I’m working on the “Define your Dash” challenge from FamilySearch.org  The challenge is writing 52 post/stories in 2017 that defines who I am. This year I plan to blog about my regulars: Temple Pictures, Kids, Family, Parenting and Photography.

In addition, I’m going to blog about something that I don’t try to focus on in my life but since I’m “defining my dash”… it’s just part of who I am! Ever since I was a toddler, I’ve been diagnosed with multiple autoimmune disorders.

I have friends who live with terminal illnesses such as cancer. Others live with diseases like CF which require extensive medical care. Then even other people with mental disorders that are silently endured. Friends with birth defects, special needs, heart problems… the list goes on…

Autoimmune disorders fall in it’s own category… a category which I feel like even after extensive personal research is still very much unknown and undefined. It’s about having good days and bad days. It’s about learning how to live with symptoms with an unknown cause! It’s about searching without finding solutions. It’s about going to the doctor and saying “I have all these problems… please fix me…” but all they do is send me home with more pain medications or take out another organ which is causing pain!! Please don’t take out any more of my organs!! 🙂

My hopes about writing about my autoimmune disorders is not to complain but instead to share what I’ve experience in hopes to connect with others who may have the same problems. I want to share how I cope with these illnesses and also the blessings I see from having autoimmune disorders! ❤

These are the autoimmune/immune disorders I have been officially diagnosed:

• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Grave’s Disease (Hyper Thyroid)
• Still’s Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Drug induced Lupus
• Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (Chronic Hives)
• Allergies to cats, pollens, trees and grass (Ranked 5 on allergy tests)
• Chronic Gastritis in Stomach

Other annoyances and symptoms:

• Asthma
• Recurring Bronchitis
• Recurring Strep
• Recurring Ear Infections
• Recurring UTIs
• A hernia in my diaphragm which causes acid reflex
• Unknown GI Problem – Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Gallbladder?
• Hypo Thyroid due to radioactive iodine treatment to kill thyroid gland
• Pain in upper right quadrant of abdominal/back – Kidney? Gallbladder? Arthritis in Ribs?
• Daily Headaches @ ~1-2 pm – Tension Headache? Migraine? Arthritis in neck?

Well… that’s all I can think about for now… I might add a few more symptoms later… I will try to write about a few of these disorders this year! I know I don’t always see it this way but it really has been a blessing God has given me to deal with these problems. I have a awesome hubby in medical school so it really helps to ask him lots of questions! I also know how to look up scientifically sound research on the internet which is a great skill to have because there is a lot of junk out there. I want to go about this in a very positive way and share what I’ve learned with you.

Now my question is: Do you experience any of these symptoms?!!? Or have an autoimmune or immune disorder?