HOW AND WHEN DID YOU GET
RSD?
In the winter of 1997, I
slipped in the snow, on a small embankment, and landed on my elbow (ulnar nerve). Then, in the summer of 1997, I had severe burning
(neuritis) in my left wrist. After failing steroid injections to my
wrist, I was diagnosed with RSD.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS IT
AFFECTED YOUR LIFE?
Due to the fact that I
now have full body RSD, I am unable to continue my work as a
Registered Nurse. I have never owned a dog in my adult life. Now I
am the proud “puppy mama” of my boy Po. We bought this dog so I
wouldn’t be home alone all day. He naps with me, we go on long
walks during the day and he is never more than a few feet away from
me! Being home and not working 50-60 hours a week as a Nursing
Administrator has been a blessing, for the most part. My son and I
had been on our own since he was 5 months old. Working the hours
that I did left me with no time to attend events at his school,
chaperone a field trip, or even go to school and surprise him by
having lunch with him! These are a few of the pros. The cons are
many. The biggest one is losing my financial independence and my health
insurance! The constant pain goes unsaid. The cost of medications
was enough to break the bank! Luckily, I was able to obtain MA this
past fall. While a major blow to my ego, the money saved by not
having to pay for my drugs/healthcare is a real blessing. I am not
able to enjoy most of the things I loved to do. Working in my big
yard and in my flower beds sets me up for major pain, so I just do a
little at a time. Most of my hobbies are gone. I sleep a lot. My
life is a shell of its former self.
DO YOU HAVE A GOOD
SUPPORT SYSTEM?
I do. As
I mentioned above about my son and I being on our own, that isn’t
so now. About 4 ½ years ago, I met an amazing man! He takes such
good care of us! He is kind, loving, and (most of all) supportive of
me and RSD. My son is 10 and he worries about me. He is always
wanting to know if I need anything. He is great at running things up
and down the stairs. This child is the reason why I breathe, why I
push myself, and why I am still on this planet!
DOES FAITH PLAY A PART IN
YOUR STRUGGLE OR YOUR STAMINA?
Sometimes.
My walk with the Lord used to be so much closer. I am angry that I
have this disease but I accept it. I know that when I die I am
getting a brand new body and there will be no more pain!
HOW HAVE YOU RE-INVENTED
YOURSELF?
Not sure I have…
see above…
HAS ANYTHING GOOD COME
FROM THIS TRIAL?
No… not one single
good thing!
WHAT THINGS DO YOU MISS
THE MOST?
- Walking in the sand at
the beach (need an ankle replacement that won’t happen because of
the RSD).
- Being drug-free! I
take soooo much narcotics that I sleep a lot, so what I miss is
being active.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE
GENERAL PUBLIC TO
KNOW ABOUT YOU AND/OR
YOUR DISEASE?
Just
because I don’t look sick, don’t make rude comments when I park
in the handicapped spot!
No comments:
Post a Comment