*Continuance of “My Story” starting with Blog #1: When your life flashes before your eyes in a flood gate of memories…
JE March 2nd, 2015
Mom, Troy, and I drove the long drive to Colorado. We packed all our food, supplies, and ski equipment to spend the week here. Today, Troy and I are skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado. I’ve been sick all day long. Despite feeling ill and being sick, its been enjoyable to ski some fresh powder in the mountains. Troy and I love to ski through the trees, off small clefts, and any of the back country terrain. We love it. It’s quiet, peaceful, and serene.
I was learning to find JOY in the simple things in life during this season of illness. I was also becoming more of a minimalist than I already was thus far in my life. Seeing things from a different perspective while being so sick was teaching me lessons, like appreciating things and people instead of taking things and people for granted. Being appreciative took on an entirely new level of thankfulness in this journey, but more on that later.
The days after the horrendous accelerated “die-off effect” scene at work in February(shared in Spinning Out of Control), I tried to take a couple of the supplements again, starting at a quarter of dose. The low dose was suggested by the FM doctor that we’d contacted after the experience. My heart just wasn’t in it to taking the supplements. I was sick and tired of taking supplements, symptoms being jacked-up, and getting violently sick. I was taking them in order to pacify Mom at this point, who was encouraging me to not quit. Taking the reduced amount of supplements, the symptoms still got worse again.
I weighed 135 pounds at this time. I’d rarely weighed myself, not feeling the need to do so on any regular basis. However, I was too thin and looked malnourished, so Mom and I wanted to know where I was at for weight that spring. Mom was watching me spiral downwards in slow-motion. After about a week and a half of taking the supplements Mom said, “Kelly, why don’t you try stopping the supplements for a few days and see what happens with your symptoms.”
It only took 2 days and I was back to my “normal”. This was tolerable. Again, I will restate: Ultimately, it was MY LIFE and it was MY CHOICE. Mom and I both knew that. There was a mutual respect between us despite Mom’s grave concern for me.
The first day of Spring 2015 brought in my 23rd Birthday. I had an eye examination scheduled. I arrived to my appointment early in order to fill out paperwork. On the paperwork I was asked if I was allergic to anything. I wrote in BIG letters that I was allergic to Gluten. Gluten is in a lot of things, not just foods. It’s in medications, skin care products, ointments, toothpastes, etc. Upon finishing the paperwork, I gave the completed forms to the receptionist and sat back down.
In a matter of minutes, the eye doctor came out shaking my hand in greeting. He took me back to his office and read through my paperwork, asking me a few questions. “You are allergic to Gluten, is that correct?”
“Yes. I’m VERY allergic to Gluten.” I told him.
“Good to know. I will use ‘Gluten Free’ eye drops when we dilate your pupils.” He stated. “Are you currently wearing contacts or glasses?”
“I’ve been wearing both since the summer of 2008.” I replied.
Towards the end of the eye exam he informed me, “You don’t need a prescription at all, Kelly.”
“Really? That’s awesome,” I stated with a smile on my face! Not having to put contacts in or wear glasses was going to be a GOOD change! It was time to dilate my eyes. The doctor used the “Gluten Free” eye drops to dilate my eyes, then left the room. Almost immediately I started getting a headache. Probably from these stupid eye drops making my vision blurry, I thought to myself.
A few more minutes passed and the doctor came in to finish the examination. While he worked he told me, “I will fill out a form so that you can have the eye glass restriction taken off your driver’s license.”
I smiled, thanking him.
One may wonder, I thought people’s vision gets worse over time, not better! Why didn’t I need to continue to wear contacts or glasses? Looking back, I’m convinced improving my diet, not eating frankenfoods(processed unreal foods that are scientifically made to make the buyers get addicted to them, making it very difficult to resist the urge to eat them) but eating whole, simple, real foods, was the biggest and most influential change impacting my improved vision! I’d made many other healthy changes in my life style. However, the organic diet I BELIEVE was the KEY to my eye sight improving. There is such a thing as “All Natural Eye Doctors” who actually DO have their clients cleanup their diets, eating “clean” and changing their eye health for the better. For REAL!
After my eye examination I drove home. I was having a hard time seeing, as the headache was getting worse. I rolled the window down for some fresh air. Arriving home, I walked into the house being greeted with, “Happy Birthday!” A friend and her toddler had come to visit our family. We all had supper together and talked into the evening. It was becoming more rare that’d we’d have company over, simply for the food aspect. Also, I never knew how I’d feel, so that just complicated making plans to have people over.
The next morning I awoke with the pounding headache I’d went to bed with. My left side, deep underneath my ribs extending down to just below my belly button, was more intense than my “normal” pain. I tried not to think about it, but I knew I didn’t feel right. None-the-less, I was going to Minneapolis to get my monthly scheduled massage from my friend, Laurie.
Many hours later Laurie and I greeted each other with a big hug, only I held back my tummy so it wouldn’t be touched. We made small talk while we walked back to the therapy room. “How have you been feeling, Kelly?” Laurie inquired. We always had lots of things to discuss.
“Well I have good days, and not so good days. I have a pounding headache today. My abdomen and back don’t feel very good either,” I told her. She then started her work on my back side.
“Your left side is penetrating a lot of heat out of it,” Laurie commented as she worked my abdomen.
“It has felt like a furnace all day, Laurie. Something is heating up deep inside.” I replied.
“Yes, I’d agree. Your abdominal muscles are very tight. It’s as if they are protecting something. They don’t want to let go or loosen up.” She said.
“I agree. My Iliopsoas muscles are always tight. I use my Thera cane every night in an attempt to loosen the muscles. And it helps, but I can never seem to loosen them completely.” I whispered back.
We continued our visit until the session came to an end, all too soon as usual. She’d put a hand on my abdomen before she left the room. The heat from the left side of my abdomen continued to penetrate outward. We both took deep breaths and exhaled.
As I walked into the reception area after my massage, Laurie asked me, “How are you feeling, Kelly?”
“I feel a lot better. My muscles are looser, and my headache is no longer pounding. Thank you, Laurie. You always know exactly what spots to work.” I said smiling while I paid her. After more chatter, we hugged and said good-bye.
I started off on my long drive home drinking a lot of water. After 1/2 hour of letting the water settle, I decided to eat my supper that I always brought with me. I was only halfway through my meal when my stomach started churning. Oh boy. Here I go again…
