Student Health Fairs...Don't Do It

A few days ago, I went to LSU's Student Health Fair because it was required for two of my kinesiology classes. I was excited because I heard that they were going to have a blood typing booth! I still have no idea how we don't know my blood type, but we don't. I arrived at the event only to be disappointed because the blood typing people did not show up. I knew that all of the results for these tests were probably going to be weird or off in some sort of way just because of all the things wrong with me. What I did not expect was to walk out of there with an arrow in my self esteem. Y'all know that I am happy with who I am, in all aspects of who I am. Both my BMI and my Body Fat Percentage were in the overweight category. I am a size freaking six, like how is that possible?! They also weighed me and told me that I was 15 pounds heavier than I actually am. I was like, "That is WAY off!" Besides that when I got my glucose and cholesterol tested, the nurse squeezed my finger until it was blue to try and get blood out. This is because of POTS and I can't help it. Both my glucose and cholesterol levels came back normal, which is awesome! Back to the whole body image thing. I am not big by any means and do not consider myself fat (although I could stand to lose a few pounds). Last year, I was not working out a whole lot and not eating the healthiest foods around so I knew that my weight was not going to change in a positive way. I came to terms with that. Now that I am working out for POTS and watching what I eat more, I feel that I am heading in the right direction. Although I will probably never be a size zero again, I know that one day I will be in great shape and fit. I don't care what size I am as long as I am "healthy", in shape, and fit. I know everyone wants their "Spring Break Bodies" or their defined abs for summer, but all I want is to be the healthiest I can be, whether that is a size six or a size zero.
Until next time,
A :)

Pacemaker-iversary

Those of you who are friends with me on facebook or follow me on instagram know that this past Saturday marked the three year anniversary of having my pacemaker implanted. These past three years seemed to have gone by in slow-mo and fast forward all at the same time! If you would have told me all the things I have gone through in the last year would happen to me at this time last year, I would have never believed you! (Sorry that sentence was a mouthful haha) Those who have been following my blog know all of the things I have been through in the last six months. Being diagnosed with a disease that has only "existed" since 1999 is simply mind blowing. And if that is mind blowing, I don't know what acute renal failure at 20 equates to. I would like to say in the sincerest of ways, I am a medical mystery. Although someone may not want to be considered that, it is who I am. I embrace the craziness of it all and roll with it. If I didn't, life would be a trainwreck. Some may already think my life is. I know there is some greater plan for me and this is all apart of the journey. My journey may be rockier than others, but I'm okay with that and in the long run that is all that really matters.
Until next time,
A :)

What does "better" mean?

I want to start off by apologizing for my last post because it was "boring." Boring is not always a bad thing in my life, especially when it comes to medical complications. But my dad was upset that he did not get a shout out. So here it goes, "Hey Dad!" He was also upset that I did not talk about getting a new roof on my car or getting a new mattress over break. My car flooded over break and we thought it was a leak in the roof. Turns out it was not the roof, but the roof was shot so we got a new one and it looks so good! I also finally got a new mattress after 18 years. I have only slept on it 4 times but those were 4 great nights! I have been asking for a new mattress for 2 years now. You don't realize how excited I was to get a new one! It was like finding out you are going to Disney World...okay that is an exaggerating but it was definitely exciting! Now on to something else...hahah
I want to explain about how I am "getting better" because I think people are a little confused. Neither of my diseases are curable...yet. I am not cured or fixed by any means. My symptoms are being treated with medication, the pacemaker, and all of the extra things I am doing for my POTS. I am doing better though. I feel better; I have more energy than I had before the POTS diagnosis. But by no means am I cured. Both of these diseases are chronic, meaning they are long term. But there is a chance that I can "grow" out of them. The magic age seems to be between 21 and 23 for both of them. I hope that I will grow out of these diseases but I want to be realistic in knowing that it could not happen. I mean I really don't understand how my stomach could just magically start working again one day. Lance (my little brother) seems to already be growing out of POTS so I feel like it may not happen for myself with POTS because I am 3 years older than him. My gastro doctor at Shands at UF in Florida said that I could easily have the pacemaker for the rest of my life. So, although I do look and feel better, my insides still don't work the way they should. Then again, doing all the things for POTS is helping my blood flow and autonomic nervous system but my stomach is still not working (as far as we know). I hope this helps y'all understand a little bit more about what I mean when I say I am doing better!
Until next time,
A :)

Back at It

It's been over a month since I last blogged. I have been super busy getting back into the swing of things with school. I am taking 15 hours this semester and 3 of my courses have homework due each week. I feel like I am back in high school with all the work that I am doing! I also have to earn 32 hours of service for one of my classes. My health is doing pretty well. I am completely off the medication I was reducing over Christmas Break. I did have some withdrawal symptoms but they weren't as bad as some of the ones I've had in the past. My back has been bothering me for a couple of weeks (not as bad as last time) so I went to the doctor to have my blood tested again but everything came back fine. That's great and everything but my back is still hurting and I don't have an answer. I may be going to the orthopedic this week to see if they think it's anything other than "muscular pain." I am so tired of hearing that pair of words, you don't even know. Besides the back pain, I am doing very well! If I do all of the things I need to, life runs smoothly. But, if I miss something, whether it's working out or not getting enough sleep, I can definitely tell. It affects me more than I thought it would. It's a lifestyle change that is for the better.
Until next time,
A

P.S. My hope is that from here on out, I will blog once a week. It might not be all medical but it will be about my life. Blogging definitely helps relieve stress and gets your feelings out (if anyone wants to try it!)

It's been a while...

It has been over two weeks since I last posted. I haven't really been up to anything because I am on break. I talked to my doctor last week and updated her. I am doing very well. If anything, I am struggling to get in extra salt. She was super excited that I am doing so well. When we were in Minnesota we talked about getting rid of one of my medications. I am currently in the process of reducing it. I haven't really had any withdrawals symptoms which is AH-mazing! Hopefully by the time I go back to school, I will be completely off of it. Earlier last week I got a letter in the mail from the Mayo Clinic asking for my permission to use my records and charts for research. This means that Case Study #1 is under way! This is very exciting because a connection could be found between gastroparesis and POTS/dysautonomia. A cure could come from this connection, but that is hoping for a lot. Right now, I am just happy that there is progress being made between the two diseases.
Since we just celebrated Christmas and are about to start a new year, I wanted to say how thankful I am for each and every one of you. I am so thankful for my family and friends who helped me get through this year. I am thankful for the health that I do have. For as many things that I have been through with my health in the last year, there are numerous people who have so many more medical issues than I have. God has blessed me with an abundant amount things that there is no way I could not be happy with my life and current outcome. 2014 has been a struggle some days but joyous and fun other days. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me in 2015. Here's to the best year of our lives!
Until next time,
A :)

POTSies: They're Everywhere!

POTSies are people who have POTS. Since I have received my diagnosis (and even before), I have met so many POTSies! Today, I had the pleasure of meeting a POTsie who I went to high school with for 3 years. Jess is a year younger than me and graduated from SJA in 2013. It was so nice to talk to someone who is in the same situation as me. She is in a sorority, does amazing things for her university, and works multiple jobs. She has a list of diagnoses as long as mine, or even longer. Although, my brother is a POTsie and is literally in the room next to mine, talking to Jess was amazing and something that I definitely needed. We didn't stop talking for 3 hours straight! We compared diseases and medications like nobody's business. People sitting next to us were looking at us like we were crazy. We also chatted about school, our blessings, our futures (and the multitude of things they could contain), and our pill boxes. I know that I am never alone in my battle with my chronic illnesses but to be able to talk to somebody about all of the these things and someone who is so similar to me was a great release!
In other news, I GOT A 4.0!! This is my first 4.0 in college and I could not be more overjoyed! For everything that I went through this semester, I was happy and thankful with the 3.75 I thought I was going to get.
Today was an overall amazing day! I hope everyone has a wonderful break (whether it has already started or you still a little while left)!
Until next time,
A :)

5th Semester: Complete

Well, I made it through my 5th semester at LSU! Starting this semester I never imagined the struggles and challenges I would face. I had more complications internally than I have had in long time. I struggled in my classes, even having to drop one. One hell of a semester would definitely be an understatement. For as many issues that have come my way, so many great experiences came as well. I have met so many amazing people this semester. I have been to a couple phenomenal concerts with even better people. I have been more active in both LSU Ambassadors and Theta than I have ever been. I know that I will definitely have a 3.75 for the semester and depending on how one class falls, I may end up with my first 4.0 in college. I feel so lucky to be able to continue to go to school and do the things I love even though I have medical conditions that half of you can't pronounce (it's okay, medical terminology is hard). From recruitment at the beginning of August to finals this week, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been with me through all of this. Thank you to everyone who has continued to pray for me over these past few months. You have no idea how much it means to me. God has been so good to me in my twenty years on this wonderful earth. I can't wait to see what He has in store for me in the next twenty years and beyond.
Until next time,
A :)