Kristi’s Story (Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Endometriosis)

In 2014, I was a normal, everyday mother. I have 3 children. One who is grown, Ryan (23), and a now 17-year-old daughter, Marissa, and a 13-year-old Down Syndrome Daughter, Alexa. I was working toward my nursing degree, and I was 3 years into my pre-requisites. I had suffered with agonizing pain for many years, and I was diagnosed with Endometrosis. It was recommended that I have a hysterectomy to fix this problem, so on break, I chose to have my surgery.

On May 4, 2014, it went as planned. Four weeks into my recovery, one morning, I could not move my legs. I was crippled on my bed. I crawled out of my bed to get to the bathroom.

In the coming weeks, no one knew what was happening. Everything started hurting. My bones were excruciating. I suddenly needed a walker and a cane. I was terrified, as I was thinking I would be handicapped for the rest of my life. Suddenly, after weeks of testing, they found my Vitamin D was at level 17. But still, even the prescription didn’t help me.

So, I went to see a rheumatologist, who tested my RA factor. It came back positive. How could this be, I thought? I was then told the grim news that it’s incurable, and I had an aggressive form. I would need chemo, and all this stuff was thrown at me. Learning to walk again took months, and on top of that, my mother had a heart attack in December.

I took a permanent leave from school to not only help me, but more importantly, be there for my mother. I took care of her full time, trying to maintain composure while feeling like I was losing it all. Ultimately, I lost my mother on December 15, 2015.

I can now walk, but I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I’m on many meds, and contently monitoring my pain levels is a daily battle, but I don’t need that walker anymore. I believe what happened to me is rare. I’m a fighter, and I will never quit!!! God bless us all.

Kristi
Pennsylvania
Submitted 04/19/2018

This story is intended to convey a personal experience and, because every person’s experience is unique, should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional healthcare advice.