Let's be honest! I've never had much luck feeling 100% all the time or even 80% of the time. Even if it meant having terrible migraines or horrible menstrual cramps. But as I get older, it gets worse...
My mom tells of a story that when I was 5 years old I got off the school bus and my brown eyes were grey. I recall having the worst headache ever; not knowing what a migraine was at the tender age of 5. I was very sick and my mom was worried. She took me to the doctor and the doctor ran tests. Being that the CT wasn't invented until 1972, I doubt our small town had one. So, I'm sure I had an x-ray done. I do recall the doctor telling my mom that I had a brain cloud; as we joked about it years later . Later, when I was older, seeing the Tom Hanks movie "Joe and the Volcano", I had to laugh because he was told he too had a brain cloud and would die.
My migraines continued to be very strong and debilitating through my teens. When I was 17 I had my first TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack-Mini Stroke). Luckily it wasn't too bad where I required hospitalization or rehab. But, I would need to see a neurologist and get on migraine medication. This was the first time I really heard the words "migraines" and it stuck for the rest of my life.
The neurologist , who along with rest of my doctors through this blog will remain nameless, stated that my heart pumped too much blood to my brain at once and constricted my main artery. Therefore cutting off oxygen causing the TIA. I would go through a round of different meds until we found the right "cocktails" that worked. I would also have to switch meds every 6 months because it didn't seem that my body was responding to them.
At the age of 17 I also had my first "female" surgery. What more could my small body handle? I was constantly having menstrual issues and so much pain. I was going in for my first laparoscopic procedure; which would be one of 6 between the age of 17 and 39. I've had 16 surgeries total, but those were just for cervical cysts, uterine fibroids and endometriosis. Something wasn't right! But...I was told I had bad genes...First migraines ran on my paternal side and bad female parts run on my maternal side. GREAT!
Let me fast forward, and not bore you with the next 22 years.
After I had my 3rd baby in 2007, my body wasn't responding like it should be. I had c-sections for my 2 previous daughters. But then again, I was VERY young when I had them and now I'm 38 and I also had a blood transfusion during this c-section. But, my body is killing me. Not like a c-section ache, but like a bus ran me over ache.
The c-section delivery was pretty normal with the exception of the blood transfusion. My husband and I both decided not to have anymore children due to my health issues. I had to many issues with my colon (5 previous pre-cancerous polyps removed) and the countless surgeries for endometriosis, cervical cysts and fibroids. It just wasn't worth my health.
About a year had past and I wasn't feeling any better. I thought maybe everything happened so fast??? I had my third baby, then a year later I had to have the left ovary and left fallopian tube removed. I felt OK from the surgery. I always pushed myself; like I did when I was 19 and 23; when I had my daughters. I tend to forget that I was 38.
On July 17th, 2009 I decided to visit my PCP and see what he thought. During the visit, I seemed OK. Nothing was visibly wrong with me. So, my doctor ran a blood work up which included a Rheumatoid Factor. I honestly had no idea what Rheumatoid was. I didn't mind all the blood being taken. I received the results in a couple of days and was told my RA factor was 3x's the normal value. WHAT??? What's RA and what does this mean? When I was told I had Rheumatoid Arthritis, I must admit I was ignorant because I thought this was my "grandmother's disease. I had no idea that children can get this. When children get this, it's called JRA. Since my PCP is over an hour away from my house I told him I'd look for a rheumatologist close to my home.
I found a rheumatologist and was able to get in to see her in August! I was thrilled. I hear it's really difficult to get into specialists this quick; especially when you're a new patient. She reviewed my blood work from my PCP and confirms I have RA and since I have colitis she starts me out on Sulfasalzine (works for both). I also ask her for a referral to a closer GI doctor since mine is so far away.
Good and bad news hits home...I'm 10 days late for my period! How in the world does this happen? I have ONE ovary and ONE fallopian tube and the ONE fallopian tube has been cut, burned and tied! I'm trying not to panic. But, as bad as my periods had been in the past and no matter how painful; I've always been ON TIME! NEVER LATE!!! So, it so happened that my oldest daughter was in town, with her son, and we all went to the grocery store. I thought I was being discrete when I tossed the pregnancy test into the grocery cart, but apparently not. Those of us who have been faced with this type of predicament, know how to use an at-home-pregnancy test; pee on the stick and wait at least 3 minutes. I peed on the stick and didn't have to wait! OMG! I started to cry. Not because I didn't necessarily want this baby (obviously we didn't plan), but I was scared for myself and for this baby. I didn't know if the embryo was in my tube or if it actually made it to my uterus.
The first call I make is to my husband. I guess you could say he is my "Rock", so going forward we'll call him "Rock" and no he doesn't look like THE ROCK! HA! When I flip out, he holds me together. People who know him personally are probably reading this and shaking their head. But, really, he does.
The second person I call is my OB/GYN; the man who did my c-section, cut, burned and tied my tubes 2 times and removed my left side! He screamed into the phone, "WHAT"? Really, you're screaming at me?
Needless to say, the Sulfasalazine I was on for the RA and Colitis is not safe while you're pregnant. But, being pregnant was the best I felt in a long time! This is called "remission". My sister-in-law also has RA and she told me that most pregnant women feel great during this time and while breast feeding. Hey, she has 4 kids, she should know; right? She was right! I felt great during the pregnancy. But, after I had him my husband I decided I was no longer seeing this OB!
After I stopped breast feeding I was able to go back on my RA meds. But, they weren't helping. Some days I felt like I was an 80 year old woman and crippled. I had 2 young boys at home to tend to, how was I going to do this? Is this what it has come to?
My mom tells of a story that when I was 5 years old I got off the school bus and my brown eyes were grey. I recall having the worst headache ever; not knowing what a migraine was at the tender age of 5. I was very sick and my mom was worried. She took me to the doctor and the doctor ran tests. Being that the CT wasn't invented until 1972, I doubt our small town had one. So, I'm sure I had an x-ray done. I do recall the doctor telling my mom that I had a brain cloud; as we joked about it years later . Later, when I was older, seeing the Tom Hanks movie "Joe and the Volcano", I had to laugh because he was told he too had a brain cloud and would die.
My migraines continued to be very strong and debilitating through my teens. When I was 17 I had my first TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack-Mini Stroke). Luckily it wasn't too bad where I required hospitalization or rehab. But, I would need to see a neurologist and get on migraine medication. This was the first time I really heard the words "migraines" and it stuck for the rest of my life.
The neurologist , who along with rest of my doctors through this blog will remain nameless, stated that my heart pumped too much blood to my brain at once and constricted my main artery. Therefore cutting off oxygen causing the TIA. I would go through a round of different meds until we found the right "cocktails" that worked. I would also have to switch meds every 6 months because it didn't seem that my body was responding to them.
At the age of 17 I also had my first "female" surgery. What more could my small body handle? I was constantly having menstrual issues and so much pain. I was going in for my first laparoscopic procedure; which would be one of 6 between the age of 17 and 39. I've had 16 surgeries total, but those were just for cervical cysts, uterine fibroids and endometriosis. Something wasn't right! But...I was told I had bad genes...First migraines ran on my paternal side and bad female parts run on my maternal side. GREAT!
Let me fast forward, and not bore you with the next 22 years.
After I had my 3rd baby in 2007, my body wasn't responding like it should be. I had c-sections for my 2 previous daughters. But then again, I was VERY young when I had them and now I'm 38 and I also had a blood transfusion during this c-section. But, my body is killing me. Not like a c-section ache, but like a bus ran me over ache.
The c-section delivery was pretty normal with the exception of the blood transfusion. My husband and I both decided not to have anymore children due to my health issues. I had to many issues with my colon (5 previous pre-cancerous polyps removed) and the countless surgeries for endometriosis, cervical cysts and fibroids. It just wasn't worth my health.
About a year had past and I wasn't feeling any better. I thought maybe everything happened so fast??? I had my third baby, then a year later I had to have the left ovary and left fallopian tube removed. I felt OK from the surgery. I always pushed myself; like I did when I was 19 and 23; when I had my daughters. I tend to forget that I was 38.
On July 17th, 2009 I decided to visit my PCP and see what he thought. During the visit, I seemed OK. Nothing was visibly wrong with me. So, my doctor ran a blood work up which included a Rheumatoid Factor. I honestly had no idea what Rheumatoid was. I didn't mind all the blood being taken. I received the results in a couple of days and was told my RA factor was 3x's the normal value. WHAT??? What's RA and what does this mean? When I was told I had Rheumatoid Arthritis, I must admit I was ignorant because I thought this was my "grandmother's disease. I had no idea that children can get this. When children get this, it's called JRA. Since my PCP is over an hour away from my house I told him I'd look for a rheumatologist close to my home.
I found a rheumatologist and was able to get in to see her in August! I was thrilled. I hear it's really difficult to get into specialists this quick; especially when you're a new patient. She reviewed my blood work from my PCP and confirms I have RA and since I have colitis she starts me out on Sulfasalzine (works for both). I also ask her for a referral to a closer GI doctor since mine is so far away.
Good and bad news hits home...I'm 10 days late for my period! How in the world does this happen? I have ONE ovary and ONE fallopian tube and the ONE fallopian tube has been cut, burned and tied! I'm trying not to panic. But, as bad as my periods had been in the past and no matter how painful; I've always been ON TIME! NEVER LATE!!! So, it so happened that my oldest daughter was in town, with her son, and we all went to the grocery store. I thought I was being discrete when I tossed the pregnancy test into the grocery cart, but apparently not. Those of us who have been faced with this type of predicament, know how to use an at-home-pregnancy test; pee on the stick and wait at least 3 minutes. I peed on the stick and didn't have to wait! OMG! I started to cry. Not because I didn't necessarily want this baby (obviously we didn't plan), but I was scared for myself and for this baby. I didn't know if the embryo was in my tube or if it actually made it to my uterus.
The first call I make is to my husband. I guess you could say he is my "Rock", so going forward we'll call him "Rock" and no he doesn't look like THE ROCK! HA! When I flip out, he holds me together. People who know him personally are probably reading this and shaking their head. But, really, he does.
The second person I call is my OB/GYN; the man who did my c-section, cut, burned and tied my tubes 2 times and removed my left side! He screamed into the phone, "WHAT"? Really, you're screaming at me?
Needless to say, the Sulfasalazine I was on for the RA and Colitis is not safe while you're pregnant. But, being pregnant was the best I felt in a long time! This is called "remission". My sister-in-law also has RA and she told me that most pregnant women feel great during this time and while breast feeding. Hey, she has 4 kids, she should know; right? She was right! I felt great during the pregnancy. But, after I had him my husband I decided I was no longer seeing this OB!
After I stopped breast feeding I was able to go back on my RA meds. But, they weren't helping. Some days I felt like I was an 80 year old woman and crippled. I had 2 young boys at home to tend to, how was I going to do this? Is this what it has come to?
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