Where to start? It's a tough question. Really tough. So much has happened in the last half-decade. The journey has been treacherous with hills and valleys, pitfalls and pit stops, detours, and dead ends. All lightly sprinkled with the rare quiet interlude. Oh, how I would love to linger blissfully long in the quiet interludes. Why are they ever so fleeting? The reality of the matter is that life happens most often at breakneck speed. This journey of discovery with my health has been no exception.
Here is a brief overview:
2015 - Stopped blogging and doing reviews for The Old Schoolhouse due to dramatic health issues.
2016 - Spent the year very sick, often in bed, trying to figure out what was wrong and get it under control.
2017 - Finally, discovered the cause of the most prevalent health issues and had a hysterectomy.
2018 - The girls' adoption was finalized, and I was still struggling with my health despite getting a hypothyroidism diagnosis and beginning treatment. Other symptoms worsened, and new ones surfaced. Also, the end of December saw the close of our business and the end of our sole source of income.
2019 - Pat, my husband, began working for a local automotive repair company, and my symptoms got a name. Finally, I had an official diagnosis.
2020 - I had various tests and began treatment with a well-qualified specialist. Pat started a new job in the spring, injured his back six weeks later, COVID hit, and he spent the next nine months seeking and receiving (four months after diagnosis) major back surgery and recovering (for four more months) from said surgery.
Now, enter 2021. What on earth does it have in store for us? Only time will tell. But, I am choosing to focus on the positive. It's officially only been one month (when I began writing this post), but 2021 has been good to us. Pat returned to work full-time after the first of the year. That means that we have real checks to deposit in our actual bank account. Crazy to think it's been a whole nine months since we did that!
So, back to that diagnosis. I had slowly begun to struggle with simple things. Rolling over in bed got challenging. My right arm quit being very useful due to what I had thought was an atrophied shoulder. I blamed it on all that time spent being sedentary due to menorrhagia before my hysterectomy. Eventually, even writing or whisking eggs was a challenge. I struggled to use the stairs, and my physical stamina was greatly compromised. The thing that finally got my attention enough was when my hand started shaking while eating.
I regularly have a blood draw at the local hospital to monitor my blood platelets. They are low, and autoimmune issues are the suspect. For some reason, there is never any real motivation by the doctors to pin it down any further. I see a doctor for my hypothyroidism, and getting the blood draw keeps them happy. So I do it. Well, one day I decided to ask my hematologist what he thought about my shaking hand. He simply stated that it was a neurological issue and that I should ask to see a neurologist. He was so nonchalant that I really wasn't concerned. I made an appointment and decided, after a little research, that they would likely do testing to rule out MS. Was I in for a surprise.
Finally, the day arrived for my appointment with the neurologist. The date is forever etched in my memory; December 23, 2019. How can you forget that date?
Merry Christmas!
You have Young Onset Parkinson's Disease.
Here's a referral to a Movement Disorder Specialist.
Have a great New Year!
Well, there was a little more to it than that, but, really, that is the bottom line. I had a couple more appointments with the local neurologist, and ultimately her suspicion was confirmed. Personally, I think this is one way living in Small Town, USA, played to my advantage. We have one neurologist. I don't have "regular PD." I have YOPD (Young Onset Parkinson's Disease). That makes me special. 😏 In actuality, it is a huge blessing, because I was automatically referred to a Movement Disorder Specialist or MDS. Many people struggle with a regular neurologist and find it challenging to get referred to an MDS, the more preferred doctor to work with under these circumstances.
In addition to the return of our income (much thanks to the team of doctors I work with through Henry Ford Hospital), I am seeing a return to some physical normalcy. The medication that I began last spring has done a lot to help me regain what I had slowly lost over time. Parkinson's kind of just crept in on me. It's funny how something so life-altering can so slowly and stealthily slither its way into your life, just as if it had been there the entire time. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if it was. Now that I know and understand the complexities of YOPD, it is easy to look back and see symptoms as early as my 20's and 30's, even into my teens.
Now, over a year later, I am learning to live with my disease. It's challenging, downright grueling at times. Living with YOPD is definitely not for the faint of heart. Life is challenging enough in and of itself. If we've made it through our 30's, it's safe to say we've got a pretty good understanding of the challenges and trials the mere act of living brings with it. That doesn't mean life cannot be rewarding and fulfilling. It just means we need to keep our focus on the blessings, exercise our faith, and learn to lean on each other, at least a little bit.
Moving forward, it is my goal to create here a refuge, a place of encouragement and comradery. Be patient with me as I sort this out and find a way to make a regular appearance here part of my life. February wasn't as kind to us and early January. We had to face and overcome some more hurdles. Thankfully, we made it through, prayers were answered, and we're here to continue pressing on beside you.
