Ok, just going to start typing away…
I was misdiagnosed beginning at puberty by a family doctor and the misdiagnosis continued until just recently. Recently, was finally diagnosed with the correct diagnosis, (which is private). Don’t get me wrong it took a boatload of insurance money and my own money (which don’t have) to finally get the correct diagnosis. The cost was something like $3,000 per day for the insurance company (which think I have to pay 80%-sucks). Doubt will ever have the money to pay the 20% of the cost to get the correct diagnosis.
After years of suffering and taking the wrong medication, finally just a few weeks ago, was able to see many expert doctors. These doctors (type I shall not name because private) ran a ton of tests. The tests were everything, I don’t think I want to see the bill for the tests.
The tests revealed an accurate diagnosis (finally). So, for 20 years, Liz walked around on the wrong medications. When I say wrong medications, I am talking about the EXACT OPPOSITE of the medication class, that I should have been taking since puberty.
Hard thing is that I HATE to take any type of medications, but this med is only one pill per day, and the side affects are minimal. So, it is the ONLY medication have ever not minded to take in my entire life.
My, I don’t wish to call it an “illness,” not sure exactly what to call it. I was born with this, I will call it “issue.” The issue was not from environmental influences, abuse or the like.
The issue just skewed my perspective of the world around me, hard to write or explain. Prior to the new medication, the “issue” had caused approx. 20 years of stress and much heartache. The family doctor assumed the wrong diagnosis and gave me a medication that made my issue 10x worse (which is what the new family of doctors told me).
Recently, the family of doctors that ran all of the tests, which the cost I estimate to be approx. $20,000/80% paid by insurance, were able to see via the variety of tests what my issue was, and what the cause is, and how to treat it correctly.
The only way to explain my “issue” is this, in short:
Genetics = messed up
Medication = fixed genetic problem
This issue was inherited through a long family tree, the family of doctors told me last week. It could not have been prevented in any way, so my parents need not be worried that they had anything to do with this, and DID NOT bring this medical problem into my life.
My mother is my main support system, and my dog. The dog never tells my secrets, and she stays by my side 24/7.
Some people have “bailed” on me during the process of figuring out what the medical issue was, and so they really are no longer in my life. Seems as though sometimes,
“When the going gets tough, people sometimes run away.”
People “running away” through the long and hard process of figuring out the medical issue, was the hardest part of the entire thing. I mean just pure grief, and heartache, over a medical issue that I was born with, and had no control over, & was on the wrong medication making things 10x worse.
Medication – The medication has made my life normal. I feel wonderful! The only side-affect that I cannot stand, is for some reason it makes my face swell a bit (unsure why). So, I have to watch my diet very careful, and have implemented a very strenuous exercise plan that is the following:
Exercise Regimen (because medication will make me gain weight-have to watch it closely): Started this, just this week.
There is a hill that is very hard to climb and large near my home. I turn on the iPhone with ear plugs, and walk, march and do sprints up and down the hill, also walk backwards up the hill, and back down the hill (this hill the ground is flat). The regimen includes doing squats up and down this hill, and from side to side. The football and soccer teams use this hill for drills (that’s how I learned to do the activities). So, the exercise is approx. an hour or more up and down the hill, my dog loves it too, she runs up and down with me. I also add Zumba moves to the regimen (while going up and down the hill). Zumba is a full body workout and the hill, causes the muscles to really have to work, and relieves every bit of stress in the body. Been doing this daily, will go after this post. There are other people there that exercise on this particular hill (it is located in a huge park).
Natural Remedies – The other remedies I put in place are as follows:
- Niacin (non-flushing)
- Salmon Oil
- Vitamin D3
- Acidophyllis (probiotic)
- Super B Complex
- Vitamin E Oil
The above vitamins (all capsules) soften my skin, hair and nails. They also give me energy and make me feel better. My Aunt’s doctor gave her this list of vitamins, and she gave it to me. I have received many compliments on having no “crow’s-feet” around my eyes, being 34. The other day a man stopped me (I didn’t know) and said, “You do not have any ‘crow’s-feet’.” I said, “thank you.” Never realized before his statement that the vitamins were making my skin so much softer or my hair. My hair stylist said that the Salmon Oil is making a huge difference in my hair and it is soft and grows very fast. Salmon Oil has properties that help with a variety of health issues. Please note, it is Salmon Oil capsules and not fish oil capsules.
Natural Remedies continued – also eat peanut butter and bananas due to having low potassium, and this also helps with cramps from the heavy workout schedule just implemented this week Been trying to lessen my carb intake, the meds make the body process carbs at a slower rate, and if I eat a ton of carbs, will gain weight quickly. In essence, have to watch my diet, carb and caloric intake very closely due to the medication. The doctors did tell me this, and am thankful for them telling me the truth. Doctor telling the truth? Hmmmm, imagine that.
How is Liz doing now?
Wonderful, happy, feel much better, and I thank all of the wonderful doctors who finally gave me a correct diagnosis for my genetic issue, after 20 years of suffering.
Happy Now!
The above post is in response to my own post titled “How Are You Doing?” This post is a Saturday writing exercise. Decided to do the writing exercise myself, because it helps to vent on the blog, well helps me anyway.
http://awomeninherthirties.com/2012/09/15/how-are-you-doing/
I will post a Saturday writing exercise each Saturday, if you wish to join that is wonderful. Doing this to motivate myself to write more and just to practice writing, as think practice of writing is a good thing (for myself).
Happy Saturday Everyone!
