SO…my rheumatologist was able to give me a diagnosis today!
According to western (I say western because I totally dig eastern, more natural doctors with an eastern approach) medicine and blood work lined up with symptoms–I was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome. Never heard of it?? Well, if you are a tennis fan–then maybe you have because of Venus Williams. You can read about her journey with it here. And just for kicks and for your growing education;), you can also read about it on the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation here. There isn’t a cure…so it’ll be a journey of figuring out the ins and outs of this auto-immune disease–so my rheumatologist said we’d be good friends:).
I’ll still have to get our doctor to write a letter to our adoption agency–and it’ll still have to get cleared by them and China…but if it’s His will–then it will all work out when the time is right.
Praise–it’s not lupus! Bummer–that it IS something. It’s okay though–I know have a good excuse for memory loss and fatigue BESIDES being a busy momma!
And then…there’s the east. My homeopathic doctor and the blood tests he ordered line up with Lyme’s disease (scored a 50 when it needs to be 200 on CD-57). The treatment is all natural supplements–so I guess it’s worth a go, and he might be on to something.
BUT because I’ve had Sjogren’s symptoms much longer than that tick bite last year—I’m guessing I could have Lyme’s on top of Sjogren’s. Not discrediting either. And totally will listen to both sides–because I’m open minded like that.
(Word on the street is medical doctors don’t like to diagnose or test you for Lyme’s for political reasons. I don’t believe everything I’m fed–even if we do live in a free country folk. I believe we are to question everything–no matter how smart it sounds. SOOO…even if something that is completely unknown or different or might even sound nuts to me–like foreign eastern medicine because I grew up in a western country–I don’t think it should just quickly be tossed out the window. SO…why would I even listen to him…besides the fact that eastern medicine has been around for so much longer than western?? Aside from that–GET THIS. Full on NUTS! When we brought Isaac home the western doctors–the pediatrician, urologist, GI doctor, pediatric pulmonologist…ALL were diagnosing our sweet boy left and right. He was on steroids and meds GALORE…to help him with kidney problems, severe asthma, x-rays every week…the list goes on. I went to this AMAZING homeopathic doctor who is also a strong believer and he said, “STOP giving him all this! The boy has giardia!!!” He had tested negative at the labs my pediatrician had done–but my homeopathic doctor explained how HARD they are to catch and you can test negative 10x for parasites before you get a sample that would test positive. He ran some of his tests–and said he was simply a little boy overtaken with a parasite that was hard to catch and treat with strong meds. I took a step of faith and took his advice and gave him the natural stuff–and in TWO WEEKS my sweet boy was a DIFFERENT baby!!! I was jaw-dropped and SO THANKFUL! We had seen THE “best” pulmonogist in our area, and he was jaw dropped at how his severe asthma was now GONE! My pediatrician couldn’t believe it either and although it didn’t make sense to him–he told me to please keep doing whatever it was we had been doing because he had NEVER seen a child make such a miraculous turn around! He scratched his said and said MAYBE it WAS parasites after all! Our visits to EVERY doctor…the best of the best…quickly came to an end ALL AT ONCE! It was AMAZING!) SOOO…all that being said–I could have Lyme’s (I guess) and I’ll do his natural treatment and it can’t hurt:) I’ve been on the homeopathic treatment for Lyme’s for 2 weeks–and I already feel a difference in my joints–so it’s all good either way!
So the funny part is today when I told my rheumatologist that my naturalist doctor thought I had Lyme’s. He told me I have Sjogren’s–and NOT Lyme’s…because he has never heard of CD-57 and you can’t get Lyme’s in Georgia. I thought that statement was funny:). (Everything else he said sounded so intelligent–but that conclusion made me bite my lip to keep from snickering!) I’m so bad because I did say, “Um doctor, have you heard of cases in North Carolina? You have? Well, do you think deer and ticks don’t cross borders?? Alright–so I’m not in denial that I have Sjogren’s…I just think it’s funny that deer and ticks can’t cross borders and he didn’t even want to test me for Lyme’s. He said my blood markers line up with Lupus and Sjogren’s–and because I miss some clear, key Lupus symptoms and all my symptoms and blood tests line up with Sjogren’s–Sjogren’s is today’s lucky winner. And that was that.
My rheumatologist says Sjogren’s will be with me forever. SO–maybe it will. Or maybe this will be another time when east meets west. Regardless–my blood work shows I have Sjogren’s–and for sure an auto-immune disorder…so we’ll be chill in’ over here, eating healthy and slowing down. (And now I have a legit excuse for forgetfulness, being tired or cavities!)
Thank you for praying! Thankful to have a diagnosis. And totally not blowing off the eastern one either. Ultimately, I’m thankful to have a Great Physician who knows more than either–and who is the ultimate Healer for each and every one of us. Amen?
And word on the street is ALSO that Venus Williams is making a career come back. I’m diggin’ that attitude Venus. Y’all watch out. This time next year…crafts and crazy kid activities will be making a come back on my blog too.
Thankful to have some of the coolest and most amazing blog readers to pray for me, encourage me and be on this journey with me! LOVE y’all! And super thankful that this syndrome is NOT on the “can’t adopt” list for any country. Praying that if it’s His will for us to bring home a little girl–that He will pave the way in His perfect timing!
Andrea
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