It's Been a Long Time... (Part 1)

Well, look who's back on her laptop! Hello! It's been a long time. When I began typing, this song came to mind:

Click to play the song.

Seriously, can you blame me? Everything in my life has a soundtrack! I was absent for a minute, but it was a productive minute. Sometimes, you have to step back to move forward. But that wasn't my case. I had to set some things down to pick up more in the future. At the center of it was taking care of me so that I could care for others.

Many impactful things have happened since my last blog, but I want to share two life-changing points.

I've known since childhood that some things just weren't right with me and movement. My birth mom, God rest her soul, would say that my aches were "growing pains." But please know that I've been the same height since Jr. High! However, I finally got the answers I was looking for after several life-threatening medical incidents. This will be a longer-than-typical blog. Part 1 of 2 follows...

As a child, I hated running track. Although it was mandatory in P.E., it wasn't enjoyable for me. I didn't shy away from sports - just running. Actually, I had plans to play tennis as an undergrad student-athlete! I arrived early and saw the flag corps practicing on the tennis courts, and I decided to join them instead of the tennis team! Never in my life had I ever twirled a flag - this shows you how adventurous I can be when given options. (Shout out to the fabulous ladies of the Sophisticat Flag Corp of the Pride - The Marching Wildcats at Bethune-Cookman University!) Even in college, I managed to find my way to the ER. I only marched for two years.

Years later, in my 30s and living in Metro Atlanta, I decided to explore my new home by signing up for 5Ks. That's running, right? Not for me; I walked/jogged them! I called it "wogging." I jogged only downhill, and ATL is very hilly (let me know if you conquered Cardiac Hill)! I loved races so much that at my best, I was registered for two 5Ks a month for a year or so. I even did a 10k or two! Races plus weekend training had me on top of the world and in the best shape since my 20s, when I was a marching band member. But things were still not right. The stiffness in my body was long-lasting. Good-ole WebMD had me thinking I knew all of the answers. So, I pressed on despite the pain and stiffness, adding trail walks and hiking to the mix. Nothing improved; my conditions quickly grew worse.

Fast forward to my 40s: I could not put my left arm down after attending a CrossFit gym session. It was stuck extended outward from my side for three days, and it was horribly painful. Also during this time, I started having anaphylaxis reactions to all sorts of food (I became allergic to peanuts, lobster, tomatoes, carrots, avocado, pineapple... you name it!). I went Vegan trying to fix things. It didn't. On a flight to my sister's wedding in Vegas, I had an allergic reaction when peanuts were handed out! In and out of the ER and pumped up with more steroids than I could imagine humanly possible, I acquiesced. After my husband and I bought a house in West Georgia, I switched hospital systems and told my new primary care physician what was happening. After years of patchwork treatment plans that did not point to an actual cause or diagnosis, I had high hopes that someone new could put the puzzle pieces together. Praise God, he listened and took immediate action! That began my new journey as a person with a disability.

Enter the plethora of "ists," "ologists," and "ics," my team of doctors whom I saw more frequently than my friends and family.

Click to play the song..

I saw an allergist who was alerted by my condition and test results. She shared an office with a rheumatologist. They met about me, and the rheumatologist made space in his full (for months) schedule to see me ASAP. The rheumatologist continued to see me while he referred me to a neurologist, who referred me to a physical therapist, and eventually, I had to see an orthopedic surgeon. Many CT Scans, x-rays, and MRIs later... I was getting the treatment I needed. Not to mention the meds! Oh, the medications! Prior to this, I had no prescriptions. I was on low-dose chemo for over a year. At one point, I was in "medical remission." We stopped the low-dose chemo, and I was worse than ever before; I could barely walk. I appreciated the medicines and vitamin supplements at that point. It was eye-opening.

One day, I went grocery shopping and all I had left was spent just crossing the parking lot! At the door, I had to turn around and pray that I could return to my Jeep to drive home. I knew I needed to stay the course and that this would be my new normal. I also remembered my dear Aunt Norma-Jean from New York, who had to use a wheelchair. I turned my sadness into gratitude for the many medical advancements that allow me to walk.

I've lived with this my entire life, born with these conditions that affect my nerves, nervous system, and connective tissues. My body had reached the point where I needed medical intervention STAT. I'm OK. Really, I am. Through that, I had to take a moment to care for myself. I've made numerous concessions so I can be both comfortable and thrive. My husband, family, and friends remain super supportive. Today, I can safely walk a mile - and I am proud! Will I sign up for another 5k? No, my pride won't let me be at the back of the pack just yet... I'm joking. Maybe one day I'll return to Piedmont Park with my purple walking sticks, crazy-colored knee-high compression socks, a ponytail, and lip gloss. Hey, if you can't be first, at least be cute!

One step at a time... One day at a time... Whatever you take away from this blog, know this: You are your best advocate and cheerleader. Self-love, self-care, and self-respect will keep you moving even when the odds are against you. Yes, faith is a huge part of my new wellness journey. However, faith without works is dead (James 2:17). The "works" part looks different after significant life changes like a disability (or a divorce or the death of a loved one), but the "faith" part is steadfast and everlasting. Keep a grateful heart full of faith, and you'll go far!

Part 2 will be posted soon...

Still wogging,

Dr. Ivey