And, FINALLY, a Diagnosis!

Over the past five months I have seen more doctors than I have in the past five years. No lie. I have seen my Primary (more times than she'd like, I'm sure), a neurologist, a cardiologist, and an endocrinologist. Every single one of them responded to my list of symptoms with a scratch to their head and a "Huh. I don't really know what this might be. It doesn't really fit anything." Thanks... that's helpful.

I have had A LOT of tests done. Those tests, thankfully, ruled out a lot of big, scary stuff like cancer, multiple sclerosis, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, a host of major heart conditions, diabetes, Lyme disease and even adrenal insufficiency. So, that's good. But still, something is wrong with me, right? Right. I just wasn't going to the right specialist... but I am now!

I went to see the amazing and lovely Sara Paukovich on Sunday. I have known Sara for almost two years and was blessed beyond words to help her and her husband welcome their daughter to the world 18 months ago. Sara had actually offered her services (Traditional Chinese Medicine) when this whole ordeal went down almost five months ago, but I wanted to rule out all those big and scary things first. Having ruled those out (and more), I felt it was time to give her a call.

When I began telling her about my symptoms, so told me that it sounded like I fit a particular diagnosis perfectly, but we'd talk more at our first visit. As I sat chatting with her on Sunday afternoon, she asked questions and nodded as I answered and finally told me that I was a textbook case of Liver Blood Deficiency. TEXTBOOK. I finally fit something! Wow.

She had warned me not to expect too much during our first acupuncture session as it takes time to build up. So I was expecting nothing at all. Truly. She put the first needle in and I felt a huge rush right to the site. Same with the second, and all the other needles after that (I believe there were 16 in all). She turned on some quiet music and left the room, leaving me to relax. In a quick 15 minutes, she came to check on me; I was feeling fine, so she left the room again. A little while later I suddenly realized, "Oh my gosh. I feel... good." Truly good. Not kind of good or like I can get by good, but honestly alive and GOOD... for the first time in five long months. Good. I was so thankful I just cried and cried (while still lying very still, of course). Even now, I tear up thinking about it. And you know what? Two days later I still feel pretty good. I have had almost no symptoms since Sunday afternoon.

I will go see her again tomorrow for another acupuncture treatment, some cupping for chronic shoulder pain, and will pick up some herbs she wants me to start using as well. I will see her twice a week at first and then once a week and then less and less until I no longer need treatment.

For the first time since this all began, I feel hopeful and relieved. I will never stop thanking God for putting Sara in my life. She is truly one of the most amazing, generous, kind, and loving people I have ever met. I am so blessed to know her. If you live even remotely close to Chapel Hill, go see Sara at Unity Acupuncture Clinic for any little thing.