Flares, stress and such 4

Today marks the week of new testing, fun fun fun…

Recently I have been experiencing organ hardness after meals and extreme pain.  My doctors are under the assumption that I might have Lupus and another disease, or a misdiagnosis and a different disease – right now I am being looked at for Porphyria.  Much like Lupus this is a group of diseases, which affects the skin and the nervous system.  They are under the assumption that I have acute Porph, which includes symptoms of abdominal pain, chest pain, vomiting, fever and so on…. These come and go, like Lupus; with attacks that range from days to weeks.

Much like Lupus, the attacks are triggered by alcohol, smoking, stress or medications.
Since diagnosed I eat a pretty basic diet, plus I have anamazing nutritionist who keeps me on my macros and focused on eating the right foods.  Billy Haskins, who created Complete Supplements is amazing and so is his line of supplements.  I recommend them to everyone!

I don’t really drink, don’t smoke, or medicate – my trigger for flares has always been stress.  These are self-induced flares to me, it’s hard to not stress we have stress every day.  When my flares started to get really bad over the summer, I really had to think about where my stress was coming from; and redesign my life.

I quit a job that was completely stressful, ended some relationships that were toxic, left my home gym which was a toxic environment for me and rebuilt some friendships that I had let fall behind.  I couldn’t have done any of this without my support system, they are the most honest, greatest and stress relieving people I’ve ever known.

I guess what I am saying…. If you have a disease which is killing you on the inside, look at what’s outside and redesign.  Don’t let me lie to you, this was the toughest year of my life and man – the growth from it was/is amazing.   I use my support system and the gym as my main drugs to combat my illness, currently; I am only on natural remedies with the occasional prescription when needed for a flare.

I lift, because… like I’ve said before…. It’s my destresser, it’s my life saver, it’s what’s keeping me from falling down the despair chronic illness rabbit hole and its created relationships that are more supportive than anywhere else.