September 2014 – Dystonia and Me

Living with Dystonia and my other medical conditions guarantees that no two days are ever the same. I learnt that a long time ago. Yet two years into it it and it can still shock me. The difference in me when you compare last Sunday to today is astounding! Last Sunday feels like a life-time ago, not a mere week. Last week I was confined to my bed all day, so ill that a member of my family was with me all day, today I am pretty much pain free, hardly spasming and enjoying every second of it.

Last week it was as if we had taken me off all my medications. I was blind, every part of me was spasming. My jaw spasmed to the point it eventually dislocated! There are not words to describe the pain I was in, or the pain caused by attempting to swallow pain killers and muscles relaxants whilst in that state. At points the only way I was able to communicate to my mum was by twitching a finger to let her know I was conscious but my body was out of my control. It was hell. I have not had a day that bad in such a very long time.

Today I have no pain medications in me, I am able to move about without setting another part of my body off. The only parts of me that are daring to play up are my neck and jaw. This is not surprising as my Botox injections are due Tuesday. However considering that fact I am feeling extremely happy and lucky that they are not spasming more than they currently are. Its as if Benedict is still recuperating from last weeks attack.

I have started treatment for my Chronic Neurological Lyme Disease now. It shall be extremely interesting to see which of my spasms were due to the Neurological Lyme, and which are caused by the Dystonia. Hopefully over the next few weeks I shall start to see improvements and get an idea of what spasms I shall have to live with and which ones I don’t. I’m extremely excitement but nervous!

I finally feel like there is a light at the end of what felt like a never-ending tunnel. Last week I attended an appointment at a local private hospital to see whether they would treat me for Chronic Neurological Lyme Disease. Whilst they have said no to giving me IV treatment they have offered me an oral antibiotic pulse protocol which they think will cure me of Lyme. They say it has cured others similar to me before, so I have high hopes.

Now that they have said they will treat me I feel like my stress levels have plummeted, though I must admit they did soar back up when I saw the price for treatment. I have no idea how I am going to afford it, but at the end of the you cannot put a price on health! Being free of some of my symptoms and having to battle with my body less seems like something out of a fairy tale to me, yet now it is just at my fingertips! Having less pain, less to contend with would be bliss.

I have been lucky that my Botox has worked rather well since I last saw my neurologist. So I have not had to cope with my Dystonia stressing me out at the same time. Today is the first time I have woken up and thought ooh actually my jaw and neck don’t actually feel quite right. Not that I am complaining, with only two weeks to go until my next lot of injections for it to only start twinging now is fine by me as the muscle are not distorting yet.

For those of you who are unaware there are currently two Dystonia online petitions going around. One is US-based the other UK. However it does not matter where in the world you are you can sign either one or both, and I urge you to as it will help make a much-needed difference by boosting awareness of the condition!

1) https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/promote-dystonia-awareness-recognizing-dystonia-awareness-month-september/2S9jBCVz

2) http://www.change.org/p/uk-government-raise-awareness-about-dystonia-an-illness-which-cannot-be-cured-and-97-of-doctors-dont-know-about-it-properly?recruiter=45857151&utm_campaign=twitter_link_action_box&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

dystonia and me

dystoniaandme

I'm 32 years old, a mother, author, partner, and spoonie. I live alongside Dystonia, POTS, EDS, Osteoarthritis, and a dictionary worth of other diagnoses. This little blog has been set up to help spread awareness and bring light to these conditions and connect warriors with others who can understand each other's experiences.

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