Hello all...

I apologize in advance for the length of this post, but I have to get you up to date on me!  That's nearly 27 years of info in one little post!  Overwhelmed yet?!  ;-)

Where to start?  I was born and raised on a cattle ranch and had the perfect family.  Loving parents and an older brother and sister.  I was the baby and beyond spoiled!  From an early age, I knew that I just didn't feel "good."  What I didn't know was why and if everyone else felt like this too.  At around the age of three I had an unexplained seizure and thankfully that has never happened again.  Through elementary school I was plagued with stomach troubles, infections, and one very serious case of pneumonia.  I could not keep up with kids my age and completely dreaded gym class.  The thought of trying to run (or even jog) a complete lap around a gym was enough to put me in tears.  However, I never brought this up to anyone because I had always felt this way and just assumed everyone else did too.  I also had some issues with my knees and bones.  I once tripped on the sidewalk and broke two bones in my foot.  My knees would easily "give out" on me for lack of a better term.  Doctors always chalked it up to how fast I grew and told me my muscles and tendons just couldn't keep up with my bones. 

Fast forward to High School and things got more difficult.  I badly wanted to be in sports and attempted one season of volleyball.  Why I would want to torture myself like that, I don't know!  Then, my senior year I tried to do a good deed and donate blood.  I drove to the site, walked inside, filled out the paperwork, and then they took my vitals...  The poor nurse was shocked by my heart rate and asked if I had ran to the building.  Needless to say I did not donate blood that day.  Still, slow Amy did not catch on and it didn't click that something might be wrong.

So on to college.  I met my now amazing husband my Freshman year.  At the time I met him I was dealing with an extreme (and embarrassing) case of vaginitis along with some scary symptoms of flushing, my skin getting burning hot (with no fever), and uncontrollable trembling.  I was going to doctor after doctor who would test me for yeast infections, find nothing, give me a random prescription, and send me home.  All of this with a new boyfriend!  He was amazing and even went to the appointments with me!  That all mysteriously disappeared and life went on.  The dreaded "Freshman Fifteen" started creeping up on me so the boyfriend and I bought gym memberships.  My now hubby was instantly concerned.  The "Over Sixty" group was passing me on the track and very little exercise made my hips hurt so bad I could barely walk.  So we started doctoring.  About a million doctors, tons of medications, a failed ablation, and finally a trip to Mayo Clinic later, I was finally diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS for short).

I learned to manage my symptoms with no medications.  My husband and I were married in 2009.  In 2010, our first daughter was born.  My heart rate was elevated through the entire pregnancy, but I managed it well and had no other difficulties.  Labor and delivery were a breeze!  After she was born, I felt the best I have ever felt.  POTS wasn't even something I thought about any more.  I still wasn't going to try to go for a run, but I was living a "normal" life.  In 2012, I got pregnant with our second daughter.  My heart rate was not a problem this time but I lost weight and was nauseous the entire pregnancy.  She was born in September and was perfect!  In November, I had a terrible gallbladder attack!  If you've never had one, it's worse than childbirth!  In December, I finally had surgery to remove that demon organ!  It was filled with tiny stones and I was glad to be rid of it!  However, as soon as I woke up, I knew something was not right.  My legs felt terrible!  I was right.  My body was at the beginning of a major shut down!  Every time I would eat even one bite of food, my body would go into shock: severe shaking, flushing of my face, chest pain, tachycardia, freezing cold but sweating, my leg muscles would go tense, the list is endless!  I went to the Emergency Room three different times and they could not find anything!  I was only able to handle broth, jello, and Gatorade.  I lost 25 pounds in a month and was miserable.  I could not take care of my daughters and was terrified that my life was never going to be the same.  Christmas Day came and I decided I had to try to eat.  Slowly and stubbornly I started eating.  It was awful.  My body fought me every step of the way and there were many times that I would sit, stare at my cup of soup, and cry because I did not want to eat it.  I finally decided to get help and e-mailed a doctor from Mayo Clinic.

That brings you about up to date.  I'm currently able to eat (Hooray)!  I'm still having some pesky symptoms (tinnitus, bloodshot eyes, episodes of muscle weakness, a strange full pressure feeling in my head, and an inability to control body temperature.  After suspecting I might be dealing with a Mast Cell issue, I started taking a Zyrtec and Zantac every morning and really feel it has been helpful.  I no longer feel dizzy and my tingling and shaking has basically disappeared.  I'm also wondering if I might be dealing with Ehlers Danlos but we will see what Mayo has to say!  What a journey this Topsy Turvy Life is!  I can tell you that through these very difficult times, I've learned to appreciate.  I say a little Thank You to God with every bite that I eat.  So now I wait... Mayo Clinic approved my appointment, but there are no openings.  I will keep bugging them until they let me in!  Ha Ha!  Until next time...

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.  Psalm 73:26  

Amy