The truth sometimes hurts and the reality is that chronic illness is not always pretty. While positivity, strength and optimism are usually my forte, especially on this platform, there are times when being chronically ill feels like a prison sentence. I didn’t ask for this life and would not wish chronic illness on anyone. People…
New Year, Big Changes
As the doctor handed me a two page paper to sign, the only words that stuck out to me in big bold letters were “Chemotherapy Consent“… Let me back up and start from the beginning. I have been regularly going to the rheumatologist and about nine other specialists for my various symptoms and complications stemming…
The New Chapter
After months of speculation and testing, today I officially received a diagnosis of Sjogren’s Syndrome. Sjogren’s Syndrome (pronounced show-grins) is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s cells attack the moisture producing glands. Typically this causes dry eye, dry mouth and fatigue. In some patients, dysfunction may also be seen in other body systems such as…
Goals and Growth
It’s been a REALLY long time since my last post and a lot of things have been happening, both good and bad. I will start posting regularly again with updates and inspiration, but I wanted to leave this here. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and have faith that everything will work…
Do What Works
One word to describe my life right now is chaotic. I am 10 weeks away from graduating from my MPH program and currently in the process of looking for a job where I can hopefully work full time. As if that isn’t enough, I am still dealing with my ongoing health problems. I have had…
One Year Strong
Today marks the one year anniversary of My Hidden Truths. I created this site to educate people about dysautonomia, allow others to understand some of the things that I deal with and to serve as a resource for others with similar problems. Although those were my intentions, I have realized that this blog has also…
Forget Me Not
I close my eyes and see the past. Breath heavy, body convulsing, hot skin, cold body begging for mercy Is this a nightmare? Eyes open, nothing has changed This is not a nightmare; this is reality. I close my eyes and see the past. Voices talking but my face is covered. I cannot associate the…
What You Cannot See
This past week I had to get stitches on my incision from my port placement about a month ago because the site won’t fully heal and I have a small hole (open wound) on my chest. On Friday, I went to the rheumatologist to deal with the fevers I have been having and the possible…
Disappointment
Yesterday, I went to Stanford’s Neurology Clinic because they have an autonomic disorders program. I went to get some answers about my autonomic nervous system(ANS) problems and obtain some solutions. Instead, the only thing I seemed to get out of this appointment was disappointment. I am left with more questions, rather than answers. The doctor…
A Day In The Life
Tuesday December 3, 2013 I woke up at 8:00am after a unrestful night full of sweating due to my fevers. This on top of chronic fatigue was not going to make my day fun. I took my meds before getting up, in order to help keep my morning POTS symptoms at bay. I lay in…
My Hidden Truths 