Hey everyone, at least to those who still subscribe or look at my blog. It's been over a year since my last post. Now I've been debating whether or not to type up an entry explaining why i haven't been active and I don't want anyone thinking that I am asking for their pity because I certainly am not. Although I felt as if I owed it to all you wonderful people who have subscribed to me or read my blog.
The reason I have not posted anything is because I've been sick. This past January, I was diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy. I don't know how to explain it but basically it's a nerve condition/disease that damages the nerves in your hands and and legs and can be debilitating. You can check out
WebMD for a better explanation.
It all started in August of last year with my left hand. I remember waking up to my pinkie and ring finger on my left hand being numb but I just thought I slept on it wrong. I waited over the weekend to see if it would get better but it didn't. I was stressing about it so I Made an appointment with a doctor to get it checked up. When I was seen, I was told it is probably just tendonitis or carpal tunnel and just to take it easy on using the computer or texting. About a week later my thumb and index finger on my right hand became numb so I went to see the doctor and was pretty much told the same thing. I was so worried and stressed about this and other personal things going on in my life that my blood pressure was higher than normal so I was prescribed blood pressure medicine and was told to take it easy. A week after taking those meds, my left foot was hurting and it was difficult to walk on it. I also felt some numb tingly feeling so I went to the doctor again, a different one that is and all he told me that it was either plantar Fasciitis or tendonitis. I also asked about my hands but he told me the same thing, Carpal tunnel or tendonitis. He told me to wear insoles that support the arch of my foot, take some Motrin and take it easy on the computer and texting.
Now you can probably imagine my frustration at this point. It just seemed like he wanted to write me up a prescription and be done with me, not wanting to get to the bottom of this. Also, 2 weeks after my other foot started to feel the same. I knew in my heart that it was something more serious, but what? I did as he told, but no improvement. So I requested to change my primary physician to my parents Long time doctor of 15+ years. When I saw him, I explained everything. The numbness, tingling and burning feeling and pain especially in my foot that pretty much made it hard to sleep and walk or do simple things like opening a jar. He ran all kinds of blood and urine tests, u name it, I probably had it done. Everything came out fine. I mean he checked for diabetes and other things but nothing to indicate what it could be. So after all that, he referred me to a neurologist.
From there, the neurologist had ran more blood tests. He also had me do a nerve conduction study where there they attach these metal discs to your skin that sends these small electric pulses Which measure the time it takes for your muscles to contract from getting the electric shocks. That test alone was a bit painful. The only thing that they really got out of that test was that my muscles were weak and responded a bit slower then normal. I also had 2 MRI's done and everything was fine. All he could tell me was that it was peripheral neuropathy but no idea how I got it. It took about 4 months till we got any real answer to how it came about and what he concluded was from the last blood test he did, I had a high level of vitamin B6 in my system which can be toxic to the nerves in your limbs. By then it was already after new years and my condition got worse.
So since January-March it got worse. My balance was bad, all my fingers slowly started to become numb as well as both feet. I struggle trying to stand up, can't stand for long periods of time use a walker to help myself walk, and a wheelchair if I go out anywhere. I also wake up every other hour cause of the pain and have trouble falling back asleep. Everything that was so simple like washing my hair, opening the door, going down a step or two is hard to do. It's been so debilitating that I have to depend on others around me for assistance now. I also had to stop school because I can't drive there anymore. Everything I had planned is put to a halt because of this. I was so depressed that I lost about 30 pounds within 2 months cause I had no appetite and very little disturbed sleep. All id do was cry almost everyday asking why me? The reality of it is there is still no known treatments for it and there isn't much awareness about the illness either.
So yea, that's only part of what I've been going through. I tried not to make this a lengthy post But I figured maybe I can raise more awareness by blogging about if you or someone you know maybe experiencing something similar like I did and to push your doctors if you feel there's more going on than what they tell you.
I still love reading and looking up blogs. It keeps me sane since I'm limited to what I can do. I do my makeup every other day even though I'm just at home to exercise my hands and so that I can still apply it like I used to. It just takes a lil longer. Im gonna try my best get back into blogging cause i miss it and I'm sure would take my mind off things. Anyways, thanks for reading and I wish all of you good health!
