My Chronic Illness

My Chronic Illness

By: Joya Wright

It was April 21st 2016 that I went to the ER for chest pains. All the tests came back normal. The doctors gave me an anti-inflammatory because they thought that the pleurae in my lungs were inflamed from my bronchitis. They could have been right but I instantly threw up. I had acid reflux throughout the year and then december of that year I had a normal cold. I didn't think anything of it until my left knee started to swell up. I went back to the doctor and he ran tests for rheumatoid arthrits, lupus, lyme disease, etc. Everything was fine except for my knee constantly swelling. It never went away. February 2017 is when things started to really act up. My knee started to hurt and send shooting pains up my leg, to my thigh, my back, my neck, and then down my arm, to my fingers. Everything was stiff and I couldn't move. I went to a new doctor and he said that nothing was wrong and that he wanted me to see a psychiatrist. I'm just depressed. So he put me on wellbutrin SR and that gave me panic attacks. It made the pain even worse. So then I get my rheumatoid factor checked AGAIN and to no surprise everything was fine. I asked him about fibromyalgia. He said "I tested you for that and you don't have it" May12 2017 I go see a rheumatologist who without a doubt said I have fibromyalgia and that she can't do anything for me. So she sent me on my way. I went to a new doctor (surprise surprise) and he told me to go to a massage therapist. ok great! So I went and I never felt so much pain in my life!!!! She did a lovely trigger point swedish massage that made my ENTIRE LEFT SIDE NUMB!!!! I couldn't feel anything. Fast forward to this year. I went to the ER for my pain and you know how they stick an IV port in your hand and it hurts like hell? Yeah I didn't feel it at all. Nothing. No pinch!!!! I could've punched myself in the leg and I wouldn't even feel it. Fibromyalgia can leave me feeling either numb or in a lot of pain. Sometimes I HAVE to wear layers upon layers of clothing so that my skin doesn't crawl. Other times when I'm wearing clothes, my skin feels like it's on fire.... like I'm burning from the inside out.

Everyday I go through this. I know there are people with much serious illnesses but I'm just here to tell MY STORY.