[About me

September 7, 2005

Im finally getting around to finishing about my story.

I work as a housekeeper 3rd shift at a local college. In the summer I work 1st shift hours. I just went back on 3rd last night, so Im still trying to adjust to the new schedule. I also teach 8th grade religious ed and until recently was the youth minister at my church. My faith has really helped a lot through all my and my children's health problems. We have 4 animal! Two cats and 2 dogs, a lab name Toby and a pug named Bourbon. Bourbon is a new addition, hes about 9 mos old. Anybody know anything about pugs? Hes adorable but I cant get him housetrained and its driving me crazy!!

I originally took this job because we needed another income. I had been a stay at home mom for the last ten years. I was already having health problems. I was extremely tired all the time and in pain all over. The drs told me I was just getting older and to get used to it! Another one said I had Rheumatoid Arthritis because it ran in my family--but I knew the symptoms didn't fit. Previously I had worked as a secretary/computer operator/substitute teacher/word processing teacher--I dont have a degree, this was a tech school. But I knew I couldn't go back to teaching or office work because I couldn't stay awake long enough. I wanted a job where I had to keep moving so I could stay awake! It was really tough in the beginning until I got finally got diagnosed with thyroid disease. But once I got on synthroid I start feeling better and I thought all my health problems were over...

After awhile the synthroid didn't work anymore. Eventually they had me a on very high dose, too high, I start getting heart palpitations, I thought I was going to have a heart attack! It took the dr a week to get back to me and all he did was lower my dosage a little. At the same time I was also on prozac for depression, dilantin for epilepsy, something for restless leg syndrome and something to help me sleep. Then they put me on prilosec because the dilantin was giving me acid reflux Of course the doctor (a neurologist) didn't believe me--actually said it was in my head or one of the other meds. I only got the AR when I took the dilantin. My family doctor sent me to a psychologist. I guess she wanted to see if it WAS all in my head. Well, this was one diagnosis I finally agreed with. He said I was highly intelligent, (he actually said that he had never seen anyone do else well on his tests, and my only problem was slight depression--CAUSED BY PAIN!!

By this time I was a wreck, I seriously thought that if this is how I had to live I didn't think it was worth it. I was in constant pain from neck to feet, none of the meds were working and were actually making it worse. And we were going broke, I was paying out over $400 amonth in dr & prescription bills, and this was with a good prescription/medical plan. Finally, I found a website that helped me tremendously. I had to pay 50$ to even get into it, I was skeptical but I was desperate, and it sounded like it was what I needed. I dont remember the name, itsclosed now, but I do have a copy of it on CD around here somewhere. The woman who ran it (her name was Victoria) was just someone like us who had had a lot of health problems and had done a lot of research. I really got lucky, because she had a lot of very helpful information. From the info I found there, I changed my diet and took myself off all my meds including the seizure meds that I had been on for 30 years. Of course I did it gradually. At that same time I started taking some thyroid supplements that I got from Nutri-Meds, a site Victoria recommended, and calcium and magnesium. I didn't sleep for 3 nights but the pains went away within 24 hrs. before I knew it I felt better than I had in years!

Eventually the supplements werent enough and I finally found (online, of course) a dr who practices integrative medicine. He's about an hours drive from me in Greenville, PA.

Well, it looks like Im not going to finish again...Its after 10 and I have to get ready for work

Til next time, Carla