Sunday, August 20, 2017
Golfing
My family and I recently went to Rustic Canyon Golf Course to get in a couple swings for some exercise . I went thinking I wouldn't be able to hit that many golf balls, and would end up just sitting and watching. To my excitement I was able to get lots of hits in and participate with the family. I found out what a beneficial and difficult activity it is. Most people think, my self included, that golf isn't that hard and its not much of a workout. Surprisingly, I was feeling soar the next day. This lead me to do some research on the sport. I found that it is a game of hand eye coordination, endurance, a mental exercise, core work out, and stress relieving. Also, if you choose to play a full game of 18 holes, and walk the course carrying your heavy bags, it is good for cardiovascular function as well as stimulating the brains memory pathways. It is a 90% mental and 10% physical sport. Making it a great way to get outside and be with nature. The twisting motion through the waist is a great aerobic exercise that aids in weight loss. For me this was such a great sport because, it helped my balance. Trying to keep myself up right, while swinging through my torso, and trying to hit a small golf ball was a really good way to work on my balance. Having good balance allows you to have control of the club offering consistent and further shots. Golf is a game that doesn't require any vigorous activity which makes it great for people of all ages to enjoy. Golf is definitely an activity I would do again to get in some exercise and help rebuild pathways. Remember to get outside and stay active that persistence is all.
Saturday, August 5, 2017
My Full Story
I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder at
15, although my symptoms probably started a year before that. I was an athletic
child my whole life and had no physical or dietary restrictions. I grew up with an older brother, who I was always trying to keep up
with, along with athletic friends. I played for the school basketball, cheer leading, and volleyball teams. I fell in love with volleyball at 10 and tried out for a club team at 14. I was about to start high school and came from a private school where no one was going to the same high school, so I wanted to have a sport
where I would meet people and make friends over the summer. I made the high
school volleyball team, made friends, and was the Co- Captain. I finished the
season as Co-MVP along with the other captain of the team. That summer I
started to develop migraines, that came every month, wheezing
when doing physical activities, and other abnormal problems. I went to my
pediatrician who prescribed me with a migraine medication, and an Albuterol inhaler
to take before heavy activity diagnosing me with exercise endued asthma. I went back
to school that fall a Sophomore, and a returning player to the volleyball team,
running drills and Moorpark Miles. My mom could see my form and stamina declining. I started playing less going from the top to the bottom.
At the end of the season, going into conditioning, I was off balance and walking was difficult. I would trip at school and need to hold on to friends to get around. The day before Christmas vacation my last class was volleyball conditioning. We started to warm up with a run on the track. I could barely even remember how or what running was supposed to feel like. As I started to go around, looking like a baby horse just discovering her legs, I tripped multiple times falling, skinning my knees, while friends laughed at me and my coach told me to keep going. I went home that day crying to my mom that it felt like I had never ran before. She took me to our local chiropractor, who ordered an MRI to be done that day. He got the results later that evening, calling my mom and telling her I needed to go to the hospital.
I had white matter on my brain, was put on IV prednisone, and spent Christmas in the hospital. I was able to walk again after and was released with the diagnoses of ADEM, a Transversmeylitis. Sent home on a 5 week tapper of prednisone and told I’d be back to normal after it was finished. It was just a onetime event, although cautioned relapse was possible. Doctors called it a miraculous healing. Shortly after I was off the prednisone other symptoms emerged. I couldn’t void my bladder or bowls (sorry TMI). We had started seeing a neurologist at Children’s Hospital for a second opinion. She was under the impression that it was not ADEM but NMO and put on Imuran. In spring I went back to the hospital, this time Childrens Hospital, with similar symptoms and inability to void my bladder quickly put on the same treatment of IV prednisone.
I spent Easter in the hospital and was released a few days after. Again another miraculous healing. I returned to school my junior year, unable to handle the stress, I started independent study. In the fall I was admitted to the hospital to coordinate with all the doctors to look at my case, and released a few days later. Leaving the hospital I was overly tired and had a bladder infection, but was sent home with an antibiotic. A few days later I woke up unable to catch my breath. My mom drove me to our local internist, also a pulmonologist, he put me on oxygen and took an X-ray of my lungs seeing that there was granuloma all over. He sent me to Children’s along with an oxygen tank.
When we got there they would have sent me home, not thinking that I was that bad and not being able to open the imaging, if it weren’t for the picture my mom took on her phone. I had had an allergic reaction to the Imuran which caused my lungs to shut down. I was admitted and at some point intubated and put in a medically induced coma. I don’t remember much after that except, what I’ve been told. I spent 45+ days in the hospital, was put in the ICU, had a chest tube inserted, PIC line and was given the drug IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) . At some point my mom had received an email saying that I had a positive test for lyme. They put me on routine treatment of IV Rifampin and Doxcycline. I got better and was soon released.
I still receive IVIG once a month, in home, and take prednisone along with medication to help relax my muscles. We have been to UCLA and the Mayoclinic to find answers, but haven’t been able to get a clear one. Lyme is the only thing that I have tested positive for, which we treat, along with the Meylitis. I started training which has allowed me to stay in shape and moving. Movement is the only thing that continues to help the stiffness in my legs. I try my best to eat healthy, but I’m human, and stay in motion. I finished my senior year at Moorpark High in 2016 and was able to walk in the graduation ceremony. I took a year off of school, not starting college, and getting myself back to a good place physically. About 6 months ago I broke my arm and started using a cane to get around, which I am still using, but it is my goal to get to a point that I am strong enough to not need it. I will be posting simple exercises and stretches that have helped me to feel good, in hope that this will help someone else.
At the end of the season, going into conditioning, I was off balance and walking was difficult. I would trip at school and need to hold on to friends to get around. The day before Christmas vacation my last class was volleyball conditioning. We started to warm up with a run on the track. I could barely even remember how or what running was supposed to feel like. As I started to go around, looking like a baby horse just discovering her legs, I tripped multiple times falling, skinning my knees, while friends laughed at me and my coach told me to keep going. I went home that day crying to my mom that it felt like I had never ran before. She took me to our local chiropractor, who ordered an MRI to be done that day. He got the results later that evening, calling my mom and telling her I needed to go to the hospital.
I had white matter on my brain, was put on IV prednisone, and spent Christmas in the hospital. I was able to walk again after and was released with the diagnoses of ADEM, a Transversmeylitis. Sent home on a 5 week tapper of prednisone and told I’d be back to normal after it was finished. It was just a onetime event, although cautioned relapse was possible. Doctors called it a miraculous healing. Shortly after I was off the prednisone other symptoms emerged. I couldn’t void my bladder or bowls (sorry TMI). We had started seeing a neurologist at Children’s Hospital for a second opinion. She was under the impression that it was not ADEM but NMO and put on Imuran. In spring I went back to the hospital, this time Childrens Hospital, with similar symptoms and inability to void my bladder quickly put on the same treatment of IV prednisone.
I spent Easter in the hospital and was released a few days after. Again another miraculous healing. I returned to school my junior year, unable to handle the stress, I started independent study. In the fall I was admitted to the hospital to coordinate with all the doctors to look at my case, and released a few days later. Leaving the hospital I was overly tired and had a bladder infection, but was sent home with an antibiotic. A few days later I woke up unable to catch my breath. My mom drove me to our local internist, also a pulmonologist, he put me on oxygen and took an X-ray of my lungs seeing that there was granuloma all over. He sent me to Children’s along with an oxygen tank.
When we got there they would have sent me home, not thinking that I was that bad and not being able to open the imaging, if it weren’t for the picture my mom took on her phone. I had had an allergic reaction to the Imuran which caused my lungs to shut down. I was admitted and at some point intubated and put in a medically induced coma. I don’t remember much after that except, what I’ve been told. I spent 45+ days in the hospital, was put in the ICU, had a chest tube inserted, PIC line and was given the drug IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) . At some point my mom had received an email saying that I had a positive test for lyme. They put me on routine treatment of IV Rifampin and Doxcycline. I got better and was soon released.
I still receive IVIG once a month, in home, and take prednisone along with medication to help relax my muscles. We have been to UCLA and the Mayoclinic to find answers, but haven’t been able to get a clear one. Lyme is the only thing that I have tested positive for, which we treat, along with the Meylitis. I started training which has allowed me to stay in shape and moving. Movement is the only thing that continues to help the stiffness in my legs. I try my best to eat healthy, but I’m human, and stay in motion. I finished my senior year at Moorpark High in 2016 and was able to walk in the graduation ceremony. I took a year off of school, not starting college, and getting myself back to a good place physically. About 6 months ago I broke my arm and started using a cane to get around, which I am still using, but it is my goal to get to a point that I am strong enough to not need it. I will be posting simple exercises and stretches that have helped me to feel good, in hope that this will help someone else.
Hope
you enjoy
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