 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
Ames Member in Phase 3

|
Posted: Fri Dec 1st, 2006 01:04 |
|
Thanksgiving:
A friend came to pick me up that afternoon to drive to dinner. I was really worried about the car ride. About an hour and a half trip. I haven’t taken a trip that long in years…or on the rare occasion I did, I got so run down by the vibrations of the car that I inevitably crashed. Yet I tolerated the drive unusually well and felt ok when I arrived.
I proceeded to take off my glasses for dinner. I didn’t wear them for most of the night…something I have never done since starting the MP. I was dosing Benicar about every 3 hrs and taking a bit more Tramadol…but I did not feel any worse from the huge increase light. I went to bed several hours after my usual bedtime…completely convinced I would wake up the next morning deranged from the light exposure.
I consider the following a miracle: I actually slept through the night and woke up feeling…the same. I kept my glasses off. Some shades were down but I was in a fair amt of sunlight. Not only did I hold up fine..but I started to feel better. My sxs were unusually low. I rested a few times during the day, but was fairly active.
At night I went out for a bit..and when I came back to my friend’s house his family was watching a movie. I watched..the entire movie. I have never watched an entire movie while on the MP..and especially not after a day of activity.
The next day I slept well again…and woke up feeling…fine. I was driven back home in the afternoon. When I got back home I was exhausted…and almost fell into what might have been a short nap! I rested for several hours and felt much better.
In the days that have followed I have felt few if any sxs from light exposure. It does seem that my ipath sxs are on the rise…as my usual aches and pains are bothering me as much as ever. But I can tell these sxs are not from sun and not from overexertion.
This past weekend left me thrilled at my ability to tolerate light and extremely happy about my level of energy which almost allowed me to function “normally”.
Last Thanksgiving I was unable to get off the couch…I had to let the holiday pass without any celebration. This year was dramatically different. A great example of how much progress I have made this past year!
Amy
____________________ CFS/FMS/osteopenia/severe insomnia Non -MP meds: Gabitril (16 mg),Trazodone (150 mg),Tramadol (20 mg) for pain. Light: Noirs (outside and bright lights), thick layers, sunscreen
|
jrfoutin Research Team

| Joined: | Tue Aug 9th, 2005 |
| Location: | Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 3877 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 1st, 2006 01:23 |
|
| Ames! that is so wonderful for you to have lived this week with these events. I so enjoyed your post today!--Janet
____________________ Sarcoidosis 125D61, MP10/05 ModP2 12/05 Ph2 6/06 Ph3 10/06, NoIRs limited outings covered, 2/08 25D6.2
|
Ames Member in Phase 3

|
Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 21:11 |
|
I returned a few days ago from another trip over the holidays. I stayed at my boyfriend’s house with his family for ten days. I’ve had a boyfriend for a while now…he is the person I refer to as my “friend” in previous posts. I’m being candid about our relationship because I want to touch on how my ipath rxns over the last year have affected by ability to connect with another person. I’ve known him since the day I started the MP. I had feelings for him a long time ago but I considered myself too mentally and physically ill to be his girlfriend (I think I was right!). There were times when I could not even talk to him because of my head sxs. I did not allow myself to think about him or imagine a future where we might be together.
The point I want to make is that now things are very different. Healing on the MP is so gradual that sometimes I need to step back and realize how much better I currently feel than I did just months ago. My head seems so clear. I feel like myself again-a self that got lost for a long time in a plethora of mental herx sxs. The real “me” is no longer buried under a pile of extreme pain which masked my ability to communicate and act on my feelings. Now I have a fair amount of mental and physical energy to spend with my others and I can’t imagine pushing people (such as my boyfriend) away. A year ago I wouldn’t have been able to comprehend or understand the state of mind I have at the moment.
I remember that just six months ago I flat out refused to get on a plane because I was scared of the head sxs the flight would generate. Now I am planning a trip to New York in a few weeks and would fly anywhere with little hesitation. I find myself thinking about the future (a thought which I’ve pushed from my mind for the last few years). I feel the seeds of ambition, drive, and determination starting to grow little by little. Suddenly I have the freedom to love, laugh, and think without being held back by my body.
I held up very well over this holiday break. I did cut my antibiotics dose in half which no doubt helped me feel even better than usual. Nevertheless, I still had more energy and less pain than anticipated. Lighting was usually dim, but I didn’t wear my glasses unless I was outside. I had no adverse reactions from light..a reality which amazes me. One day I went out to eat with two of my best friends. I wasn’t wearing glasses and my sxs were not very bad. We told old high school stories and laughed a great deal. Later my best friend told me I looked “radiant.” She said she simply could not stop staring at me because I looked so healthy and happy.
I have a long way to go until I finish the MP. I still suffer quite a bit from my symptoms-particularly those in my head/ears/lungs. I'm very weak and still cannot tolerate much exercise. But I feel that I’ve crossed a line. At some point in the last few months things turned from bad to a bit better and improvements keep popping up here and there. I still rely on Tramadol to ease head sxs and I still take 3 meds to sleep. My goal in the coming months is to see if gradually I may be able to manage with less medication. I'm excited for this coming year!
Amy
____________________ CFS/FMS/osteopenia/severe insomnia Non -MP meds: Gabitril (16 mg),Trazodone (150 mg),Tramadol (20 mg) for pain. Light: Noirs (outside and bright lights), thick layers, sunscreen
|
Aunt Diana Member Advocate

|
Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 21:44 |
|
| That is just wonderful news, Amy. You are an inspriration to all of us. It must be great to look "radiant" again. What a miracle!!
____________________ Lyme 1987, neuro cardio fatigue achiness brain fog depression, anxiety. Pacemaker, D.1,25 32; D <5; 12/07 <6, Oxycodone, lorazapam, benedryl, zantac, colase, Noirs, cover-up or avoid sun, house <30lux. Feb 08 Phase 3. 6/08 D <4, D1,25 21
|
VEZ R.N. Board Staff
| Joined: | Fri May 19th, 2006 |
| Location: | Ohio, USA |
| Posts: | 2469 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 5th, 2007 23:30 |
|
Ames,
I am so glad for you, you have indeed come a long way and are an inspiration to lots of us. May God continue to bless you mightily......Thanks for sharing that.... Warmest regards, VEZ
____________________ lung gran x13 yrs neuro cardiac smp chronic cough joint pain TMJ pain tinnitus Factor V Leiden| armour probiotic|lowlux home NoIRs 6/30 Beni q4+prn 8/28 mino| 6/30 1,25D-58.3 25D-33.6| TSH-10.6 12/16/06 25D-9.6 TSH-8.63 8/06-25D=7|
|
ShrnHml Guest

|
Posted: Sat Jan 6th, 2007 01:43 |
|
| Wow, Amy...........that's an inspiring story. To be able to have a boyfriend is quite a breakthrough. He's your reward for so diligently working the Protocol. Best........Sharon
____________________ Neuroborreliosis, MP 3/05, 1,25D 62; 3/06 25D<4, ModPh2 12/05, Premarin, Effexor, stopped Benicar 1/07....no longer in study
|
Carole Board Staff

| Joined: | Tue Jul 20th, 2004 |
| Location: | Indiana USA |
| Posts: | 631 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 6th, 2007 02:49 |
|
Congratulations, Amy, on your remarkable progress! It is a pleasure to read about your ongoing achievements. May these strides continue to multiply as you journey toward that long-awaited wellness! Enjoy! . . . Carole 
____________________ PWC 50+ yrs| 20+ CFS FM Pituitary Thyroid IBS Cardiac OA Migraines +ANA Osteoporosis 2/04 Mediastinoscopy ~Sarc Story |1/04 1/06: 125D=85,34; 25D=41,14| ACE=68,43|
|
Plateletgal Member

| Joined: | Wed Apr 12th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 99 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 6th, 2007 20:32 |
|
Amy,
That is so encouraging and I am so happy for you ! I was around your age when I first had mono and less than three months later, valley fever. So I know how difficult it is being so young and missing out on so much. Of course after the valley fever, my immune system dysfunction kicked in.
I think I will print your story and share it with my husband. 
Thanks !
____________________ CFIDS POTS MCS endocrine imbalance osteopenia 125D58 Apr07 ModPh2 Sep07homeopathic meds NoIRs 25D9 Jun07
|
Christina Member in Phase 3

| Joined: | Wed Dec 7th, 2005 |
| Location: | St. Louis, MO, USA |
| Posts: | 214 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 7th, 2007 01:19 |
|
What a great story. Congratulations to you. I'm so thrilled you are finding your way out of this hell. I, like you, have been noticing the oh so subtle improvements and even though I'm not close to being cured, I certainly realize how far I have come since day #1 on the MP. I'm glad we both have hope for the future. I look forward to us living the majority of our lives disease free.
Congrats,
Christina
____________________ Sero-neg RA 22 yrs osteopenia 125D28 Ph1Mar06 Ph3Mar07 25D9 (Dec06)
|
Belinda Research Team

|
Posted: Sun Jan 7th, 2007 04:35 |
|
Amy,
I laughed out loud when I read your announcement that you watched a *whole movie*. My inability to remain awake through any movie was a family joke for years. It was an impossible task for me. And brain fog meant I rarely remembered the first part of the movie anyway. For the past couple of years, I've re-watched a lot of movies and they all seemed new to me (but at least I stayed awake). 
I am pleased to hear you now have energy and enthusiasm to direct toward a developing relationship. It makes life worth living, doesn't it?
Belinda
|
Ames Member in Phase 3

|
Posted: Sun Jan 7th, 2007 14:41 |
|
Thanks everyone for your support. There is no doubt that comments and encouragement in my progress report have played a huge role in giving me strength to forge ahead on the MP...helping me get to where I am now.
From now on I am going to put all my posts in the Alumni Forum as well. I want to clarify that I have written many posts in the Phase 2/3 forum over the last years that describe times when I was in a great deal of pain and my days were simply spent herxing, herxing, herxing. But now i am reaping some rewards.
I am very luckly that my boyfriend is familiar with the MP and extremely understanding of my circumstances. We spend a lot of time just resting together.
I feel a slight increase in my sxs but nothing extreme. My various headaches continue to be the worst area affected by the ipath rxn. Up until a little while ago, I could barely read. Now I am able to read articles in the paper and short stories (with some pain). TV still flares my sxs, but with just a small bit of Tramadol I can watch for an hour or so. As my head sxs continue to resolve I should be able to do a lot more. I also have a good deal of "earache" pain. But it's very tolerable.
I took a hot bath yesterday. My sxs increased but I didn't feel as worn out as expected. My lung pain increases dramatically when I am in hot water.
I am so happy at the moment that I'm sure I do have a natural glow. However I will admit that I do use self tanning cream. For special occasions I use Shiseido brilliant bronze tanning cream on my face and St. Tropez tanning foam on my body. At other times I use Loreal self tannning wipes for face and body (you can buy them at Walgreens etc) They work very well and are easy to apply. It's very easy to not look pale while still avoiding the sun.
I'm doing some mild stretches each morning and a few extremely light exercises (such as lifting soup cans 10 times) So far no adverse reactions. I am smart enough by this point to know that I should not take this as a reason to increase my level of exercise. I'm proceeding VERY gradually.
Amy
____________________ CFS/FMS/osteopenia/severe insomnia Non -MP meds: Gabitril (16 mg),Trazodone (150 mg),Tramadol (20 mg) for pain. Light: Noirs (outside and bright lights), thick layers, sunscreen
|
LeAnne Member in Phase 3

|
Posted: Mon Jan 8th, 2007 09:25 |
|
Hello, Amy. It is encouraging to hear how you are enjoying life again. Even though it is such a slow healing, just to be able to get pieces of your life back make it worth it all. I am happy that you have found love and laughter again. These are basic human needs, needs that chronic disease would like to rob us all. It feels great to know that it doesn't have to destroy our lives anymore. I can also watch an entire movie now.
LeAnne
____________________ Neuro-Sarcoidosis/lungs, spleen, nervous system, skin lesions, 125D66, MP 8/05, Ph1 3/06, Ph3 7/06, NoIRs, low lux home, cover up, 25D9 Sep07
|
Ames Member in Phase 3

|
Posted: Sat Jan 20th, 2007 14:51 |
|
Thanks LeAnne!
About two weeks ago I decided to take a few baths. I took three very hot baths in a row. After the third bath I felt a significant rise in immunopathology…particularly in my ears and head. The rise in sxs was tolerable.
I considered the idea that I should take baths again on a regular basis. However I have decided against the idea. The main problem with baths is that they seem to cause a great increase in muscle immunopathology. That means that every bit of movement I do for the rest of the day starts to make me feel sore…and more sore..and then extremely sore! I cannot do even minimal amounts of exercise if I take baths. Not worth it.
I stopped the baths and decided to try some stretches in the morning and increase my activity level during the day. I am walking more (compared to a few months ago!) I work at the computer and every fifteen minutes or so I deliberately take a walk up and down the stairs. When I am on the phone I pace back and forth in the kitchen. I am building a bit more muscle in my legs.
In my opinion, it’s very helpful to break up bits of exercise and spread them throughout the day. I have also been lifting soup cans on and off in order to strengthen my arms. I’ll admit that at this point I am only lifting cans of chicken broth. I’ll see if I can work my way up to the challenge of lifting cans of “chunky” soup in the coming months.
Part of the reason I am making an effort to become more active is because I am going to New York in a few days. I’m staying for almost a month. Cabs are not cheap..and I want to see as much of the city as possible!
Yesterday I asked the person I am staying with in New York if I could please do the household chores. He laughed, but I was serious. Chores are my way of “keeping in shape” So let me clean the toilet darn it!
I’ve had to update my wardrobe over the last month. For one thing, I need eye makeup. I think I’ve forgotten how to put it on! I still wear my glasses almost all day…but I take them off whenever I’m out with friends.
Since it seems as if I am able to do more physically, it’s my head symptoms that continue to hold me back. Reading is still painful and exhausting. However head pain is slowly improving as well (slooooooowly) I now make a point of reading at least two moderately long newspaper articles a day.
If I could read, I might very well consider working more hours on the computer, or even venturing out into the world to look for a part-time job. Or I could probably start making plans to go to grad school.
Then again I am still trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. A few years ago, I was set on becoming a doctor. I would still like to be a doctor…but now that I know about MP science I realize I will be spending years learning a huge amount of information that is useless and incorrect. Med school seems like a waste of time.
I do know that I want to have a career that allows me to educate people about the negative effects of vitamin D and generate awareness of the current Th1 epidemic. After years of dealing with CFS and the MP I’m not going to become a lawyer (or some position completely unrelated to healthcare) and watch my co-workers pour vit D fortified milk into their coffee! Perhaps I should get a degree in public policy?
Enough rambling along those lines. I am very excited to get to NYC. Many of my friends from college live there and I haven’t seen them in years. It’s time for me to emerge into the world again!
Current sxs: pressure headache, skull pain, ear ache type pain, lung pain, SOB, fatigue, occasionally stomach aches, dizziness, dry eyes etc.
____________________ CFS/FMS/osteopenia/severe insomnia Non -MP meds: Gabitril (16 mg),Trazodone (150 mg),Tramadol (20 mg) for pain. Light: Noirs (outside and bright lights), thick layers, sunscreen
|
Dr Trevor Marshall Research Team

|
Posted: Sat Jan 20th, 2007 17:21 |
|
All the best for NY Amy 
And you will definitely get plenty of exercise there 
|
ShrnHml Guest

|
Posted: Mon Jan 22nd, 2007 02:10 |
|
| Amy.....you are a butterfly. It delights me to see you break out of the cocoon of chronic illness and begin to spread your beautiful wings. Fly well, MP friend. .........Sharon
____________________ Neuroborreliosis, MP 3/05, 1,25D 62; 3/06 25D<4, ModPh2 12/05, Premarin, Effexor, stopped Benicar 1/07....no longer in study
|
Aussie Barb Research Team

| Joined: | Thu Jul 22nd, 2004 |
| Location: | Australia |
| Posts: | 19444 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 31st, 2007 19:44 |
|
| see A Journey Towards Complete Recovery From CFS: An UPDATE of My Progress on the Marshall Protocol by Ames
____________________ Barb: Dx Inflammatory Disease Endocrine Imbalance 2003| 24+ years not Dx| ABCofMP
|
migsies Member in Phase 3

|
Posted: Wed Jan 31st, 2007 19:57 |
|
| Ames - your article in immunesupport.com and your regular progress reports are an inspiration to all of us. Thanks! I am really glad you are getting your life back!
____________________ Sarcoidosis FM Lyme babesia 25D>7(Feb07) Ph1Aug05 Ph2Oct05 Ph3 Jun06 Valium Lyrica Ambien NoIRs limited outings covered Phase I 8/05, II 10/05, III 6/06.
|
Ames Member in Phase 3

|
Posted: Fri Feb 9th, 2007 17:12 |
|
Thanks for your kind words about my piece. I'm glad so many of you can identify with how I feel. I was annoyed by the disclaimer they put at the end of the article, particularly the line that read...
"Positive accounts of results are still largely anecdotal, and patients should be aware that, as with any protocol, negative effects could be encountered."
I called the editor to complain. If they feel the need to use that disclaimer, then it should be tacked only EVERY article, not just mine. They don't write a disclaimer when they interview Dr. Teitelbaum. Well I'm here to say that I encountered plenty of negative effects from his therapy! Plus, the disclaimer is too vague. If people have a problem with the MP they should write about it using specific examples. The editor told me that they actually are looking for anybody who can write a piece giving SCIENTIFIC evidence that they were hurt by MP therapy (because apparently they get a lot of complaints for publishing articles about the MP). So far not a soul can be found. Hmmmm.....
Today I found myself humming words from the song “New York, New York.” The phrase ‘if I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere!” stands out in my mind. Although I am not an aspiring actress or musician, I am still finding life in this city to be a challenge. The traffic, the noise from the streets, the necessity to rely on public transportation to reach any location, and other aspects of big city life are tough to manage as I continue to suffer from quite a bit of ipath sxs.
Nevertheless, I have ventured out on several occasions. Although I get pretty run down at times, I’m still psyched to be here.
i've lowered one of my abx a bit. I’ve noticed that my headaches are skull pain are not as bad as when I’m on the full dose. It also seems my sleep is a bit better. I feel less wired... and VERY tired. Sure, I can peel myself off the couch, joke around with friends, go for short walks, go out to dinner etc...but I would be perfectly happy being entirely lazy all day. Since the “wired” feeling is subdued, it seems as if my body can only feel how tired I am..and man am I tired! This feeling does not come as a surprise, considering the fact that I have about a five year sleep debt to slowly repay. Lately I have been going to bed around 11 and sometimes sleeping until 10 or even 11 a.m. I still feel tired during the day. I hope this lethargy indicates my body is churning away at killing my bacteria at such an efficient and rapid rate that I have strength for little else. In any case, I’m trying not to push myself very hard. I’ve learned to listen when my body gives me cues about how it wants to be treated.
I have been letting myself rest quite a bit, but have gotten together with old friends and ventured into the middle of the city on a few occasions. I’ve held up pretty well. Granted I still take 25 mg Tramadol 4 times a day which takes the edge off my head pain and allows me to enjoy conversations much more. Taking public transportation to reach my destination is a nightmare. When I was younger I remember going on the Space Mountain roller coaster ride at Disney World over and over again...each time feeling as if I had been placed inside a giant human blender. I took two busses yesterday to visit a friend at work which lurched and shook so much along the way that they made Space Mountain seem like a ride for babies.
I think the reason I am so negatively affected by public transportation is that it affects my sense of balance which ultimately affects ears. My ears are still severely infected. I feel as if I have had an ear ache for the last year. Sometimes I even get painful scabs in my ears as a result of my immunopathology. However there is also something wrong with the workings of my inner ear, something that throws off my sense of balance (maybe my cerebellum, the area of the brain that controls coordination) is severely infected. I wouldn’t be surprised.
Despite the usual setbacks that result from my immunopathology I am having a great time. I continue to sense that I am improving little by little.
It remains to be seen how long it will take until I feel well enough to jump on and off the buses and subways in this city with no ill effect. But as the song says, little by little “I’m going to be a part of it..New York, New York!......” How’s that for a cheezy ending?
Amy
Last edited on Fri Feb 9th, 2007 17:12 by Ames
____________________ CFS/FMS/osteopenia/severe insomnia Non -MP meds: Gabitril (16 mg),Trazodone (150 mg),Tramadol (20 mg) for pain. Light: Noirs (outside and bright lights), thick layers, sunscreen
|
Ames Member in Phase 3

|
Posted: Thu Mar 1st, 2007 14:29 |
|
I got back a few days ago from NYC.
My headache got much worse after the flight, but I got in two excellent nights of sleep and three days later felt quite good actually. Then I had another great night of sleep. The following day was one of the best days mentally I’ve had since starting the MP. I sat down at my computer and starting responding to a huge load of emails that needed an answer. My head felt very clear. My words flowed with great ease – it was simple to communicate my thoughts. I wrote quite a bit. Often when I write I feel as if I’m pushing through a fog and my thoughts are churning, but that feeling is gradually fading. I’m sure I’ll still have bad days and good days… but at least two days ago, I felt like a swimmer who has been doing laps with weights on her body and then starts to take them off. Maybe later this swimmer will shave her legs for extra speed… and just fly through the water. I’m not at that point yet, but I can sense what it will be like when I get there.
My body pain may have also decreased in part due to the fact that here in Chicago I have a tempurpedic mattress. I love it. The night I got back from NYC I remember thinking to myself “I feel like I’m sleeping in a big puffy cloud” I’m going to ship it to NYC when I go back.
Sara got in two days ago. We’re having fun. Today we went to Trader Joe’s to buy ingredients for what we have named “the best salad ever!” I think we went a little overboard with the ingredients but it sure was good. I’ve been talking, reading, and writing (all the sxs that provoke my head) with just a few breaks in between. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep up the pace..we shall see.
Although they arn't nearly as bad as they used to be, I continue to be held back by my head symptoms. My lungs pain is minimal. Ear pain is present but I hardly notice it. I still get dizzy upon standing, get tired easily, have occasional small bouts of crying for no reason (brain herx), and have on/off sore throat and gland pain. The other area where I need the most improvement is endurance. Recovering from physical exercise. It’s still difficult.
The scabs in my ears are gone except for a small one on my left ear. I am fairly sure that the scabs are partly caused by the fact that I wear heavy wax earplugs at night. I wore the earplugs the entire time I was on the plane back from NYC and I got many more scabs..so that would tend to indicate the earplugs irritate my ear. However nothing is more irritating than being woken up at 6 in the morning by thumping noises made by Grandpa as he walks around the house so it looks as if I have no option but to keep wearing them.
My Mom is here as well (she is on the MP, Barbara in this forum). She has just been hit hard by some nasty ipath sxs, so for the last few days (before Sara arrived) I took care of her and made her meals. It was a good feeling to be able to help her the way she helped me during all the times when I was too ill to function.
Tomorrow Sara and I are going out in the city..I’ll write about it soon.
____________________ CFS/FMS/osteopenia/severe insomnia Non -MP meds: Gabitril (16 mg),Trazodone (150 mg),Tramadol (20 mg) for pain. Light: Noirs (outside and bright lights), thick layers, sunscreen
|
Ames Member in Phase 3

|
Posted: Fri Mar 16th, 2007 15:49 |
|
I just had the flu for about a week. I was miserable when I had the flu. It had a different feel than my usual ipath sxs (which I have come to know so very very well), so it was easy to tell what was flu and what was ipath. I had a fever, the shakes, terrible congestion, and the worse sore throat I’ve ever had in my life. It took me twice as long as everyone else (including 94 year old Grandpa) to get over the flu. I’m sure it had to do with the fact that my ipath was strong at the same time. I think my body got overwhelmed trying to detoxify concurrently from ipath and other pathogens. I dropped my abx down which I think that helped me recover in the end.
The flu lasted about 5 days. Then I entered a stage where I felt excessively weak and exhausted. During that time, Trevor’s comment that it’s difficult to discern ipath from flu symptoms proved true. I wasn’t sure how much of the weakness and symptoms were due to ipath. I must admit that I actually felt a bit jealous of Sara and Grandpa who got to recover completely from the flu. After feeling such a terrible increase in sxs I couldn’t help thinking “enough is enough!” More than ever I wanted just a few days of feeling purely good. Luckily I’ve faced reality and am back into ipath mode with tolerable symptoms, continuing to “plug away.”
I did get to thinking about how I will feel if/when I get the flu or another illness in the future – several years from now when almost all my ipath has stopped. I know that if I feel a sudden rise in symptoms due to an infection I must think rationally and tell myself that I am sick with a temporary illness. However after dealing with so many CFS relapses before the MP, it may take me a while to adjust to not feeling a jolt of fear when I get sick. I know that the thought “my CFS has returned!” will flash through my mind whether or not it makes sense. Just one of the ways I feel I might be affected psychologically in the future after dealing with years of chronic illness.
Two days ago I spent a good portion of the day with friends, driving around and doing plenty of talking. I was very conscious of my head pain. Tramadol certainly dulls the pain…I’m tempted to take more of the drug. I wish I had a better idea about how Tramadol affects the immune system. On some days, my head pain can get bad when I don’t take Tramadol. Other than that, I have lung aches, ear pain, weakness, muscle soreness, dry itchy eyes, fainting upon standing, etc. – however all at low enough levels so that I don’t think about these symptoms very much at all.
One thing I can say is that the flu-like feeling I had during the first year or so on the MP is completely gone. Which is why I hope no more flu germs come my way to bring back old memories! I’ve also been pretty mentally stable lately – certainly a change from last summer when I lived with Sara and had episodes of insane crying and uncontrollable anger on a regular basis. I bet Sara doesn’t miss those times either!
____________________ CFS/FMS/osteopenia/severe insomnia Non -MP meds: Gabitril (16 mg),Trazodone (150 mg),Tramadol (20 mg) for pain. Light: Noirs (outside and bright lights), thick layers, sunscreen
|
 Current time is 13:16 | Page: 1 2 |
|
|
 |
|