decided to try a series of low-dose
hormone shots to see if they would
jump-start my follicle production.
Being told this could take up to
three months to work, I went to
my first appointment after five
days of treatment with no expectations. To my surprise, I was told I
had responded very well--my follicle
count had increased to six. My hormone trial was a success and I was
definitely a candidate for IVF with
a gestational carrier. Sigh of relief?
Check.
Chronic Pain Sufferers: Never Give Up Hope
L iving
with chronic pain is a full-time job. And,
like any job, it can wear you out. Remission may
seem an impossible goal, and suffering can erode
your hopes of ever feeling better.
While in my early thirties (1979), I was so ill my
doctors gave me less than six months to live. For
many years I lived with terrible pain, and my husband David and I often felt vulnerable, frightened,
and overwhelmed. After I was hospitalized numerous times with several autoimmune illnesses, we decided to look beyond the usual medical treatments.
N
ow my husband and I are
beginning the process to
retrieve my eggs and freeze
embryos. I have begun cutting
down on my medications and
hope to be medicine free by the
end of February. I know I will
experience pretty heavy withdrawal and may be largely bedridden, but hopefully, I will only
have to endure this for four to
six months. Since my husband’s
work does not provide paid leave
and I do not qualify for any type
of home health care under my
health insurance, my mother will
be with me for the duration.
Initially I tried acupuncture that provided much relief,
and during these sessions I also learned about food
sensitivities. After discontinuing twenty-six foods and
following a restricted diet, my quality of life improved
significantly. Still, there was more work to do.
As a nurse and therapist I often witnessed the power
of positive thinking and saw it help with healing. I
made a list of positive thoughts about getting better,
having less pain, and I made a point of saying them
out loud at least twice each day. I also made a list of
the things I was grateful for and never ceased expressing my gratitude to those who had helped me.
Several different therapies helped me in coping with pain:
• physical therapy,
• rest and relaxation,
• prayer, meditation,
• mental imagery,
• biofeedback, and
• counseling when necessary.
These (along with others) helped keep my hope alive.
Entertaining negativity would only foster undesirable
outcomes, so I worked hard at being positive. I chose
not to allow fibromyalgia and other illnesses to win
and several are currently in remission. Though all of
us die, I decided to live my life to its fullest until then.
I
am meeting with my doctors in
the next few weeks to generate my treatment plan. There are
many steps left in my journey-numerous injections, retrieving
eggs monthly, freezing embryos,
finding a gestational carrier, etc.,- but as for having hope that I will
one day have children? Check!
Elizabeth Joniak-Grant
Aletha Kuenstler,
author of Chronic
Illness: Facing Its
Challenges (Xulon
Press, 2011, paperback, e-book). Website: chronicillnessfacingitschallenges.com
22 Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain
Life
Winter 2014