In January of this year , I was diagnosed with 2 different autoimmune diseases, it's now progressed to four. I have Primary Biliary Cirrhosis , Scleroderma, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and Hashimoto's.
I cant be bothered going into what each of them are, so if your interested in knowing... Google it!
All pretty much invisible diseases, all incurable, all auto immune.. So before all the people I know in real life start bantering about " well u should stop drinking" rant.. please know that this disease had nothing to do to with my former party girl self. It didn't start it, It didn't help it, but its not the cause...
I do not have alcohol induced cirrhosis, in fact , I don't even have cirrhosis.
Basically, my own body hates my stinking guts and wants to kill me!
I used to be a hairdresser, and was diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel that was operated on at least ten years ago. These were my first symptoms. Pins and needles in the hands , complete numbness in arms , shoulders and fingers.. Particularly in the middle of the night. It got so bad it woke me up and kept me up for hours.
I was assured that after the surgery , I'd be feeling a whole lot better.. And I sort of did... In the hand that was operated on.
But I still felt weirdness, swelling and pain in my left hand.. along with a lot of fatigue. I was again assured it would correct itself in time, once I stopped compensating for the damage done to the right hand.
A year later, I'm still feeling fatigued and numbness in my left had.. I go to my GP.. he tells me I need a massage and a holiday, and its time to quit hairdressing. I take his advice and move into disability work, use that massage voucher and take a great holiday.
3 years on,I'm still whingeing... My GP orders yet another nerve conduction test and a Liver Function Test . .. It comes back clear of Carpal Tunnel. My Liver Function was unusually high, he asks me how much I was drinking.. I told him the truth... I binge drink mainly, but can drink up to 4 nights a week. One night a week on the binge.. He wasn't concerned. So get this.... he tells me to "Get a boyfriend".. " All you need is a man in your life !!!"
I literally told him to get fucked... and move on believing my symptoms must be all in my head. At this stage the fatigue was so much stronger and was starting to take over .
Another 3 years rolls by, I'm crying in his office , telling him I'm just to tired .. I'm just to sore , I'm getting very depressed because I cant function normally. He sends me for more LFT, and another nerve conduction test. I hear nothing from him... nor from the specialist that preformed the nerve conduction test. He tells me to go get hand therapy, orders different bloods and says see you in 6 months.. LFT'S are much higher, but no need for concern.
3 months later I get diagnosed with my 2n'd bout of pneumonia.. I go to this random doctor that bulk bills knowing I just need rest and antibiotics... (my regular GP charged me 90 bucks for that ) .
This lady was more concerned about me having pneumonia for the 2nd time in 1 year, she asked for permission to gather all my medical info...
Thank god she did.. Turned out I was a very sick girl... and without the treatment I'm getting now, I would not of had a good prognosis. I actually dread the thought of what could of been .
My prognosis is now a hell of a lot better than 11 months ago.. Already! Its still not the best situation ever, but.... One cannot complain!
Yes, my disease is not curable, its progressive .. but thanks to amazing care from my specialists and new GP, I am feeling great again. I could not be more thankful to them.
My point of writing this blog is to warn everyone... LISTEN TO YOUR BODY !!!
A doctor can't feel what you feel, so if his/her diagnosis (of getting a boyfriend) doesn't feel right, seek a second opinion.. or a third, fourth or fifth opinion if u must. Make your doctor listen to you.
Believe in your body.. It knows you better than anyone!!!!
