I completed my first year of schooling, didn't play any sports as i wanted to focus on my schooling more and through my church i was able to meet the love of my life, we were married 11 months later and life seemed perfect. My husband, now living with me, started commenting on how often i get sick, or how i always seem too tired or sore. Yes i had been sore a weaker that i used to be, but i wasn't playing sports anymore so of course that would be why. Those excuses weren't enough for my husband and he took me to the doctor to get thing figured out. What a blessing he is to me.
The results were back in January 2010, my thyroid was a little bit off, but apparently that was "nothing to worry about" (WRONG) and the most important factor was that my ANA (anti-nuclear anitbodies) test was about 4 times as positive as it should be. So more deeper tests came and my ENA (extractable nuclear antigen antibodies) test came back about 60 times as positive as it should be, i was told i have some sort of auto-immune disease and that he would be sending my records to a Rheumatologist to figure it out from here. Time passed and i was feeling worse and worse, i was aware of how weak and sore my muscles were and how this is not a result of under exercising. I started a labour job and would come home stiff and sore everyday, i started to rely on extra strength ibuprofen and Advil just to make it through a day! I would go in to my doctor more and more frequently to show him that things are getting much worse, that my husband and i were hoping to start a family soon, but my reliance on anti-inflammatory's made it seem impossible. It was then that he told us that getting pregnant with an auto-immune disease can actually help you feel better because your immune system weakens and there is less anti-bodies fighting your body. Hearing that warmed our hearts, and on top of that i had finally gotten the call to go see the Rheumatologist in Calgary.
The appointment in Calgary came and went, i did more tests and the only results i could get from her was that everything was normal, but in all of my pain, i was aware that i was not normal. So we decided the next best option is to get pregnant. A couple months later i was a week late, we were going to do the test the next morning when i went into full cramps and bleeding that night. It felt like the most painful period ever, i couldn't walk, i could barely move. When i went into my doctor he informed me that it was a 3 week miscarriage and that they are very common, especially in those with an auto-immune problem, he also informed me that most people conceive the next month after an episode like this... And i did! November 2011 i had my first prenatal, i felt amazing! i had more energy, nothing even close to morning sickness, i felt stronger and all my rashes were gone. But as my life continues to reflect, not everything goes the way you want.
I lost the baby at about 8.5 weeks.
As you can imagine this was a tough time for us, and it didn't help that i went into the biggest flare up of the disease i have ever had as soon as the hormone was out of my body. Yes we were down trodden, we had no where else to go from here, if i can't carry a baby it must be because of this illness, but the specialist brushed me off! But with as positive an attitude as i could stammer i trudged on knowing that once again, though i don't know what God has in store for my in my life, that i may as well trust him and know that things will work out in his time. Not mine.
At Christmas my in-laws were also fed up with my situation, so they set up an appointment for me with their family
doctor to refer me to a specialist in Saskatchewan because with a million
people in the whole province and over a million in Calgary alone, the chances
were much greater at getting in fast. As it turns out, the miscarriage was the
biggest factor in getting me in quick, I got into the rheumatologist with an
appointment for April 5 2012. I then emailed a conformation letter and asked if
there was a chance of getting in sooner as my husband and I have been really
wanting to start a family. The next week I got a call from the office saying
they wanted me to come in on January 26 instead, a WEEK from the date I got the
phone call. So I called my mom and my Dad took work off so he and my mom could
drive me to Saskatoon. The appointment was a million times better than the
other one I have had, she was really nice and checked every little thing about
me, how a walked and I dono just everything! And then when she was done she
went out to get my parents while I changed and to our surprise she told us a
DIAGNOSIS, not a thought not a could be… a diagnosis. I have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, it is a disease of the skin, muscles, and tendons. Basically my
body is carrying 3 different diseases, scleroderma, polymyositis, and lupus.
Throughout my life I can change in and out of each disease. Currently my body
is manifesting lupus and I know it has been for the past 2 years. So we got
some prescriptions for pills, a thyroid pill (In her words, even a little low isnt a good thing) a
anti-malaria pill for the lupus and a anti-inflamatory to control the pain. I
was so so excited, finally having answers and a treatment.
Sadly this past bit of
being on the treatment was terrible, I guess my body really
didn’t want to give in to the pills cause it was fighting with all it had and
I have been extrememly sick, but hopefully it will get better. The doctor said
I should see results in about 4-6 weeks.
We are finally on our way, i have been patient, and yes there is more patience to come, But we have some answers, and as long as i can keep trusting God and loving what i do have in my life, all is well.
We are finally on our way, i have been patient, and yes there is more patience to come, But we have some answers, and as long as i can keep trusting God and loving what i do have in my life, all is well.
