Getting My Health Back

I have a beautiful picture of my two kids and me looking healthy and active. I was 42, my son was 8 1/2, and my daughter was 12 at the time. Within a month I started to have flu like symptoms (which I have never had the flu) and complete exhaustion.rnI went to many doctors who had no clue what was going on and pretty much dismissed me. Of course depression rolled in. I kept thinking I am running two companies, and I have two children that want their mother back to play and do things with. Finally I was told I had Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue with Chronic Depression. Of course the first two are not real categories of medical science, at least not in 1998.rnGradually I started to have health issues that just didn't seem to connect with the three LABELS I was given.rnIn the mean time I my son and daughter were having fatigue issues and the trigger points like me. The doctors said it was psycho-somatic(they were mirroring what I was going through). My son started to get a rash on his arms, legs, and back. I decided to take him to a DO who thought out of the box. Please keep in mind I was very sick, but the kids came first. He ran allergy tests and boom!!! He was highly allergic to Wheat and Barley!!! He said he had Celiac Disease. Of course in 1999 his doctor, an MD, said there was no such thing, so I was complete lost as to what to do for my son or me. Gluten free products at the time and still are hard to find and very costly. by this time I was on disability and barely functioning. Each time I went to the doctors it was something new. Inflammation of the liver, Inflammation of the esophagus, hypothyroid, lesions in my esophagus, cysts on my kidney and liver, Clinical Depression at the max, gall bladder problems, non-essential tremors (of course they were essential to me!). I started having tremors in my head when I tried to sleep or nap. They did a sleep study for three days. They could physically see them but the tremors did not register on the EEG. The final report, possible small seizures too deep in the brain to register. No follow up and still have them. In February 2010 I was diagnosed with Pancreatitis. My doctor asked "Aren't you in a lot of pain?"? Well I am always in pain! An ultrasound found two small growths in my pancreas, along with a partially dilated bile duct. No wonder I was having severe burning heart burn even on an empty stomach! In January 2011, because I have been hypothyroid for several years, my doctor ran the usual blood work. By this time I was a regular with the staff and graded them on how well they drew blood. Most were A+.rnWhen the results came back the doctor wanted me to in. My pituitary gland was not producing any TSH! I asked "Will can I get it working again?" She couldn't answer me.rnKnow for several years I have voiced that I felt like my immune system is compromised. No one listened. The first of May was not good. I had gained weight which the doctor told me I would. I was fatigued to the point of sleeping 14-16 hours a night and a "passed out fatigued" nap every day for 2 - 4 hours. One Monday morning (very early), I found my daughter trying to wake me up. I have two dogs barking in bed with me (didn't hear them) and she is shaking me. She had broken her ankle and had been trying to get a hold of me. Luckily she had friends that took her to the hospital. It was all a fog to me. The minute I gave her my debit card I passed out asleep. rnThe next morning I thought I had dreamt the whole thing. That was rock bottom for me. My kids are everything to me and my illness had stopped me from being there for my daughter. Believe me, God and I had a serious crying session. Thirteen years was long enough, I wanted to be healed.rnThat Friday my sister had been researching a protein shake that was Gluten Free, Lactose free and diabetic friendly for my dad (another story). She suggested it for my son with Celiac Disease and he loved the taste and how it made him feel, so I tried it. Within 48 hours I was starting to feel more focused, alert, and a bit more energy!rnI never thought twice that I could have Celiac Disease even though I had all the symptoms! Today I live a gluten free lifestyle. I know I have to maintain this lifestyle for the rest of my life. I know that my healing will take time, but I also know that I am going to live and pay forward so others don't have to suffer as I did.