GOOD NEWS!!!

We spent 7 hours in the ER again yesterday!!! Hooray! Okay, I know, so how is that good news? Because God totally met us where we are and He brought more things to the light for us. Simply put, answered prayer. The reason we went is because the same symptoms that I have been having for 2 months came on with a vengeance over a 24 hour period to the point where I actually felt like I was having a heart attack, I was so fatigued that I couldn't even walk and my whole body was paralyzing. I wish I could say I was being over dramatic, but not so much. It was pretty horrible...so to the ER we went.

Our goal going in was to get the doctors to look at other things besides ms. We have been saying all along that we did not think these current issues were related to ms. We've treated the ms and got the opposite effect from the treatment and inactive mri's. So, to try and make a long story short, they did blood work, chest x-rays and a ct scan of my abdomen. Because of all of my symptoms it was all pointing to GI issues. So here's some of the good news. Blood work was normal, chest x-ray normal and the ct scan showed that all of my organs were healthy and intact, but it showed (and forgive me if you have a sensitive stomach) that my intestines were impacted thus causing more severe spasms, chest pain and me looking like I am 9 months pregnant, which by the way is not rewarding without there actually being a baby in there! So after suggesting that we take a couple of super punch things to clear me out, the doctor wanted me to be seen by the neurologist just to be on the safe side.

Here's the rest of the good news! This neurologist was who we have been praying to see. While he had the benefit of working off the backs of the other doctors eliminating things over the last two months, he was really able to educate us and bring some more things to the light that he thinks pertains to my current situation. He did all the normal neurological tests and this is what he said, " I can tell  you this, you may feel weak, but you are very strong, you are just extremely fatigued." Can you guess what bubbled up in my spirit? A verse that I have been speaking out loud over my body for a very long time. Joel 3:10," Let the weak say, ' I am strong'. " God's Word, living and active in my body despite what I thought I felt like.

There are 3 areas of the nervous system: 1. Central Nervous System (Brain and Spine, where they diagnose ms) 2. Peripheral Nervous System and 3. Autonomic Nervous System. The area he talked with us about is the Autonomic Nervous System which by definition is: The  network of nerves that regulate involuntary control of cardiac muscle, organ smooth muscle, and glands that effect basic biological processes such as digestion and breathing.Ummm...EXACTLY what I have been going through the last two months. Now, the big question, does ms effect this? He couldn't say that it does but that possible scarring in a specific part of the spine could cause this. Are you ready for some great news??? If after formal testing of my Autonomic Nervous System, this proves to be the issue then there is treatment to resolve it! Praise God! ANSWERS! While I am not putting my hope in this, I do believe that God is bringing all things to the light for us. We will also be meeting with a GI doctor to do some scopes to rule out other things that a ct scan can't pick up...your prayers, again, are much needed and appreciated.

Chad and I believe that God was with us last night, working through people that may not even know Him. God really met us where we are in our trust and faith in Him and was merciful and gracious to us. We believe that God has healed me of ms...Nahum 1:9, " Affliction will not rise up a second time". So even though Chad and I keep looking for physical evidence of this, God's Word is the only evidence we need. We're growing, we're getting it :-)

Thanks for tracking with my lengthy post, but I just had to give all of you amazing people the update. Stay encouraged...God is taking care of me and you. As we draw near to Him, He draws near to us ( James 4:8) and meets us right where we are. He loves us so much and we should never doubt it!