“Lord, I’m On “E”…Can I Get a Refill…Fulfilled?” Blog Series Part 17
*This entry is a part of a continuous series, reading the previous entries will help you follow without missing a beat*
I stated in previous blogs about my health and now is as good a time as any to elaborate a little more on that since it was in these same 10yrs that I received a big “aha” about my health.
In 2001, my back pain was severe and the episodes were lasting longer. I was always in pain but one day my eyes turned blood shot red, I suddenly lost my hearing and my equilibrium was totally off! Doctors were running a myriad of tests to find out what was happening in my body. It’s a scary feeling to go from knowing sound and clarity to only hearing sound not being able to make out words or anything with clarity.
I went to several specialists, even spent time back and forth at John’s Hopkins Hospital until they finally diagnosed me with Ankylosing Spondylitis: Ankylosing spondylitis is a long-term type of arthritis. It affects the bones and joints at the base of the spine where it connects with the pelvis. These joints become swollen and inflamed. Over time, the affected spinal bones join together. and Chronic Iridocylitis: inflammation of the iris and ciliary body. I had a systemic disease that was affecting several things at once. They prescribed a large dose of steroids which blew me up 30lbs in 7 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My hearing came back 100% in my right ear but my left ear only returned about 35% so things still weren’t that clear. I was happy about my hearing improving but I didn’t know what to do with this woman that was now staring back in the mirror 30lbs heavier. Let me be the1st to tell you that is a therapy session in itself. Yes, it may be vain but the way I was feeling was I just skipped several clothing sizes in 7 days and didn’t even have the benefit of enjoying the food to get there! I was not happy that I had to expend money that I did not have to buy new clothes because the weight didn’t go away as quickly. It was depressing. Psychologically, when you are dealing with serious health issues that are affecting your body in strange ways, you feel like you have no control. I felt like my body was doing its own thing without permission and I was sick with it and of it. From the outside looking in, it may sound like mere vanity but it was much deeper than that, it was a sinking feeling of loss. Loss of normal mobility; loss of normal activities; loss of control of MY body. A new set of limitations were being imposed on me and it made me sad. Not to mention running into people who acted like I didn’t have a mirror and would say, girl…you’ve gained some weight! You eating good, huh? It took everything that was God in me not to slap them into tomorrow. I would smile and charmingly say, “no hunny it’s P.I.S.S. (Post Illness Stress Syndrome) and some have been known to just snap on insensitive people and get away with their actions. Have a good day.” Taming my tongue is a work in progress.
The treatment for my pain with the AS was trial and error until we could find a medication that actually worked. I mean I was on muscle relaxants, all kinds of narcotics and none of them seemed to stabilize the pain; so pain became a constant companion of mine.
We were living in an apartment at the onset of this medical scare until it rained really badly one day and water began flooding my bedroom closet, hallway and kitchen area. My landlord released me from my lease and my children and I moved in with my mother temporarily.
I had just purchased my first home and I was excited because after much research, I found that as a GSA certified Special Police Officer I was eligible for the Officer Next Door Program to purchase a home in an area that they were trying to re-build for 50% OFF THE MARKET PRICE! I did everything myself without a Real Estate Agent and once I went to settlement the repairs had to be done on my foreclosure home.
I was still sick but in May of 2001, my children and I moved into our very own single family home! I was able to give my children a backyard to play in and it was huge! My mortgage was only $840 a month (less than I was paying in rent and my kids had their own rooms!
Everything was good for one month then my contract ended at the same time my health began declining again. My pain was back with a vengeance and my doctors said I could no longer work. I took the cobra plan to cover my health for awhile after leaving work. I began steady visits to the doctor.
Filed under: Life
