Keeping Positive With a Chronic Illness

Many people who develop a Chronic Illness or Chronic Pain have a hard time staying positive during their treatment and life through out their illness. Sadly many Dr's still believe that these conditions such as RSD are caused by depression when depression and other mental disorders develop afterwards.

Thankfully I avoided going into a depression when my RSD came back. I believe this was because I had the support of my family, friends, church family, and online friends. It greatly helps to know that you have support from all these people. Not everyone who develops Chronic Conditions have this support though. So it helps when Movie / TV stars like Michael J. Fox who have Chronic Conditions show us that it is possible to be possible and live a full life.

I recently read an article in Reader's Digest from May 2010. They did an interview with Michael J Fox about a new book he has coming out and how he is able to stay positive. I recommend that if you haven't read it that you check it out.
We all go through a mourning phase when we find out that we have a Chronic Illness or Chronic Pain, this is very normal. Being angry that we can no longer do things that we once were able to do is the next phase. Acceptance is the last phase in mourning. It took me a while to accept the fact that I had RSD. I didn't admit to others I had RSD until people knew something was wrong when I was 17 and I had it since I was 12. Now I love my RSD, yes I love it. I hate the pain but its taught me so much and its made me, me. I also love the fact that its given me the drive to do things some people don't believe I can achieve because of it.

Once you accept your Chronic Illness / Chronic Pain its going to help your treatment plan. If your constantly fighting against your Illness or Pain than your going to be stressed out and in more pain. I really started loving my life its reflected in my completion, the way I act with family and friends, the way I view life, ect. I really don't like when people call me "sick" since I'm not. I don't have the stomach flu, pneumonia, strep throat, ect. Unless you really do have an infection or are classified "sick" by a Dr you are perfectly healthy, your nervous system is just a bit messed up. Yes I still have pain but I'm less apt to focus on it during the day. My SCS remote and meds are with me to help bring the pain down so I'm able to enjoy my life like life is suppose to be enjoyed.

Peace, Love, Happiness

Always,

Erikka

Healing for All of Us

As I continue on this journey I my past experiences with RSD come back vividly. Since the day I was diagnosed to this present day I have prayed for a cure for RSD to be found. If a cure isn't found in my lifetime then at least in the lifetime of my future children.

During my RSD journey I have encountered the word CURE and HEALING several times. Right now I do not believe theses are possible unless God has personally healed the person Himself. Many years ago when I was new to my Church the Pastor at the time did a sermon on healing and why God only heals a few people and not everyone. I remember the Pastor saying that not everyone gets healed from their aliments due to God not trying to hurt us emotionally or physically but to see how strong we are. Also He gives us these conditions to help us find who we are and what we were put on this earth to do. I personally think since I have not been "cured" or "healed" at this point in my eight year journey that I was meant to have this for some reason. I believe this reason is to help others with RSD.

I do believe though that some of the damage done to my body by the RSD can be reversed by a whole foods plant based diet. Our body is meant to be treated with food that will benefit our bodies and not foods that will harm it.



Last night I had an opportunity to talk to my mom and aunt about why I choose to eat like I do. My aunt was floured with how this lifestyle helped and is still helping benefit Bethany and many other RSDers and even those with cancer (http://www.crazysexylife.com/). They have both seen how these foods have benefited me in the short time Ive been full vegan. I just really wish they would at least try to switch over also.


The picture above is of my little girl, Holly with her Cupcake. Yesterday I did a spring clean out of my room. I got rid of all the clothes that no longer fit me. I had gained so much weight thanks to my pills and inactivity. Last year I started loosing a significant amount of weight when I got rid of beef from my diet. Now that I am vegan I am at my healthy weight for my age and height. This makes me even happier cause it gives me an opportunity to go shopping!...lol.

Friends, Food, and Love

This weekend was an exceptionally great one for me. This weekend was full of Food, Spending time with Friends, and learning the true meaning of Love.

Starting on Friday I got to spend some quality time with my mom. My mom, Aunt, and I went to a favorite restaurant of ours, California Pizza Kitchen. There we got to catch up over amazingly good food. I got the Vegetarian Pizza.The waitress was nice enough to let me know that they were able to leave off the cheese for me...yeah! I enjoyed the delicious pizza full of veggies, I really missed pizza and I never realized it.

Today my mom and I went to Church for Palm Sunday Service. Almost all of us are taught the Palm Sunday story and it is told to us each year. It is nice though to be reminded that God loved us so much that His only Son died for our sins. Easter has always been my favorite holiday. Not because my family comes together, its because we celebrate that Jesus has done this remarkable deed for us. I find it truly amazing.

After Church mom and I went to Whole Foods. We picked up some food that we both wanted through the week and grabbed some lunch. I had squash soup, it was exceptionally good. We then stopped at a friends apartment and visited with them a bit.

I am looking forward to Easter Break even if it is only a few days away from school. At least it will give me a break and a time to catch up with my classes.

Pain Management

I have always been blessed when its came to Pain Management. When I was first diagnosed at 12 yrs old by a Orthopedist I was referred to the Cleveland Clinic's Pain Management Dept, to the Orthopedic's college who happens to be the head RSD Dr. in the Department. Since then I have gotten great care.

My Dr. has always listened to me, my file is even red flagged, not by my choice or my mom's but my Dr's. He understands that if something is wrong that we would want to get in asap, and does his best to do so. He has fit me in between his scheduled appointments before. I am very grateful that I have my Dr. He's treated me for the last almost 8 yrs. He has never given up on me and as said by his Nurse Practitioner that Im one of his miracle patience, since I was able to re-gain my life.

I think its important that people are able to get the pain relief that they need. If its going with traditional western medicine, non-traditional eastern medicine or even a bit of both. Pain affects your body by causing other parts of your body to hurt. Having ways to help treat that pain whether it be pain medicine, SCS, acupuncture, or even food is not only going to help you feel good knowing that your doing something to treat your pain but actually reducing that pain.

I have had a supper busy week. For my pain I am back on my original medicine, ultracet and tramadol. My Dr has suggested I take two Tramadols since I haven't tried that yet. I have been on two ultracets but taken off because the amount of tylenol. I was then reduced to one tramadol and the pain was bad. I was then put on the one ultracet and one tramadol (taken together) to help reduce the Tylenol amount but get the benefits of the Tylenol). I am still deciding what I am going to do since it seems that my body needs the tylenol in the ultracet for the anti-inflammatory affect. It would also help if it stoped snowing!...lol Driving home today for spring break it looked more like winter break, especially when I got to my exit which is right were the snow belt is.

Here is a youtube video of my Dr, Dr. Michael Stanton-Hicks on Pain Management
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QIc4hZlRJQ

Happy Valentines Day!

The heart is a complex organ, not only emotionally but also physically. The last week My Anatomy and Physiology Class has been learning about the heart and its functions. This past weekend I have been studying about the route of blood through the heart and the path it takes to go through the body to help us sustain life.

To me, Valentines Day isn't only about Celebrating the love a couple shares. It is also about showing our family and friends how much we love them and appreciate them. Last night I went to my sister's house to celebrate 3 Birthdays that take place in the month of February. It was nice to see my family and spend time with them but the increased activity made my rebound headache much worse than I could have imagined. I thankfully made it back to my dorm and after an hour of studying had to quit and decided to pamper myself.

Finally a week after this rebound headache has started it is no longer on the whole left side. I am hoping this means that it is finally starting to go away but I don't want to jinx it. I am going to call my Dr tomorrow if it is still present and to see what is going on with my Pain Management. My new pain meds are suppose to arrive on Tuesday and I am looking forward to some much needed relief.

And Here Comes The Migrain...

I love the weekends, but what college student doesnt? On Friday I dont have classes so I usually spend the day catching up on homework. Saturday is pretty much the same, except I didnt have much to do this weekend except starting to read for the upcoming chapters in my classes.

My brother decided to have some people over for the Super Bowl and since I didnt have much to do I was going to meet my mom and some of my family out there. I had a slight headache before I took my shower and it just started getting worse after. I took two Motrin and took my migraine medicine. After awhile it became unbearable and I had to grab some ice and lay down. After forcing myself to sleep the migraine finally went down a little bit. I am hoping that by morning my migraine / headache will be gone.

I haven't gotten one of these horrible headaches in a long time and hope I don't experience one again for another long time. My Pain Management Dr's Nurse Practitioner think it may be allergy related but I don't see how it can be when I got it in the middle of winter and I know its not a stress headache. Its been busy this semester but has been going well so far. I also wonder if this has connection to RSD since migraines are neurological based too. I guess I will have to ask at my next Dr's appointment.