A Recap of 2010

So much has happened in 2011 that I wish I'd been blogging this whole time. Better late than never, I suppose!

First, a recap.

If you read my blog last year, you may remember that I started the year on short term disability as a result of complications from a lumbar puncture. While I was on short term disability, I was MISdiagnosed with epilepsy and was put on a series of anticonvulsant drugs that did a number on my body.

In addition to weight gain, hair loss, extreme weakness, tremors, mood changes, headaches, nausea, dizziness, and other truly unpleasant symptoms, in May I experienced anaphylaxis due to one of the medications and ended up being rushed by ambulance to an emergency room. I thought I might die. I was administered high doses of epinephrine, antihistamines, and steroids. That event began my second period of short term disability in 2010.

Because of the insanely high amounts of steroids that had to be pumped into my system to counteract my body's immune system reaction, I suffered from Cushing's syndrome symptoms. I suffered from high cortisol levels and had awful weight gain particularly around my middle (I looked a few months pregnant), face, back, neck, and clavicle area. My body was a mess, yet I was put on another anticonvulsant for my MISdiagnosed epilepsy.

I spent much of the rest of 2010 struggling with my Cushing's syndrome symptoms while on anticonvulsants. I became so weak that I felt I'd had a major setback in my ME/CFS. My life was miserable. Due to my worsening health, I was forced to change jobs because my job at the time was becoming too physically demanding.

I'm sure I'm leaving things out, but I can honestly say that 2010 was one of my most challenging years ever.

I don't mean to end this post on such a downer, but I wanted to recap before I wrote about what has happened since. I will post again this week.