A New Diagnosis

Hey, friends! :)

It's time for a new update!  About two weeks ago, I saw my pain management dr.  It went well.  I learned something new about him. ;)  He saw me reading Wuthering Heights, so he told me he read that when he took Advanced Placement English in the ol' days.  Haha! :D  He's the first guy I know who's read a book like that.  On a more a serious note, I'm to stay at 50 mg of nortriptyline and not increase for now because I've been experiencing something called orthostatic hypotension.  He also referred me to OHSU rheumatology because my hand therapist has been noticing that I have joint hypermobility, so he was wondering if I have a condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.  So this morning, I saw a rheumatologist, and sure enough, she diagnosed me with EDS which is a genetic disorder of the collagen.  This new diagnosis makes me wonder if that's why I got CRPS in the first place!  I may be having genetic testing done to see what type I have, and I'm to get an echocardiogram to check my heart valves because EDS can affect my inside organs...!  I had some fun after my appointment. :)  After going to OHSU for about two years now, I was finally able to ride the tram that connects the hospital to the Center for Health and Healing!!!  I was able to ride it in both directions because they gave me a patient pass, and it was super fun! :)  The view was breath-taking and made me so thankful for God's beautiful creation. :)

Until next time!

Kerissa

Experiencing Joy- Part 2

"Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning."

Psalm 30:5

There have been days when I would cry great tears on my pillow at night in the darkness, not wanting anyone to see.  From those past times, I would ask God, "Why is this happening?  Why me?  Why do I have to be the one with an uncommon disease?  Why is CRPS such a difficult condition to treat?"  And deep down inside, I would hear the Lord say to me, "You don't need to know 'why.'  Just trust Me."  It's been almost 2 years since this whole journey started.  And today is a special day.  I'm experiencing the joy that comes with the morning! :)

Today is the six month anniversary of my spinal cord stimulation surgery. :)  It just seems like yesterday when I woke up at 5 am, took a rushed shower with Hibiclens soap, and headed to the Center for Health and Healing with my whole family!  It was a big day for all of us!  At 7:30 sharp, the anesthesiologist pushed me to a packed OR where I saw my three doctors, three anesthesiologists, two St. Jude Medical representatives, and several nurses!  Halfway through the surgery, they woke me up to ask me where I felt the stimulation.  I barely remember that happening. ;)  And a little over 3 hours later, I woke up with a device inside of me and two incisions on my back!  If there were no bending, lifting, and twisting restrictions, I would have RUN out that door with a happy heart! :)

By God's grace, I have come a long way.  Yes, the pain in my feet is still not completely gone, but it's nothing like it used to be, and I'm so thankful.

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

You have loosed my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness,

that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!"

Psalm 30:11-12

God's Providence- Part 1

I just finished writing in my journal tonight and thought I'd share with you my entry because today was my "March 11th Day":

Today marks the one year anniversary of the cortisone shot that I had in the bottom of my right foot.  Those were hard days after I had that procedure.  The unrelenting pain was horrible.  And yet...I see God's providence throughout it all.  If I didn't get that shot, I probably would still be tip-toeing on my right foot, wondering why I still have lingering foot pain 8 months after my hemangioma surgery.  So God brought me to two OHSU dermatologists.  He brought good out of bad---Even though that shot made things worse and not better, I'm so thankful I had it done because the doctors answered the question as to why I had so much foot pain after that surgery.  They diagnosed me with CRPS.  I was no longer left in the dark.  And so began that long journey since then...  But today, I still say with all my heart that God is good all the time! :)  Without Him, I couldn't have survived these long months!  He has carried me through it all!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this post on Tuesday... ;)