Three Things I'm Thankful For

Image from http://savingmorethanme.com/2013/10/vintage-thanksgiving/

I'm Thankful for...

1. Improved health (and doctors who listen).  I missed out on a lot of things in my twenties and early thirties, so my improved health is letting me make up for lost time.  I've been out and about more in the last year than I had been in the last ten years.  I've had the best health of my life this year (thanks to a few awesome doctors who took me seriously), and I don't ever want to take it for granted. 
2. Resilient spirit. Last year was a tough one when my marriage came to an end.  I am so grateful that my spirit was much more resilient than I gave it credit for.  With the help of a good counselor and the support of family and friends, I was able to bounce back in positive, healthy way. I'm now enjoying this new chapter of my life. 
3. Family and friends.  Speaking of family and friends, I am thankful to have them!  Simply put, they just make life better. 

There's plenty more that I'm thankful for, but I wanted to highlight my top three for 2013.  Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!

What I'm Thankful For

Despite all my latest health issues, I still have things to be thankful for. Here's my Top Ten list:

1. My health. When it comes down to it, I am still thankful for the health that I have. It could be so much worse. It has been so much worse.  Just last year I was brought to an ER via ambulance.
2. My husband, who has stuck with me on this roller coaster of chronic illness. Even though I can get ridiculously emotional when I'm feeling particularly awful, he still loves me!  
3. My parents and brother, who have given me both moral support and space when I need it. They don't live nearby, but they are there when I need them.
4. My in-laws.  They accepted me into the family with open arms. We spend every Thanksgiving with them.  We're about to head over to their house now.
5. My cat, who is the best snuggler when I'm feeling especially sick or blue. In fact, right now she's sleeping next to me with a paw on the keyboard.
6. My primary care physician, who is also my CFIDS doctor. Her willingness to use unorthodox treatments is why I went from two years of severe illness (before I was diagnosed) to being able to work full time.
7. My current job. First, I'm thrilled that I am healthy enough to work and have a job I enjoy, even in this economy. Second, this job is less physically taxing than my last one, so I appreciate that I don't have to use as much energy.
8. My medical insurance. Despite all the frustrations and red tape associated with medical insurance, it has kept us from financial ruin because of my health expenses. So many people are without the luxury of being able to get the care they need because of finances.
9. Technology. Computer, internet, and phone are my lifelines to the outside world. TV and Netflix keep us entertained (though I'm not thrilled about the fee hike).
10. Tween books and movies. I'll admit it. I love that stuff.

To those who celebrate: Happy Thanksgiving! 

P.S. I see there are some comments in previous posts that I have not yet replied to.  I promise I will respond after Thanksgiving!

Two Steps Back, Baby Steps Forward

I'm feeling quite ill today, but I felt the need to write a post because I feel it's important to document my experiences during this challenging time. I am mentally fatigued, so I will be writing this post in spurts and as thoughts come to mind. I also do not plan on proofreading this post, so please ignore any odd text.

I went to see my regular doctor on Wednesday, and she pretty much echoed everything the Georgetown doctor said and recommended. She also added her own suggestions. I'll write about all the two doctors' recommendations in a future post.

When I said that the other doc recommended that I stay out of work until January, she said "at least until January." Yikes! I hope that's not the case. I already miss my work friends, who are (if the truth be told) my only friends since I don't have a social life. I also enjoy my job. I can watch only so much TV before it gets old.

Like many Americans, my husband Kenny and I celebrated Thanksgiving with his family Wednesday night and much of Thursday (they live about 30 to 45 minutes away by car). I made sure to rest before and during the experience as much as possible, but I still managed to overdo it simply by participating.

After having an almost perfect temperature of 98.8 at the doctor's office on the Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving, my temperature went back up to 99.8 by Friday and is currently running at 100.0 as I write this post. I have not left the house since we got back home on Thursday.

Despite the setback, I do not regret spending time with family. Now that I spend my days at home rather than seeing colleagues and friends at work, contact with other humans (I love my cat, but...) has become more valuable. I also enjoy spending holidays with family.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with a neurologist. We're going to talk about my headaches, which have been increasing in frequency and intensity since the worst headache of my life on November 1. The Georgetown doc recommended that I see a neurologist, and my regular doctor referred me to the one I'm seeing tomorrow.

My only concern is that the drive will be a long one, and I have to drive myself. I'm going to leave extra early so that I can pull over to rest along the way if I need to.

Though I'm still feeling physically awful, I am feeling better mentally. I have come to accept my new situation (I was in denial for a bit); however, I have also made the decision to aggressively work on getting back to my "normal" or even better. I'll write about some of my plans in a later post.

I've also slept better the past two nights. I have been battling some terrible insomnia lately (trouble falling and staying asleep), so it's been a relief to sleep through the night for a change. I give credit to the trazodone prescription the Georgetown doc suggested and my doctor prescribed. The doctor recommended it because it is less addictive than most other sleep medications.

It took a couple of days of taking the medication before it seemed to help, but it seems to be working in part. I still have trouble falling asleep, but they staying asleep problem bothered me more.

Baby steps...

Today's Activities: home. Today's Most Annoying Symptoms: exhaustion, low-grade fever of 100.0, generally fevery feeling, headache, nausea, sore lymph nodes under arms.

Mood (10 is best): 6
Energy (10 is best): 1
Physical Discomfort (10 is worst): 5