50
August/September
It’s Your Life Magazine
lead him to want more blood test to rule
She and I had talked earlier and she
for Mono as well but that my lab work
medications and unfortunately a week long
out HIV. It was at this moment that I was
seemed like a genuinely beautiful person,
showed that I was really sick. He explained
hospital stay. I was poked a prodded and
saddened that I decided to make this visit
I told her about my daughter and my fears
that whatever I had going on could not be
given different possible diagnosis over the
alone. Having a
of having HIV. She
identified in an ER that I would need to go
months. I often say I was misdiagnosed,
family member
was pregnant so
to my Physician within the next two days.
but in truth I was not. Every diagnosis was
support would
we talked about
He further explained that my lab results
based on my test results which for what-
have been nice,
her pregnancy
showed I had a blood disorder called Leu-
ever reason were all over the place. I have
but at the same
and her two older
kocytopenia. That means that my white
excellent doctors and
time, I was glad
children. So, when
blood cell count was extremely low. The
antibiotics, steroids, laxatives, and nasal
to be by myself.
she came in and
normal white cell blood count is 3.5-10.5.
sprays….I got better. I just didn’t feel good.
To learn that I
I asked her what
My white cell blood count was below 1. He
I couldn’t explain away the extreme fatigue,
eventually with
was HIV positive would be hard but some-
the results were, I could feel her relief. But
said this was very concerning because that the pain in my muscles and joints, the ac-
thing I would process better by myself first.
I wasn’t certain. I needed to see the doc-
meant that my
celerated heart or the
tor. She said he would be in to speak with
immune system
shortness of breath.
brain trying to remember at what point I
me soon. More waiting but it was an easier
was compromised
I am a research kind
contracted this horrific disease. I prayed
wait. I played Words with Friends and
and unable to
of girl so I started to
off and on, not for the results to be nega-
finally the handsome doctor walked back
fight. He sent me
do my own research.
tive, but for my 2 year old daughter to be
in. I was not able to read his demeanor
home with the
I mean I really dug,
protected if in fact I was as sick as it ap-
but thankfully the first words out his mouth
directive to see
not just went to a web
peared…the wait did not seem that long.
were, “You test results came back negative
the doctor within
site and entered my
The nurse came back in and although she
for HIV”. Hallelujah! “So the Physician As-
the next two days,
symptoms. I wanted to
told me nothing but I could sense that she
sistant was right?” I asked, “I have Mono!”
oral antibiotics and the directive to wear
know how I could feel better! What could I
was happy for me, that she was relieved.
He explained that the test was negative
a mask in public places. And that was the
do outside of traditional medicine to make
beginning of months of doctors’ visits and
myself feel better? At that time I was on
As I waited for the results, I racked my
Isssue 3
51
2015
itsyourlifemag.com