You’re Full of S*}T

There’s been real progress in my health over the last four weeks. Energy is returning. My legs aren’t numb unless I stand too long. I’ve not felt like I’m riding a horse in more than two weeks.

AND YET…the ever-changing features of dysautonomia keep me ever-vigilant, always on the lookout for something new on which to focus.

For instance, a couple weeks ago I found myself sitting in the ER suffering from severe pain in my lower back, on both sides. It started in my kidney area and wrapped around to my abdomen. After blood and urine were drained from my body and a CT of my head completed, the doctor entered the room and turned on the screen to show me what they’d found. It turned out, in the doctor’s words, “Basically, you’re full of shit.”

My reply was that I’ve been told that before but she clarified my medical diagnosis was more technical and less glamorous: Constipation, secondary to Dysautonomia. Apparently, while my eating had continued at pace, my gut was slowing down causing a four-car pileup and a major backup on the highway of my intestines.

I got up off the gurney and sat in a chair at the side of the room. I didn’t need a hospital. I just needed MiraLAX. There was no need for urgent care, just a generous portion of Metamucil.

As I drift through Dysautonomia, I’m so grateful that I don’t suffer from POTS or some of the more severe forms of the disease. But every day seems to be a science experiment. I’m constantly learning new things about my body, it’s functions, and more often, it’s dysfunctions. Things I’ve always taken for granted have changed and as a result, I must change with it.

It’s a lesson we all need to learn eventually and to be honest, I’m grateful I have the opportunity to learn it today. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a colon cleanse waiting.