I mentioned in a previous post that I have a few ailments, Lyme Disease, arthritis, and scoliosis. I figured I'd write about them. About how I came to acquire them, and the effects they've had on my life.
The Cast.
First, for those who don't know, I'll give a brief description of each, without getting all technical. Lyme Disease is a disease that targets many areas of the body, starting in the skin, working to the nervous system, and finally attacking the internal organs. Lyme Disease has many side effects and symptoms, some severe. Lyme Disease, if caught early, is almost always curable It is not contagious, and acquired through deer ticks.
Scoliosis is not a disease, it is the abnormal lateral(side to side) curvature of the spine as you grow. It can become severe if the angle of the curve is too great, and can require 'aggressive' corrective surgery. My family has a history of scoliosis, and it is hereditary, but there are many other causes as well, most of the time it just seems to happen(though rarely, 2% of women, and 0.5% of men have it).
I'm sure most of you know about arthritis, as most people get it with old age. I have rheumatoid arthritis, which targets the joints and eats away at the cartilage. This in turn causes a lot of pain, and makes bone grind into bone, eventually needing joint replacements if it gets too advanced.
The Lyme Episode.
Now onto a sort of biography of me and my symptoms.
My ailments started the moment I was born. My liver didn't work, so I had to be on life support for weeks. I don't know much about what happened, since I was a newborn. My sister said she remembers my heels being black from all the blood samples they drew.
Jump to when I was four years old. I was playing outside like most kids. When I came back inside my mom noticed I had brought along a little friend. My little friend was attached to my neck, happily drinking my blood. No, it wasn't a vampire, it was a deer tick. At the time we didn't know a deer tick from any other kind, we had never heard of what the carried. A little while later I developed a peculiar, bull's-eye looking rash.
One morning I woke up, just like any other morning. I went about the normal morning business of a four year old boy. Eventually my dad looked at me funny, and told me to stop playing Popeye. I didn't know what he was talking about, so I went on with whatever I was doing. A little bit later, my dad, now a little annoyed told me to stop playing Popeye again. I told him I wasn't, but that didn't seem to help. Eventually my mom saw me and told me to smile, and I did.... Kinda. I had Bell's Palsy, which paralyzes the face, and the right side of my face was dead.
We rushed to the doctor, my mom explaining her worries that I had Lyme Disease (she had done a little research when I started malfunctioning). He dismissed the idea with an "Oregon doesn't get Lyme Disease", and sent us back home. Luckily my Bell's Palsy cleared and things were pretty normal again.
One year later we go to the doctor for an ear infection. All I remember is sitting in the office, my ear hurting, then suddenly projectile vomiting everywhere, beyond that I don't remember anything of what happened. Apparently all hell broke loose, and the doctors had no idea what was happening to me. They rushed me to quarantine. I think I was there for a week or so while they tried to figure out what was wrong with me, going so far as to ask me mom about details should I end up dying. My mom convinced the doctor to check for Lyme Disease. He did, and what do ya know, I had it. After much apologizing, the doc started treating the disease.
I mentioned above that, if caught early, Lyme can be easily treated and cured. Well, I had it untreated for a year, not exactly what you would call catching it early. My Lyme as of now is not cured, but considered "Dormant", we haven't been able to get the doctors to give any more info. The Lyme also had a side effect on me during it's run through my system. It had given me rheumatoid arthritis.
Life With Pain.
I don't know what it feels like to not be in pain. I've lived with arthritis and scoliosis for around 16 years. At any one point in time, something is hurting (my back and left hip at the moment). It's not bad, though, I'm so used to it, it has become normal and doesn't bother me.
It wasn't so bad during my childhood, I remember doing all the normal things, and pretty much keeping up with everyone else. I do remember having to be excused from running laps in P.E. due to me not being able to walk afterwards. Other than that I can't remember anything else.
It's mainly been in my teens that I remember it really effecting me.
When I lived in California during my middle school years, I went on a trip with a bunch of other kids through the southwest. The trip stands as one of my best achievements. It was very hike oriented, as we hiked into canyons, over miles of rough terrain, ect. They told me I could stay behind, knowing my legs would give me problems, but I chose to go anyway. I kept up pretty well for the most of the hikes, walking through the burning, but a few got to me. There were a couple were I fell behind and my legs started going out. I had a friend, Chuck, who stayed behind with me and gave me some company. I remember reaching the end of one hike, and all the kids and teachers were there cheering me on, it was overwhelming, and when I reached them I collapsed and started crying. After the trip was over, they gave me a badge honoring my bravery to go on when I didn't have to.
In highschool I was unable to play sports anymore, much to the dismay of the football team. They made me their honorary wide receiver, since I was better than most on the team, but I couldn't play for more than a play or two, before my legs started giving out.
In 2002 I got a job as freight crew in a grocery store. This meant that I stocked all the shelves, which is pretty physical work. I hid the fact that I had arthritis and scoliosis, fearing they wouldn't hire me if they knew. It was hard work, but I enjoyed it. It kept me in shape and I was more fit. My pain didn't ease though, it got worse, and after work I couldn't walk. After all the stuff at the end of 2002 happened, I quit the job for many reasons. One being that my body couldn't stand up to it. It bothers me to think about it that way.
Last year we went to the doctor to check up on my scoliosis. I took an x-ray, which, of course, showed off my dong as well. Other than the peepshow, it revealed that my scoliosis progressed within two degrees of needing corrective surgery. The doctor would have recommended it for cosmetic reasons, but I hide the curve well, except for when I wear the shirt in the picture (notice the line). I asked about the back pain, and he said I'm just going to have to live with it. I also asked about the arthritis, and I'll have to live with that too.
This past year my arthritis has been giving me hell. Some nights it flares up and doesn't stop. Last time was the worst. My hip felt like it was on fire, and all I could do was lay down and concentrate on the sound of the fan. Painkillers did nothing to help.
The Future.
I can't really see my arthritis doing anything but progressing over the years. Worse comes to worse I get joint replacements, which would be pretty cool actually, I'd be better than ever. My scoliosis has stopped, but only because I've stopped growing. So I'll be fine if I don't grow anymore, and being 6'4", I feel I've grown enough.
I guess all I can do really is go through life like normal, and don't let my ailments drag me down. I haven't succumbed yet, and I doubt I ever will. I'll be damned if my back is going to keep me from going crazy at a concert.
There once was a crooked man...
