I will occasionally be posting about my own journey to wellness on this blog.  Prior to the fall of 2003, I was a very active, very healthy woman.  Three weeks after a steroid shot to my knee I began to experience bizarre health problems.  As time passed I went from someone who loved to exercise and care for my husband and 4 children, to someone who struggled to get out of bed and run the simplest of errands.  My active, fun life had come to a standstill.   I had to drop out of all church and school activities.  Walking to the top of my driveway proved to be a great challenge.  I had so many symptoms all over my body…..and my doctors who I had seen (over 17) had no idea why I was so sick.

It seems that I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and it appears that I am battling both chronic viral and chronic bacterial pathogens.  My personal theory is that the steroid shot to my knee suppressed my immune function enough in that joint to reactivate a latent bacterial pathogen.  My immune system took enough of a hit for several viruses to reactivate.

As far as we can tell, I am battling HHV-6, HSV 1, Chlamydia Pneumoniae (Cpn), and Coxsackie B3 and B4.  Lyme disease (which I was given the “probable” diagnosis of) may or may not be part of my problem.

I have taken antivirals, antibiotics and herbs in my journey to regain my health.   I am certainly better than I was at the worst of my illness, but I am not as healthy as I used to be.   I am hopeful that I can regain more of my health as time passes and new medications are tried.

I am so grateful to my doctors, my family and God who have faithfully traveled this road with me.

My best to all,

Tina

Posted in My Journey