Sorry this is a slightly long post; believe me it's been a long couple of years. I'm sharing a few of my fave vintage market and garden inspiration pics to make this a little more interesting...
If you remember last year in May, I had a cervical spine discectomy and fusion that went well and I had a pretty fast recovery time. The pandemic caused a two month delay which was brutal, but I survived. So this year it's my lower back that needs work. I have a vertebrae that has slipped forward with two herniated discs that is causing my sciatic nerve in my left leg to be crazy. (that same vertebrae has stress fractures on each side) I can't put weight on it easily, which means hobbling around the house and then my husband pushing me in a wheelchair when I have to leave the house.(mostly doctor appointments and tests) I have to say that's been a humbling experience. The back surgery will be early in June so I'm hoping that takes care of all the leg and hip pain and some other strange symptoms.
And since life is sometimes complicated, I've also had to de-tangle a load of autoimmune symptoms this last year. I've had a lot of neurological problems for the last eight years on top of my heart problems: loss of balance, numb/tingly hands and feet, facial pain and numbness, trouble breathing with burning neuropathy in my torso. (just to name a few) You may be wondering how these problems can be autoimmune illness but they can be. This is all on top of painful joints, vasculitis and the Sjogren's Syndrome "dry" symptoms that I've had for years. It's hard to describe what autoimmune illness is like, but sort of like having a low grade flu for weeks or months at at time. Then the rest of the time, you might feel almost normal, but unaware of what this "ninja" disease is doing to you on the inside.
I knew nothing about autoimmune diseases until about 5 years ago when I was really sick and doctors weren't really interested in trying to figure it all out. I took my symptoms to "Google" and spent tons of time researching reputable websites like Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins University/Hospital. I learned a lot of information, but it started me on a long merry-go-round ride with very slow progress.
Fast forward to this last year and knowing I needed a new Rheumatologist, God miraculously got me in to see a very knowledgeable doctor here in town. This new doctor recognized that my symptoms were very weird in combination so he started testing me for some rare autoimmune illnesses. It's taken a bit of time but he sent me to an immunologist that is a step beyond a Rheumatologist, and ends up I have an odd duck illness known as some variation of Common Variable Immune Deficiency. This is a syndrome where you don't make antibodies to illnesses, such as viral infections, the flu, pneumonia, or autoimmune diseases, etc. Most people that have this have repeated sinus/lung related infections and illnesses etc. Thank the Lord I have not had that, but I do have other symptoms which are out of control attacks on my immune system, which includes attacks on nerve tissue.
One treatment and an answer to some of this autoimmune problem is having intravenous infusions (IVIG) or subcutaneous infusions which I should be able to start a few weeks after my back surgery. These infusions will hopefully get me the antibodies I need to get my immune system back on track. But... Big but, right now I can't take the Covid vaccine because I won't make antibodies to the vaccine. (That's how we gain immunity) So I'm not sure if I'll be able to get Covid antibody infusions to help, or if I'll be the person still wearing a mask from now on... sigh.
I'm going to take a blogging break just so I won't put pressure on myself... not sure how long I'll be taking it easy. I may be back in a week or so, it just depends on me being able to sit at the computer, but ultimately it's if I'm up to feeling the slightest bit creative.
I'm sharing all this with you all because I just don't know exactly how things are going to go. I'm hopeful that I'll have a quick back recovery and that the immune problems can be remedied over time. I'd like to have my life back, and be a somewhat normal person. (ok, I could make a ton of jokes over that statement) I love blogging, so I may be back even before you miss me. That would be super, but I needed to let you all know.
I'll still be blogging and hosting the All About Home Link Party this next week. After that I'll "redirect" you all to Amber's blog. I'll be trying to keep up with everyone and stop by to say hello. I imagine I'll be giving short updates, so come back by. I'll wish you all a good Memorial Day ahead of time. I appreciate your good thoughts and prayers...
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