The past year or so I have been on the path to a diagnosis. I've always had health issues, being born with Asthma and developing PCOS just to name a couple, and that has made it even more difficult to pinpoint the cause of the issues I've been dealing with.
I'd been dealing with back pain so bad that I couldn't stand it anymore and eventually went to a chiropractor. There I did receive multiple diagnoses, one of them being scoliosis, and found some relief from continuing visits. However, the prescription of adjustments two to three times a week has wound up being unsustainable, especially since I've since moved an hour and a half away.
Since then I've developed terrible joint pain that flares up now and again and makes everything harder. There are days when I'm totally fine and then the next day I can barely move without wincing in pain. Everything is hard when basic movements put you in excruciating pain and it takes a toll on your mental health too, especially at my age.
I'm young and growing in my career and looking to grow my family soon, I shouldn't have to be worrying about whether I'm going to be able to move in the morning. It is beyond frustrating, but at the same time, I wind up feeling guilty and experiencing major imposter syndrome because my pain isn't THAT BAD and other people have it SO MUCH WORSE. While that may be true, it doesn't make my feelings and problems any less valid, albeit hard to admit.
As of now, the rheumatological and autoimmune diseases I'd theorized to be the problem were ruled out. Now we're looking at my thyroid and I've researched a few other things. Each appointment, each set of lab results gets me excited to finally have an answer, but it still hasn't come. But as it is for many others, the diagnosis game is a long one and in the meantime, I basically just have to suffer or develop a dependency on Motrin.
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It's really a lot to deal with on your own. Even though I have a wonderful husband and family who are very supportive, not everyone really can understand what I'm dealing with unless they've gone through it themselves. While I am chronically ill, it's also an invisible illness. I am very good at hiding it and I "don't look sick" so it's even harder for people to understand and makes it even harder for me to understand, as I find myself looking for physical symptoms to make myself feel worthy of getting help.
Some people don't even have a support system at all, let alone people who understand, so to say I'm grateful is an understatement, and I want to be that person for those who don't have that. So if you're going through health issues or anything and just need someone to talk to, shoot me an email or DM me on social and tell me you came from this post and I will be more than happy to help any way I can! I am the unofficial doctor of my family and use my research skills to help out a lot! I'm happy to do that for you too. :)
XO, Briana
