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"My Story" by E.I Mom of 7 |
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Since I come from an allergic family, I took allergy shots for awhile when I was a child. I had dust, pollen, mold, and food allergies and mild chemical sensitivities, but by the time I was a teen, I lived with bouts of sneezing and sinus problems and just went on. It wasn't too bad, but looking back on it now, I also had stomach aches, etc. but didn't associate it with allergies. When I was pregnant with my first, we moved into a trailer that had fleas and roaches, so we sprayed some powerful stuff that they later outlawed. I also painted the place.( Of course I knew not that I was hurting myself.) I was prone to breast infections and even had one that abscessed, so I took lots of antibiotics throughout my nursing years....Hypoglycemia-type symptoms began to manifest themselves after several pregnancies, and after the death of my 4th baby who died of spinal meningitis, the "death-like" fatigue hit. Somehow by God's grace I made it through other difficult pregnancies and dizziness, hunger spells, weakness, fatigue, etc. I almost daily searched for answers and began knocking moldy foods, glutens, and fruits out of my diet. This helped for awhile, but later I started having panic attacks which I think now were caused by our van exhaust. After a bout with Lysol spray, I was dizzy for a month and a half and then could no longer eat any grains, dried beans, potatoes or other high carbohydrates. I lost weight and had trouble sleeping. Still I didn't know that I had "Environmental Illness" and that I was a "universal reactor" with mercury poisoning, "leaky gut", hormone imbalance, parasites, and probably candidia, although I suspected candidia was part of my problem. Down through the years I also had gas heat and pesticide exposures, and we also lived in two fairly new houses for awhile that had new carpet, pressboard, etc. And I've had lots of stress! Some of it was my own doing - like too high expectations of myself and my kids in our "homeschooling" ventures, but I also had an ADD son (my diagnosis) and my husband was without a job for awhile, etc. Also our landlord who was letting us live in his house for free, let another family move in who highly persecuted me for awhile and had absolutely no compassion for me and my illness and my struggles. We had to share the same kitchen and living room.) After my miscarriage (9th pregnancy) in 1998, I had a severe reaction to a medication that I was taking. After that I had dysfunctional uterus, severe digestive problems, sleepless nights, chest pains, daily flu-like symptoms, etc. and full-blown MCS. I was finally able to go to Dr.
Rea's place in Dallas, and this is where I first really learned the terms
E.I. and MCS....so I FINALLY had a diagnosis. By this time my nose had
gone "bonkers", and I seemed to basically react to almost
everything, it seemed. I read and read and was especially helped by
reading Dr. Sherry Roger's book, "The E.I. Syndrome". I also
found out about Share, Care, Prayer, which has been a blessing! I have
tried exercise, lots of herbs and supplements, and a little bit of sauna.
I am "homebound" now, but I am doing somewhat better. I believe
that meditating and living in the Psalms is helping to bring about a slow
healing, by God's grace. I believe He has led me to some things that are
helping me including olive leaf extract- East Park brand (which they say
is a natural antibiotic that also kills parasites and candidia and is
suppose to help those with FM, I understand.) Plus I take a special
probiotic, Formula FM, Immunepro, raw pancreas, estradiol, trisalts,
etc., and lots of Vit.C whenever I have
reactions.
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