It's 2015!

Hello Everyone!

It's been a while since I have written a blog post. I am truly sorry for that, my illness has really taken over my life. After the last post, I had taken a turn for the worst. I never like admitting these things, but sometimes it's good to come to grips with things.
After being admitted into the hospital, I got a little better but was not to my old self (before the problem). I had always had dizziness but it had gotten very bad. I would stand up and almost pass out. Thank goodness, we had a doctor to go to even though it was a genetics doctor, he was really the light at the end of the tunnel. He was not happy on how sick I was, he referred me to a GI doctor at Children's.
That GI doctor ordered a TILT test, before even seeing me. I had gone to do the tilt test and it was very rough. At the end of the test, I had a seizure. It was the most scariest thing, I had in my life. It was confirmed that I had a Autonomic Problem. I was then diagnosed with POTs, a form a dysautonomia. POTS is pretty much when I stand up my blood pressure drops suddenly and my heart rate goes up, causing me to black out or faint. It's a heart condition, most likely caused from my Chiari. These doctors wanted to do more test, including checking my hearing, MRI, stomach test, and many more. They told me it's not gonna be a easy fix, and it will take time to get better!
Yes, I've been very ill but I'm dealing with it! I've got the support of my friends and family!

A week ago, I went to my ear doctor to get my hearing test and it was confirmed that I was deaf in my left ear. He had said, if your hearing comes back it would be a miracle! (There can always be miracles!) He said I would need new hearings aids to help me hear.

I am so not the one, to "ask" for money. But with medicial bills pilling up, it can really get tough!
Please feel free to share my --GOFUNDME-- page!
http://www.gofundme.com/SydneysQuest



Sometimes life gives you the hardest challenges. I know I can defeat this illness!
IF anyone reading this is going through a rough time, know that things will get better! And if they don't, then you will deal with it then, when that happens!
Always stay positive! Hope and Positivity can change everything! 

The Road so Far

Many people would say I am at my best at this point, which is true and false.
A chronic illness doesn't go away over night, or it might never go away. People with chronic illness deal with the days they might be bed ridden and days where they can climb a mountain.
Sick-free days are a such a gift to us. We want to do everything before the problems come back and they are unable to do anything.

Currently, that is what I am dealing with. I am always in constant pain and have learned to block out the pain and cope with it, but at times it can be overbearing and I cannot do anything. Most people don't understand that...
They look at me, see me smiling and assume I am all well now. Which in most cases I am probably in pain, and just trying to deal with it. 

Being sick doesn't mean I have to be the stereotypical sick person. I can still go outside and smile, do things and still have fun, while being sick. Yes at times, my illness prevents me from doing anything and those are the days you don't see me. 

In that case, most people do not understand that. They think, "Well you are sick, so shouldn't you be in bed and eating chicken noodle soup?" 
I am not contagious, or will give you my illness. I can still get the flu or a cough on top of my other illness. 

I also get asked a lot, "How do you still smile after your illness has taken away so much from you?"

At times, I don't smile and get very sad. I wish I never was sick. 

I have learned to embrace my illness and find a happy medium between life and that. Even though I am sick, I am happy. 

I used to always look at other peoples life's and compare them to mine. Which is the worst thing to do at any time, sick or not. 

Yes, I had to give up a lot. I wasn't able to attend high school the way I wanted to, or college that way I had planned. I have a different way of looking at things. I always look at the big picture, I have goals to overcome. It might be at a slower pace then the average person, but I will get them done. 

I ask of people, when someone says they are dealing with an illness. To not judge them, look beyond that smile, the laughter, the goofing around.
Every chronic illness or illness has there challenges. All people have different ways of dealing with it. 

I take one day at time, some days might not be that best, but I am happy about who I am and what life brings me.