Since my IV therapy in December things have gone back to the usual pattern of being very up and down, from one day to the next I can go from doing pretty good to awful. December was a difficult month during my IV therapy as the fatigue and brain fog increased substantially so it was hard to function and things like following conversation and thinking exhausted me more than usual. But aside from the muscle and joint pain and weakness which stuck around and was as bad as always it was the best four weeks I have experienced for pain since I became sick. This was a huge victory to finally find something that helped that much and even though I felt pretty lousy in other ways it was wonderful to enjoy a break from some of the pain! About a week after the IVs stopped I had some energy return and my brain fog lifted and I was overall doing better than usual. Now that it has been a few weeks since my treatments most of my symptoms have returned in full force and I am again dealing with much pain, so there is no doubt that the treatments were helping somewhat. My naturopath doctor would like to wait until after we see the Lyme specialist before making any decisions on how often we need to do IVs.
Recently I read something in a book written by Joni Eareckson Tada about how suffering reminds us where our true strength lies. This is something I really see when the disappointment of setbacks come so often and the pain returns again and again. It's so hard to understand why this has to go on so long but God promises to use suffering for our good, and one way I can see that in the present time is that because of my suffering I continually need to call on the Lord for strength to persevere, and when I do that I find vast amounts of strength beyond my own. I need to spend much time in God's Word and in prayer because the more I lean on him the more strength, comfort, and peace I receive in knowing He will continue to carry us through this trial. When we experience an urgency for his strength we understand more fully that He truly is the only source of our strength. My determination only gets me so far!
"Have you not known? Have you not heard?
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary,
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31
"Therefore we do not loose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16
Two weeks ago I also developed a blood clot in my left wrist. We
aren't sure why as I first noticed it about a
week after my last IV when they say usually if it happens from
IVs it happens either during the treatment or the day of, but since it's
only about an inch away from where the IV was inserted it makes most
sense that the vein was in the very least irritated and it took a few
days for it to become inflamed and then develop a blood clot. Over last
weekend I began to feel pressure in my arm and it was painful to use,
especially to drive, so I was advised to either go to a
walk in or the ER as I may have developed a deep vein clot which is
more serious as it's more likely to travel. The doctor at the walk in said it was definitely an inflamed vein on my wrist with a blood clot, possibly two, and put me on blood thinners right away as they will help prevent deep vein clots
from developing and it will also treat them
if they are already present. She also sent an urgent ultrasound
requisition to the hospital to rule out any deep vein clots but I am
still waiting for that. (I hear the hospitals are quite
backed up with ultrasounds right now so it may take a while...) The
blood thinners worked very quickly though as the pressure feeling in my
arm went away within a couple days.
This is a bit disappointing as the IVs seemed to be
very effective for me and I feel uneasy about continuing them if this
could happen again. The fact that this is dragging on so long and the
clots in my wrist haven't gotten any better yet is also a bit concerning
to the doctor as the longer they are there the more risk for deep
vein clots and a blood infection. There are some things that can put you at higher risk
for developing blood clots, but none of them I apparently have, so to
cover all basis my naturopath doctor put me on some supplements to help
with some things he thinks could be contributing. We are praying it
will heal with no complications and that maybe by the time I get the
ultrasound things are cleared up!
The boys are always ready to keep me company... I get lots of books read to me. :)
Brandon waits to put on the pain relief ointment after I'm done the hot compress on my wrist so he can help make it feel better. They love to take care of me however they can, it's such a blessing for me and I hope this time of me being sick helps them to always have a heart for those who are suffering.
During Christmas break they overheard me on the phone saying I felt bad for not being able to help shovel so they asked if they could surprise Dad by
shoveling for him before he came home from work... they didn't make it much further than this, but
it's the thought that counts. :)
*Update Friday January 15: I had my ultrasound yesterday and the results showed no deep vein clots. This is a relief! The blood clots on my wrist are still the same, and the doctor said it may stay like this for a while if it hasn't cleared up yet. These are the two clots on my wrist, yuck.
