In Sickness and in Health.

At the beginning of 2010, I was diagnosed with dysautonomia.

Dysautonomia is a dysfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System. This nervous system controls all of the "automatic" bodily functions, such as heart rate, digestion, breathing, and sleeping patterns. It consists of two parts: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic system. The sympathetic system controls the reactions that would be needed to escape danger or cope with stress, while the parasympathetic system controls the "quiet" body functions. So: the sympathetic system gets us ready for action, while the parasympathetic system gets us ready for rest. Normally, these systems are in perfect balance, from moment to moment, depending on the body's instantaneous needs. This isn't the case for me. My autonomic nervous system loses that balance and one of these systems inappropriately dominates. My symptoms include frequent vague but disturbing aches and pains, faintness, fatigue, poor exercise tolerance, dizziness, irregular heartrate, blood pressure, and breathing, and anxiety. I've been told that sufferers of dysautonomia can experience many different clusters of symptoms at one time, and another set of symptoms as other times. The symptoms are fleeting and unpredictable. This causes MUCH frustration. Most of the time I don't know when I'm having trouble with my dysautonomia, and when I'm being a wuss or a cop out. Some days I wake up, and I'm angry that I don't feel normal, and that I really have no idea what normal feels like.

It is imperative that I stay hydrated (drinking atleast 80 ounces of water per day) and stay active. I'm also supposed to eat a lot of salt. I have to be careful about my eating habits, making sure I don't eat large meals, but many smaller ones. Can't have caffiene (which now includes chocolate!). And I'm constantly learning more 'do's and don't's'. Another frustrating thing is this sounds like "normal staying healthy tips" But the consequences that I get from not doing these things are not the consequences that a normal person would get. Mine knock me off my feet.

I wanted to explain this, because I definitely plan on blogging about it. One of the things that effects me the most about this disorder is not understanding what's going on and having no one to relate to (except my sister, who is dealing with the same things right now). I really have a tendency to be upset about the whole ordeal. I mean, its not a sensitive subject for me at all. I just wish I was normal sometimes. Its a good thing the rest of my life doesn't suck, because this part does. There's no way around that fact.

I know this is pretty 'debby downer' but the brightside is this: Now, I know what I'm up against. Before January, I felt defeated because I never felt well and didn't know why. Now I know! And, overall, I feel a thousand times better SINCE I've been diagnosed and treated. Life isn't a piece of cake for anybody, and I'm definitely not the exception. But life is a blessing-- Things could be a lot worse. I have a doctor. I have food when I want it. I have 80 ounces of water available to me each day. This just something to keep me humble. This helps me to need God.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" Matthew 11: 28-30.