Let’s go back to 1987 - one severe respiratory infection after another, punctuated by one kidney/bladder problem after the other. At one point, my kidneys just shut down - this while I was sitting in the waiting room of the urologists office. Fatigue to the degree of not being able to finish a shower all at once. Washing my hair was a chore. Docs could find nothing wrong - said it was severe exhaustion an I should take vitamins and rest more. O thank you most learned men.
Then came the time that I would unintentionally entertain my children (3 teenaged boys) by nodding off mid-conversation, holding a cup of hot coffee or an icy glass of pepsi. They watched and waited (wagering amongst themselves) to see if/when I would spill the drink in my hands. Somehow it never seemed to get that far.
Memory problems (short-term) were becoming more and more of a problem. The would get the point the my ordinary life was no longer ordinary. My sister (may she rest in peace) used to call me the youngest Alzheimer’s patient she ever met - (I was 36/37 y/o).
Things settled down for a while, so we fast forward some. (to the mid to late 90s actually). Serious health events began again. I began again being extremely fatigued over nothing, started dropping things constantly and began having serious mood swings -- didn’t make for a very happy home life, I’ll tell you…diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and surgery was set for both hands (not at the same time); went to a hand specialist at USF (one of the best in the country) several years after the one (and only) surgery -- he tells me no CTS - thank you very much 6 weeks painful recovery and time off work I could have done without.
Moving on a year or so, we have the doctor say - you have chronic fatigue syndrome - ok -- can’t really do anything - don’t know what causes it and no cure for it….HOORAY!!! I moved from Largo to St. Petersburg and I had to change doctors. The new doc says - NO CFS, but I have fibromyalgia and possibly Rheumatoid arthritis. YIPPEE. Depression deepens as fine motor skills become a problem. Short term memory worsens; bouts of confusion and disorientation, problems driving - gave it up except for back and forth to work. I’d get behind the wheel and forget where it is I was going.
I’m bushed….
If anyone is interested let me know and I’ll finish this MAYBE tomorrow.
Goodnight.
