Today, I'm feeling defeated. About four weeks ago, I made the switch to full-time day campus studies, thanks to vocational rehabilitation and an incredible college opportunity that's helping me work towards a bachelor's degree, offering a chance to move away from working in EMS.
As many with Ehlers-Danlos and Dysautonomia can understand, changes like this can be challenging for our bodies. Right before college started, I finally found a physician to address my PMDD issues with chemical menopause, and thankfully, that seems to be stabilizing my mood. However, my body has been reacting strangely, and I'm not sure if it's related to becoming a full-time student or the forced chemical menopause. The issues I'm experiencing seem more in line with my usual EDS responses.
The first problem I noticed was my body struggling to regulate blood sugar; it was all over the place for about two weeks, and I even ended up in the ER with hypoglycemia. Strangely, that issue seemed to resolve, but extreme fatigue set in. I realized my diet had been poor since starting college due to time management challenges, so I started taking an iron supplement.
On Monday, I began experiencing MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) issues, even from simply drinking out of a soda can. I had swelling and an allergic reaction where the can touched my skin, and this continued every time since then. It looks like I won't be drinking out of soda cans anymore.
I also noticed that my fingernails aren't growing, and they've become more brittle than usual. I've been experiencing frequent nosebleeds at night. Today, I woke up with a sore throat and a fever, which is rare for me. I believe my body is telling me it needs a break. While my at-home Covid test was negative, it could still be an MCAS issue (possibly a sore throat due to blood running down at night), but I don't want to risk it being Covid and potentially expose my classmates. I've made that mistake before, thinking I had EDS/MCAS issues, worked on the ambulance, and tested positive for Covid five days later. I felt terrible about exposing my patients.
I just wanted to share how defeating this condition can feel at times. I know I'm not alone, but it can certainly feel that way. The paramedic in me keeps thinking, "This is all too crazy and not possible; get your act together."
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