What seems to be a lifetime away was only 6 years ago, but what a long 6 years it has been. From then to now are so different, but it’s still me and part of my journey 🙂

I used to organize and take part in community clean ups in my area. Climbing a cliff side with my fellow earth warriors to remove literal tonnes of metal, broken glass and other debris from the earth. Me and 31 volunteers created a human conveyor belt of trash down the cliff, to have an excavator and dump truck remove from the site.

I also worked with animals. I was the first volunteer for my local branch of a reptile zoo, and eventually got paid for a few events. I cleaned cages and fed amazing reptiles and had some wonderful once in a lifetime opportunities. I was able to help hundreds of people over come their fears and educated thousands. It was truly an incredible experience.

I ran a used restaurant equipment business for a friend of mine, what a challenge that was. I cleaned and moved that equipment and made a cluttered warehouse into a store. I have always felt like mighty mouse, less than 90lbs at the time and able to do big work. Eventually, this was going to catch up to me but I wasn’t thinking of it at the time.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2012, after complaining to my original family doctor about random pain for years. He sent a requisition to the pain clinic for them to see me, sent me for further X-rays and tried a variety of medications. X-rays showed slight scoliosis, “don’t worry” he says, “there’s nothing you can do for this, so don’t stress”.

Well, I did stress. I got shingles and had to cancel a reptile event with the big boss from Ontario. It was a big deal, only in once a year and the year before I shined and he wanted my family to join his for drinks. This was my opportunity to make a difference in my career, even if I was a little fibro sore. But shingles can be dangerous in public, and not nice for having reptiles touch, so I cancelled. The following February, I was so thrilled to make my comeback, but just my luck, I got shingles again. They found other volunteers and staff, my position was gone.

January 2014, I was walking to my current job (at a call center) and slipped in snow. Landed on my back and slid downhill on ice. Gave myself whiplash and ruined my body for 14 months. I was pretty much bed ridden, my muscles began to atrophy and I had to go to physiotherapy to get walking properly again. Doctors had me on so much medication, I didn’t know my own name. I stopped all medications by myself after I realized there was no pain relief, just made me lose my personality and be numb.

I went back to work on modified hours to gradually get me back to full time hours. I was weak still, but I wanted to get better. My boss sat me next to a body builder lol. It was incredibly intimidating at first because I was unable to even lift a dinner plate and this guy next to me could’ve lifted me, my desk and chair without flinching I’m sure. He turned into one of my biggest motivators, and I started to work on my muscles again. I was so proud of the little muscles I built, I really took a picture and posted it saying “f*** fibromyalgia”.

My life was almost a new normal.

In February of 2017, I fell again. Ice had me like Bambi. I landed on my hand and hips this time. I laid there for a second silently crying and cursing, got up and walked to the closest building, my work. A good friend of mine, Dar, is the first responder there. God love her for what she walked into. I was in a bathroom stall, pants undone, holding my ass with a swollen arm just bawling. (There’s a funny mental picture)

After examining me and helping me get my ring off and pants up (thanks Dar) she sent me in taxi to the closest hospital to x-ray my arm. I was unable to sit or stand without crying, but waited for 9 hours to be seen by a nurse. I was too sore to be examined by that point and she asked I came back next day so they could bend and snap me. Well, that made me frustrated. I spent the next day in a hot bath with Epson salts or in bed with heated blanket, but my pain wouldn’t go and I couldn’t put much pressure on my arm. I went to the walk in doctor for an x-ray requisition, so I didn’t have to wait to be seen by a nurse and told to come back. Next day I went for blood work and xray, thinking everything was fine.

Well, all of my emergency contacts were contacted with limited information. “Kristen needs to go to emergency now, can’t explain why but she needs to come in”. My poor mother, terrified, left work early to deliver my message. (Not having a phone made things a little difficult, but the message got delivered).

So into the hospital I went. They found a small fracture in my forearm, and I was casted for 3 weeks. I adjusted well to only using one arm, but I very much looked forward to having use of both again. My 3 weeks came up and I was having my cast removed. I cried as the technician was cutting it off, it’s not supposed to hurt! The vibrations from the machine were shooting fire into my arm, neck and shoulder. I kept saying “something is not right, this is worse”, but the X-rays showed everything was fine except for some soft tissue damage in my shoulder. “That will heal in time” the doctor said, and we all lived happily ever after..

Yeah right. My right arm was a purple/reddish balloon, colder than my left and incredibly painful. My new family doctor sent an emergency referral to the pain clinic again, this time for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. I was finally seen at the pain clinic April 20th, 2017 (5 year wait from original request, which is the normal time frame for patients in my area to wait before seeing a specialist!)

A few months ago, I had an MRI. The results showed herniated c4, c5, c6 and c7, my c7 nerve is pinched. That nerve also goes down your right arm, but only affects select areas. My whole hand swells, turns colors, is cold to touch and I have no muscle. So by 30 years of age, I have scoliosis, fibromyalgia, CRPS, pinched nerve and herniated discs. What a fun journey I am in for.

I have tried medications, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, multiple nerve blocks and trigger point shots to date. My only medication that helps somewhat and I currently use, is marijuana. My doctor’s are all against marijuana and will not assist with me getting medicinal forms such as pills, patches or edibles. I am currently working with a company to assist me in obtaining my license, but my doctor remains unresponsive to their attempts of contact.

More on that journey later though.

As you can see, it has been quite a ride so far. My luck is shit, and there are lots of bumps in the road. But I’m going to keep swimming and see where it takes me.

“Everyday may not be good, but there is something good in everyday”

Positive thoughts 🙂

Kristen

-HippieRays