More About phnx3
Hey ho, Ive got a syndrome that takes me low ~~~ (sung as per any rap of the mo) Yo!
And I've worked out how to add a photo to my bio now too ...
Here's a pic of a piece of applique/embroidery that I made a few years ago - it comes pretty close to representing what I see as per the "Persistent Migraine Aura without Infarction" when I am highly stressed or manic ...
UPDATE AUGUST 2010:
Well it looks as tho' the Bipolar diagnosis of 15 years ago, & the start of all my physical malfunctions, may be right afterall - I seem to be on a 3-4 month cycle that slowly builds up into "magical thinking" & then suddenly & drastically drops into a suicidal depression - it is only these scary drops that make me ask for professional assistance. The doc prescribed me Zyprexa Zydis this time & it does seem to alleviate the despair inside my head so I might just stick with it for a while.
UPDATE NOVEMBER 2009:
Well, I have been totally home-bound for 2 years now & on Disability for one year. I do try going back to help in my husband's business but it's always the same - after a couple of hours of work I experience a full-on fatigue flare for over 4 days - so I don't think I will try it any more - it doesn't get better.
In May last year (2008) I was diagnosed by a rheumatologist as having Fibromyalgia. The neurologist said I certainly didn't have MS, after looking over my MRI scans he suggested that I may have Fibromyalgia - ordered a whole heap of special blood tests & hey Bingo! that's what showed up.
OK, there is nothing on the TV, I aint got any dvd's, no cable TV, etc, etc ... so here goes:
Years & years ago when my last child was just 18 months old & I was 37 years old, I got a migraine plus my jaw was very painful - it came again & again - I went to a GP - he told me I was grinding my teeth in my sleep & prescribed me a minor tranquilliser - I got worse, started crying a lot & felt very fatigued & could see swirling multi-coloured patterns in the air (really!) - he referred me straight to a psychiatrist & thus started a 3 year living nightmare. Suffice to say, after 3 years & first diagnosis of "Bipolar Disorder" including Hyperthyroidism, plus the prescription of 15 different psych drugs including Lithium, anti-depressants & anti-epileptics, I finally just went "cold turkey" & quit all the drugs. I lay on the floor & wept for 2 weeks but then slowly I started to smile & walk around again. The final prognosis from the professionals was "Unknown Mental Illness". I had never been to a psychiatrist before & I have never been to one since. But apparently the label sticks out of the top of head like a flashing neon sign visible only to doctors! Ha ha.
UPDATE! 03/17 - OMG! I have finally got a diagnosis as to just what was going on when I got those Migraines. I have a fairly rare condition called "Persistent Migraine Aura without Infarction (Pain)". Here is a link to my "case" on the Migraine Aura website:
http://www.migraine-aura.org/content/e27891/e27265/e45446/e61941/index_en.html
This diagnosis was ONLY possible through my being a member of PLM & finding the link to their site through Lynxgal's forum post on Migraine Aura. I am sooooo grateful to everyone here - thankyou!
But to continue with my "story" ... THEN wham! 4 years ago, when I was 50 years old, my mother died, my legs collapsed, I was leaking urine that was not due to "stress" - I was WORRIED!!! I limped to the GP, she said "how's your depression?" What the !@#%? Three years later, massive physical & mental fatigue (that I call Brain Fag as a derivative of "fatigue" apparently originally from "battle fatigue") & various individual diagnoses of muscle spasm syndromes, I am referred to a Consultant Physician to oversee my on-going testing - thank goodness! I feel so relieved about this. This is why I listed so many secondary symptoms on my profile page - I am going to print it out & give to this specialist in the hope that he shall "get it" a lot better this time.
And, oh yes, right now - it took me so long (18 mths) to find any kind of extra work to assist with our family's income & then after a few months work I physically can't continue any longer. You see it was Merchandising work in a massive Hardware warehouse & the Summer temperature was quite often 45 degrees Celsius inside the building (about 113 degrees F) for about 5 hours on average once per week. I think it caused the massive 20 hour painful arm spasms & fatigue. But thank goodness, my husband says it's OK, he will do the job in my place - what can I say - that God could be well represented by such even-tempered & open "MEN" - yep I have to say it!!! I went to the doc & he said definitely Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
And as per my own interests apart from being compelled to pay attention to my errant body, I love HORSES! Oh yeah, the smell of horses is just heaven to my nose - really! The ideal retirement village would have to have some mini horses close to hand! And then I also LOVE sewing - it is absolute meditation space to me - my own quiet & creative time.
And this clever cockatoo can always make me smile so I will share his magic with you too: http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html
Pru (this is a photo taken of me a few years ago with my first granddaughter, Alana! I've got a second one now too)