So what’s wrong with Katie, anyway?
Posted on 10/11/2009 04:03 pm by kagranju
So ever since I got so sick about a week ago, I have been trying to understand myself (as have a small army of doctors) what exactly is wrong with me, and I’ve had numerous people ask me to explain what’s wrong with me. After an overnight RE-admittance to the hospital on Friday (which included the dreaded spinal tap I’d been tryingto avoid since this all began), I think the docs finally feel confident saying what happened, and why I am so sick.
So for those who are interested, here’s the way I understand it, and the best way I know to explain it.
At some point in the past few weeks, I began getting sick with some kind of viral syndrome. We still have no idea what exactly this virus was/is, but the docs feel sure now that it was viral in nature. In the first few days, they were not sure whether it was a lymphoma or a virus, but thank God, it was the latter.
The virus crept up slowly, making me feel run down and sore in my neck and shoulders (that was why my neck and upper back felt so stiff for about 2 weeks) and then finally slammed into me like a mack truck.
The virus hit me so hard and so fast that it caused my entire lymphatic system to suddenly go berserk, which looked somewhat like early stage lymphoma on CAT scans, and some early blood work. But it was just my lymphatic system working overtime to deal with this viral attack. It also caused me to develop something known as “sudden onset thyroiditis.”
Now, I am told that I am still recovering from the virus itself, which is why I am so weak and tired. I have been sent home with the express instructions to stay completely off my feet and drink lots of fluids and sleep a lot for around one week. AFTER the viral symptoms are truly gone, then I will will follow up with various specialists (endocrinologist, oncologist, haemotologist, etc) to determine whether the viral attack has permanently altered my autoimmune system and thyroid in any way, or whether I am lucky (please keep your fingers crossed for me on this one) and my body returns to its normal functioning immune system, thyroid, etc.
So basically, the virus – whatever it is/was – really was like a sledgehammer, and now I will have to wait to find out whether getting beaten with the sledgehammer has left me with any permanent damage, like a limp of the immune system or something.
The docs also told me that if I don’t start taking better, basic health precautions (more sleep, regular sleep hours, better nutrition, better exercise, better balance of work/relaxation, etc), I am just begging for something like this to happen again, only worse. I consider this a very important wake-up call, and suffice it to say that a change is gonna come. I feel grateful and lucky….and still really, really tired.
So there you have it. Or rather, there I have it. Decisions to be made. Organizational changes to be addressed. Priorities to be prioritized… I never want to feel this sick again in my entire life.
10/11/2009 at 4:33 pm
I am sorry you had to go through this. I am glad our wonderful docs figured out what is/was wrong. NOW, you must do what they say. I know it is hard, but you really can’t “do it all” & be superwoman.
I have been really sick & it made me get my priorities straight.
Hope you are on the mend & everything turns out OK.
10/11/2009 at 4:55 pm
Also you might want to check on whether the recent massages you posted about have impacted your lymphatic system.
10/11/2009 at 5:46 pm
I think you can do it all. Just not all at once! I hope you make a full recovery very soon. Take good care.
Your friend,
500Jerk
10/11/2009 at 6:40 pm
That’s an interesting point about the massages. There are all sorts of possible culprits, but the only focus needs to be on the climb back up. Rest is a huge part of this recovery, allowing your body to reset its systems. Please do not underestimate it. Hope you are feeling much better soon enough!
10/11/2009 at 11:31 pm
I’m glad your doctors are being firm about self-care and wellness going forward! I know it’s hard to prioritize yourself – but think of it as modeling healthy and sustainable living for your own daughters (I say this as the daughter of a woman who put everyone else first, to the detriment of her own health). It is still a conscious struggle for me as a parent not to do the same.
One of my dear friends lives with an autoimmune disease – many drugs, many side effects. Rest up this week and let your body heal. I hope this does not leave you with any lasting side effects.
Have you read any Christiane Northup? She wrote in “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom” of a wake-up call she had (severe mastitis that she ignored, IIRC) that led her to completely change her lifestyle and priorities.
Thinking of you and sending hugs!
10/12/2009 at 9:00 pm
My system did the same thing to me after a bout of food poisoning that nearly killed me. In the ensuing three years, I have been going through the fight of my life, experiencing symptoms very similar to yours. I have a wonderful new doctor who listens to me and has gained my trust, and she put it like this: “your entire immune system doesn’t know its ass from its elbow ever since it fought to get you well after the pathogens hit your body with the food poisoning.” My immune system has actually been attacking my entire endocrine system! I also learned recently that, because of my problems, I am severely malnourished…I eat, but nothing “takes”…gee, wonder why I am so exhausted all of the time?
Sound familiar?
I’m still working to get it right. I have my good days and I have my bad days. But Katie, you know what? There is always, always hope. And I will be hopeful for you.
Hang in there. If there is anything that I can do for you, don’t hesitate to shoot me an email or leave me a message on my blog. I’ll be sending many good warm thoughts your way.
Laura Linger