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