A FIRM DIAGNOSIS

After almost three years of medical mystery it looks as though we have a firm diagnosis! My new rheumatologist reran all the blood work testing for autoimmune diseases - the standard ANA (autoimmune antibody) test has been positive for the past two years. Nobody told me it could "go away." This time it came back NEGATIVE! Must mean that slowly but surely my body is healing! This ruled out Sjogren's Syndrome and Autoimmune Hepatitis! Leaving us with the firm diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and a confirmed Vitamin D deficiency.

Now, the Vitamin D was an interesting thing. You see, I'm on medication that tells me I shouldn't spend much time in the sun. I am also lactose intolerant which means my consumption of Vitamin D fortified milk is virtually none. I also have an odd "defect" called Fructose Malabsorption. Which means anything with fructose in it my body can't process - that includes Vitamin D fortified orange juice. So my best option for Vitamin D consumption would be salmon. I think I can manage that. Just need to learn how to cook it well.

This Vitamin D deficiency explains A LOT! My pain in my joints, etc is very likely caused by this, my thankfully short bout with depression is connected and the scariest is that my blood pressure has been high - combined with the Vit D deficiency it's a recipe for a heart attack. No wonder the Rheumatologist was so angry with my doctor for not taking it seriously and putting me on something to lower it. Not that it's going to be fixed overnight, I'm still having twinges of chest pain and my blood pressure seems to fluctuate between prehypertension and hypertension, but I'm doing so much better.

The wonderful news of finally having a diagnosis and an aggressive Rheumatologist that I finally feel is "on my side"helps me have more HOPE. I am on ONE medication for the Fibromyalgia called Savella. It seems to be helping a lot and my blood pressure is going down now that I'm no longer taking Cymbalta or Tramadol. I am going the supplement route. And I am hopeful for a plan that will allow me to lead a relatively normal life. Sure there are days where the pain may be just too much to deal with but then it's just "DAYS" not weeks, months, etc.

In today's devotional I find I am dealing with overcoming. Overcoming my selfishness, my impatience, my attitude, my plans, my designs for my future, my desires, my flesh. Galatians 2:20 speaks well to this, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." God never intended to please our self-life, He wants to bring that to crucifixion, namely because it is a huge hindrance to our spiritual walk. If too much self is consuming us, there's no room for God and His Spirit to guide, direct and flow through me to others. In Come Away My Beloved, Frances Roberts shares, "Faith I can give you as a gift, but the works I can do through you only when your ego moves out of the way." Ouch...ego. She also gives a reminder that they are not MY works but HIS.  "There is an enemy to be contested and defeated; and to do this, there must be more than resolve in your heart - there must be power. This power cannot operate until your self-will is out of the way...I know you cannot do this for yourself but you must will it to be done. And as you will it, I will work with you and within you to bring it to pass."

This is my prayer, may the Lord work this out in my heart and help me distinguish my flesh from my spirit and to live a contentedly humble life.