Roller-coaster of a few years since my last blog update. Had a new roof put on my house in early 2021, had to get surgery for my dog’s right rear leg in 2020, and have been busy tinkering on my VW bus, the Benz, vintage computers, and antique radios. Health-wise I found a new set of doctors in early 2020, before the pandemic begun. I had hoped for a quick recovery from a number of issues, but it’s been a slow recovery and at times a fight.
I have severe allergies, very severe, far worse than I believed. Years of them being untreated have turned them into a primary flareup trigger and a source of migraines. After a year and one half of working with my primary to make sure my bloodwork was healthy (no more anemia or vitamin D issues, yay!) and experimenting with various allergy meds, I sought out a sinus/allergy specialist, started allergy treatment a month after my first appointment, sinus surgery a couple months later. Before beginning treatment I was seeing upwards of 25 migraine days a month, seeing relief only a couple of times a year, which coincide with low pollen/allergen months.
I saw major improvements after the sinus surgery, immediately I could breath better than I have in years, then, as the weeks went one I noticed less migraines, less flareups, less attacks. The allergy immunosuppression treatment itself is rough on me, causes my sinuses to become inflamed and, when allergens are high, sick, weak, foggy. I’m still early in the treatment, but I’ve seen a lot of improvements and overall feeling better. I should see significant improvements over the following year, especially once other health issues are resolved.
Due to the immunosuppression treatment I put house and fleet repairs on hold. Being sick for 5-6 days a week took up the time I was spending working on repairs and maintenance. Stopped working outside when I couldn’t be outside for more than 10 minutes before headaches would begin and lymph nodes would swell, going out to the garage caused similar issues, then I noticed that drywall dust was making me extremely sick. I can mostly handling being outside now, the garage itself doesn’t both me as long as I’m not out in it all day, but it may be some months before I can handle drywall dust again.
I’m fighting an infection, have been for years. Heat makes it flareup, painfully, but it would often turn dormant, sometimes for months, usually weeks at a time, making it hard to find the right treatment. Many treatments would turn it dormant, some worsened it, but eventually one that worked was found. There are side effects, heat sensitivity, headaches, exhaustion, chills, they come and go, but overall they are lessening as the infection clears up. No clue how long before it’s completely clear, but it’s been a long battle.
Things are rough right now, this past year has been rough, but improving week by week. The infection should continue to clear up over the following months, and I should see significant improvements with my allergies. Partner has been helping with a lot of the yard work and house maintenance, but I’m really looking forward to when I can go outside and not worry about headaches or the infection flaring up. Anemia is under control, vitamin deficiencies are under control, bloodwork is looking great, I’m ready to move on.