So much to think about, so little time. I will start by saying, I’m on a “fix it” journey with my body right now! It all started with what “they” wanted to label as anxiety or panic attack. My doctor did a deep dive to figure out that I am hypoglycemic. Basically, my glucose likes to drop like a rock after I eat. It’s super fun. I managed to get some bloodwork done to find out I also have autoimmune type 1 diabetes. The good news is, no insulin yet! But down the rabbit hole we go! I have known, since my 20’s, that I had an autoimmune disease. In my 20’s they said RA. I took enbrel and I felt better! When it came time for us to try to get pregnant, I had to get off that medication as well as some others. But I had my diagnosis so I figured it would be easy to start back after my baby was born. I was WRONG. In fact, I was told I do not have an autoimmune disease after I had my baby! I saw a Rheumatologist in 2011 and she ran all the tests, all the imaging and basically said I just have fibromyalgia and arthritis at age 31. Many surgeries and banged up joints later in 2015, I saw a different rheumatologist and he was a total jerk. He took x-rays and ran bloodwork to totally dismiss my concerns a month later. He said I have osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia (which he said fibromyalgia is mental and not real) and offered me zero relief. I have several doctors now. My ENT said i have shorjon’s syndrome and needed to see a rheumatologist but put me on a common medication for it that helps with my dry sinuses and all mucosal tissue. It has helped a lot but the immune system keeps flaring up! Well, I took the plunge and found a new rheumatologist today. He ordered imaging, MRI, as well as 7 vials of blood. He heard me loud and clear! He asked why I waited 10 years to go back and I told him that I was tired of the door being closed in my face. I also told him that enbrel worked for me. I was given a month supply of enbrel and promised answers in two weeks! Bonus, it will be a phone call! I think I will feel better having a label for what is going on with me.
About two weeks ago, I fell off the wheel well of my horse trailer trying to drop down my drop down windows. I heard a pop. I landed on my right ankle and it was BAD. I heard and felt something pop. Well, I finally made it to ortho yesterday. The ER said it’s just a sprain. Ortho took several x-rays and found the break! I have been walking around with just a sleeve or a light brace for two weeks with a broken ankle! No wonder it keeps blowing up! I have a chip fracture on my medial malleolus. Basically I ruptured a tendon at the bone and it broke a corner off the bone in the joint on the inside of my ankle. The x-ray was plain as day. 😣🧐🫣 But the ER missed it! Now I’m in a boot to walk, lace up stabilizer brace to drive and when I’m not walking. I have an MRI scheduled tomorrow to see what else I did to it! I have never broken a bone! I have been told “ you might have cracked ribs but we don’t see anything” same with my toe. But never a truly broken bone. So when this happened, I knew. It was a totally new feeling and HURT LIKE HELL! I’m sure it will heal fine. I’m also having a bone spur removed from the underside of my patella in my right knee in October! So I’m praying no surgery on the ankle!
Then….something new happened. About three weeks ago, the crest of my left hip started screaming! It got worse every day! Now it’s to the point of burning on my upper thigh. My orthopedic doc says that is my sciatica. Really!? Geez! It hurts like fire! I will as my physical therapist about some stretches tomorrow after my first round of MRI’s on my ankle. 🫣
Saying all this makes me question my addiction to horses! The only place I do not feel pain is when I’m riding. 🫤 There is no way I will give up my horses! My new hip has settled! I want to ride! But I have a broken ankle 😒 Perhaps I can just ride without a stirrup?
Anyhow, I’m just a 46 year old train wreck that is addicted to 1200 pound animals whom might hurt me if they wanted too!
So where do I go next? I think that once a diagnosis is given from the Rhematologist, and insight from the endocrinologist as well as having my knee fixed and my ankle healed, I will be ready to ride again! In the mean time, I shall be my child’s uber, a slave to my four legged kids and still a riding coach! 💪🏼
