No posts in 1.5 months?

Wow - it's been a while since I last wrote!  It's been a hard two months.  I returned to work for 3 weeks, only to have to go back on disability.  I would cry on my way to work, at work, on my way home - it was obvious the after effects of the prednisone were too extreme, and the lexapro, trazadone, and klonpin weren't enough to manage it.

I thankfully received the OK for long term disability this month, and was paid out for December 3-January 21 (a much needed check). 

So, let's see, what's all happened.  The psychiatrist I've been seeing due to the emotional issues from the prednisone increased my amount of lexapro.  I got worse.  Then I was put on depakote.  Had an allergic reaction.  I finally asked him to give me a tapering schedule.  As of these week, I'm officially off every med, except for the Sodium Cromolyn (to keep those bad eosinophils from bursting in my GI tract), Prilosec (thank God for getting me off of expensive Nexium), and Potassium Supplements.  I also take calcium, a hypoallergenic multi-vitamin, but I don't count that, as I would do that anyways :)  I'm extremely grateful the CVS found a new brand for the Sodium Cromolyn.  I get a big box every 12 days, and it used to cost $160 a box.  Now, it's the typical $10 copay.  I didn't even know there was another brand, as everyone called it Gastrocrom - apparently, that's the expensive one.  Not paying that anymore will help the budget A LOT.

I had some moles removed - I love my doctors, but I could care less about moles with all the crap that's gone on the last 6 months.  Biopsies should be back next week.  I have also been severely asymptomatic hypoglycemic for the last 3 months.  I was sent to an immunologist and an endocrinonologist.  Go figure - I finally get to the endocrinologist and he has me testing my glucose levels 3x a day.  I had just finished the lexapro, and my blood sugar has been normal since.  I did some online research, and other people have also had hypoglycemia with lexapro.  So, I reported that to my doctors, and am grateful my blood sugar is back on track.  Unfortunately, my cortisol levels are low, so the doctors did an ACHT test this week.  I'm REALLY praying this will come back negative.  If it isn't, the solution is prednisone, and that is what got me into this downward spiral of medical issue and steroid psychosis.  I think someone would have to cram it down my throat after all I've been through.  Please pray; we hope to get an answer early next week.

Food trials are going well. I have endoscopy #2 next week with Dr. Gonsalves, to see if I passed food group 1.  If so, I'm on to all fruits.  So far, I can eat grapes/raisins, olives (both green/black), rice (and rice chex), green beans (all kinds), zucchini, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, apples and pears.  I am waiting for results on garlic and asparagus.  I still need to test peaches, plums, broccoli and cauliflower and maybe some peppers (green, red, yellow).  I feel like a rabbit, and have increased my juice boxes from 2 to 4 a day, as I started losing my hair and freaked out.  Not sure if it was the meds, but it was enough to make sure I was getting more amino acids (broken down protein) back in my diet.

So, it's been  A TON of doctors appointments, labs, food trials, and medicine tapering and withdrawal symptom management.  I've learned a lot, taught my doctors a lot, and hope to get some good news next week.  I still struggle with dizziness, easy bruising, and some other weird side effects, but I'm hoping that will get better as I finish these withdrawal effects.  I'm significantly better from where I was 1.5 months ago, and night and day from where I was when all this started and when I was on the prednisone.  God has really challenged me, and I feel I've come out stronger.  I continue to pray for healing, and some good lab results next week with the ACHT results, the biopsy results, and the endoscopy.

And that's all I'm willing to share on this public blog.  Those that know me very well know what this has been truly like for me and all that I have been through.  I've only shared some of the most horrific details with a small handful, and I feel good about that - that I was able to make it through some truly dark times.  God has been good, and I know He will continue to bless me and my family.  Thank you all for journeying with me.  More to come next week!