Just when you think you got things figured out something else comes along and kicks you square in the plums. After suffering from an allergic reaction for months and having major problems with my bowels not to mention the early morning wake up call from the beast i finally though things were on the mend and my heath was starting to improve. I started to feel a lot better and even the attacks are very few just lately so i began to think i am finally on the upward slope until i decided to get out for a bit of fresh air and exercise.
As i don’t get out much since the attacks began over 10 years ago my health has been going down hill rapidly and i have been in a constant fight to stay pain free and get over many different health problems. Now suffering from a hiatus hernia, IBS and cluster attacks i thought it was about time i made the effort and get out in the fresh air and hopefully that would help to improve my condition and help me to fight the remainder of my illness. I decided to take a walk down to the local lake that is about 20 minuets brisk walk from my flat down hill. They were holding the first stage of the Welsh Carp Championship fishing competition at the lake and as i love my fishing it was the perfect excuse.
I set off early in the morning making sure i had taken all the medication i needed for the day and also some injections just in case of an emergency. I also popped to the shop and bought some orange juice and a bottle of water to make sure i had plenty of fluids with me to drink and in case i needed to take a pain killer. As i walked down to the lake i had the usual back pains from the lump i have in the lower left of my back and the sharp pain running up the side of my back towards the neck. It wasn’t anywhere near as bad as it usually is so i was grateful and it wasn’t long before i was at the lake enjoying the brief break in the weather and the fresh air. I stayed for a couple of hours chatting to a couple of friends of mine that had entered the competitions and just after lunch i decided it was time to make my way home.
As i started to walk back to my flat along the country lane leading away from the lake i noticed i was starting to get pain in both of me feet at the bottom and this started to spread slowly up to my calves. I didn't think much of it until i was 10 minuets into the walk back and the pain became severe and spread right up to my waits in both legs. The pain was so strong that i was pouring with sweat even though it was a cold day. I continued on thinking to myself just get home and then you can rest so i pushed through the pain and it wasn’t long before both my feet and legs were on fire. They actually felt like they were burning and could hardly take a step. I ended up stopping and thinking how on earth am i going to get home i am in the middle of nowhere and i couldn’t walk another step.
I decided to sit and rest for a while to see if it would ease but it didn't and then the inevitable happened and an attack started so i had to take an injection. Now i was in agony trying to deal with a full on cluster attack and also staggering up the lane trying to walk with legs in just as much pain as my head and my entire body felt as if it was on fire. I actually thought that this was it, i was about to die and there was nothing i could do. At that moment as if by miracle i saw the son of one of my neighbours with his mate flying up the lane on a scrambler and when he saw me holding my face and staggering almost falling over he suddenly stopped and asked was i ok, i replied no and was about to collapse and have a major attack.
He then threw his mate off the back of his bike and told me to get on and hold on tight. He then ripped up the remainder of the lane to the main road and despite risking being arrested as you shouldn’t ride a scrambler on the main road he drove straight up the street to the front door of my flat. I couldn’t thank the boy enough as i ran inside the flat and collapsed on the sofa in immense pain. I really don’t know what i would have done if he hadn’t have come along that day and i still believe i don't think i would have made it and could have died as the body was in such a state for quite some time afterwards. Why this suddenly happened i don't know but believe it is due to blood pooling in the feet as i now have to sleep on a slope with my feet downwards all the time meaning that my circulation isn’t getting the chance to relax at night when i sleep. When i described the symptoms of what happened to my mate who has a similar problem with circulation problems he said yes that is what had happened.
He now recommends that i now sleep with my feet up in the air for a while until i get back to normal which means due to the hernia i now have to sleep in a V position. It does sound awkward and uncomfortable but i did this last night and managed to get more sleep that i usually do so there must be something in what he says. I will now make another appointment with the doctor and explain what happened and confirm my findings jus6 in case it is the nerve that caused it and not the circulation. It took me 3 days to recover from my ordeal and still i have weak legs but they are now getting better since i started to lay with the feet up in the air and the swelling is now going down. Talk about a scary experience. I have been through a lot of things ever since my diagnosis and the attacks started and several time i thought i was going to die.
People think that i am being over dramatic when i say i thought i was going to die but i would love to see them live one day in my life with what i have to go through. To be honest i would rather be diagnosed with a terminal illness and know i was going to die at some point rather than knowing i am going to have to suffer like this for years and years until one day the body just wont be able to take it any more. Not knowing what will happen from one day to the next is so depressing and stressful i think its worst than knowing you are going to die. I wouldn’t see an animal suffer as much as i have over the last few years and as i joke with my friends and say if i was a horse they would a shot me, a dog they would have put me down or a car i would have been scrapped by now. I just pray to god that things start to look up soon and i can start to feel well again but my future is in his hands and his alone.
