For the last year I have struggled with crushing fatigue, bilateral, migratory joint pains, rashes, and a few other annoying symptoms. I saw a variety of doctors in the Dominican Republic and finally in April found a couple in the capital who really began to help me in terms of alleviating symptoms while continuing to work on a diagnosis. They ruled out some major disorders like Lupus, but as all my blood tests were normal, did not pinpoint exactly what I had.
After seeing several great doctors and having a lot of tests, we have ruled out a lot of possibilities. At this point the diagnosis is "inflammatory arthritis." Now, this is not your mother's arthritis. My joints are not wearing out. Rather my immune system is attacking them and as a result they hurt a lot and don't always work so well. This also leads to fatigue since my body is in overdrive fighting a phantom. I always feel like I have the flu.
There are some medications that will stop or limit this process. The bottom line is that this is manageable and won't prevent us from returning to the Dominican Republic to continue our work. God is faithful and sustains us through whatever we face, so we press on! Okay, in reality on a bad day I don't press on, I just climb in bed and sleep. Then I get up and keep going :)
Thank you for your prayers and concern!
