmedicine for this, one for that, one to counteract the
with the pain, but made me even more tired than I waseffects of another, and another to counteract the
before I took the medicines. Eventually, I went off theeffects of a different one...and so on. And thanks to all
medications and focused on my work and simplyof these wonderful conventional medicines, I returned
'ignored' the illness. I figured if I had to live with it, I mightto the hospital because one of them nearly killed me. It
as well accept it.What I Didn't KnowWhat I didn't realizewas then that I knew I had to find a different
was that Fibromyalgia can weaken a person so muchway.Starting OverGoing against medical advisement, I
that sometimes, individuals can be more quickly injuredliterally stopped all of my prescribed medicines at once.
or more prone to other conditions than those withoutI became acquainted with the International Disability
Fibromyalgia. That's when I experienced my first realCoalition and got into band, strengthening excercises
encounter with its lethal effects. While at work, I wasn'tand virtually re-taught myself how to walk - without
doing anything too terribly physical. However, it was thethe help of any medical professional. I also incorporated
day in and day out repititions of physical labor that nota 'mind-over-matter' attitude that I believe, enabled me
only added to my condition but wrecked further havocto step out of the wheelchair and back into life.It's been
on me as well - and left me susceptible to injury.On theabout 3 years now, and I still live daily with back, neck,
Job InjuryThere I was, performing my normal workshoulder and sciatic nerve pain. I sporadically suffer
activities when, 'Ouch!' and 'Oh my God!' entered myrelapses where I can't walk, or I can't move my arms
mouth. The pain was excruciating. Numbing andor hands. BUT, I am no longer a walking or
impairing. With a simple maneuver, I was incapacitated.wheelchair-bound zombie. I swim and practice water
Pain and tingling numbness ran down my right side. Itexercises when the weather is warm to build muscle
was unbearable. Not only that, I could barely make it tostrength. And there are still times when my pain gets
the office because I had to drag my right leg to get tothe better of me and I still go through emotional ups
where I needed to be.When I got to the hospital, I wasand downs. And like most conditions, they flare up
told that "...you sprained your back..." That was it. Nomore often with cold weather, emotional and physical
MRIs, just a quick once-over to tell me that all my pain,stress, and lack of rest. BUT I am alive today, I am a
my lack of feeling - according to workerssurvivor, and though I may have fibromyalgia,
compensation' doctors - was merely a 'sprained back.'ITransverse Myelitis, migraine, disc herniation, and
knew I had fibromyalgia, but it had NEVER acted in thisrestless leg syndrome - these disorders do NOT have
sense. Not because I was 'weak,' but because myme.In ClosingLiving with my chronic disorders and illness
right side had gone totally numb. It was frustrating tohas taught me to be more patient...more loving...more
say the least. Nearly 9 months after my injury, andgiving. I now share my home with not only my human
even working on light-duty while taking heavy painfamily, but have adopted several rescue dogs - who I
killers, doctors FINALLY found that my right shoulderalso compliment for adding so much love and
had been subluxated (dislocated) and scheduled mecompassion to my emotional wellbeing. And so long as
for surgery. After the surgery, I went through monthsthere is a purpose on this earth for me to exist, I will
of agonizing physical therapy to get my right arm backattempt to make the most of it. Every hour. Every
into its proper range of motion. But the numbness, theday.Living with Chronic Illness & Disorders: Are You a
back pain and the lack of feeling in my legs still cameSurvivor?
and went without any signs of remorse.ShockingCopyright 5/2005 - All Rights Reserved
DiscoveryBy the time I had went through myby C.
rehabilitation, my employer 'let me go' because I was