Update on My Health

Update on My Health

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Many of you know of my health struggles the past 28 years. I have written about them on my blog, even having to go through brain surgery for the second time and Cyber Knife a few years ago which was traumatizing. I have detailed all of this in my book but I thought it was time for an update for all of you who would like to know.

We go to Door County, WI most summers but I have had to miss some due to my health. My neck is terrible from major car accidents and a fusion. My gut has been horrible since I had parasites many years and it flares up whenever my neck gets bad. It’s been a vicious cycle for me with a brain tumor and brain surgeries thrown into the mix. This past summer I almost didn’t go to Door County because my neck was so bad. We found prescription Lidocaine patches that I wore on the long trip to DC that made it bearable. A funny thing happened after a few days of being there, however. My neck hardly hurt at all and I remember this being the case last summer so I knew there was something I was doing at home that kept flaring up my neck.

I finally figured it out! At home, I was sitting in this big green recliner that I had to use my arms to pull me out of the chair. Then we got rid of this when we bought new recliner couches. Unfortunately, they are too big for me. Yes, I am tall for a woman but they are still too deep for me so I would have to use my upper body to push me out of it multiple times a day. I figured out that using my arms and upper body to get out of where I was sitting all day long was flaring up my neck because in Door County all of the chairs are small and I just use my legs to get out. I haven’t had to wear a patch on my neck since coming home from DC. It hasn’t been this good since I can’t even remember.

I went to a Naturopath last year and she gave me amazing stuff for my gut. When I have intense pain from my neck, my stomach still is very bad so it’s been hard to keep weight on me. Lately, however, with my neck not flaring up and the RepairVite healing my gut (best stuff ever for bad gut), I am able to eat things that I haven’t eaten for many years and have gained seven pounds in the last two months! I love it! Ken and I went to a wedding last Saturday night, hence the picture above, and I was able to eat the entire dinner which was delicious. Just the fact that I could go with Ken and have a great time seems like a miracle to both of us.

Concerning my brain tumor, I was supposed to go in for an MRI last June to make sure it isn’t growing but I didn’t. (I have had at least 30 of those on my head.) I also need to get my hormones checked since the Cyber Knife is supposed to kill my pituitary, the major hormone gland. I am waiting for January to do both in case I need more care since it’s the beginning of our health care year. My pituitary must still be working or I wouldn’t be alive. I have to be careful to only drink four cups of water a day with a teaspoon of salt in it due to my damaged pituitary. It’s the one thing I will always have to be careful about. I never want to end up in the ICU again with “death level” sodium of 115.

In the meantime, life sure is fun feeling good and being able to eat! My family can’t believe what I can eat and they love it. I don’t take any day for granted since I know I am still fragile and life is fragile period. God is good. I am blessed and there you have it. (Sorry, trolls, you are never going to be able to steal my joy because the JOY of the LORD is my strength!)

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

22 thoughts on “Update on My Health

  1. So good to read of these health improvements! God’s blessings be with you always! And it is also good to see the recent picture! Indeed, God is Good!

  2. Lori,

    To God be all the glory for the great things He has done! Nothing’s stealing your joy! Even your children rise, calling you blessed, and your husband praises you also for how you deal with the good and the ill. Many women are watching you, and your season of purpose is not over! The best is surely yet to come.

    Thank you for sharing this overcoming testimony with us! By the Blood of The Lamb, we are victorious!

    *hugs*
    Kelley~

  3. Wonderful picture of you and Ken. You look so beautiful! Glad to hear you are doing much better. I always get worried and wonder if you are doing ok if you don’t post.

  4. Thank you so much, Kelley, and for all of your kind words. Yes, I am truly blessed with an amazing family and especially all that the Lord has accomplished for me and all those who believe in and love Him!

    Hugs to you too!

  5. Thank you, Janine. I definitely look better with some weight on and feel so much better. I am only writing five days a week now instead of seven, only because it is better for me to take a break. Besides writing posts for my blog, I am handwriting the notebook snapshots or whatever you call them. (I wish I had a name for them. 🙂 ) But I love doing these!

  6. Thank Lori for your update. I too like Janine get worried if there isn’t a post from you. Stay strong in the Lord. I wouldn’t even approve the trolls comments. All they want is attention because of their lonely lives. Anyway, I’d love to get your book but finances won’t allow it. The Lord bless you Sweet One!

  7. Hi Lori
    Great to know you are feeling much stronger. You and Ken make a great looking couple in the photo!.
    Think you are right in reducing the posts a little, you need a break to return refreshed and you have so much other stuff on too!.
    Blessings to you both as ever
    Helen UK

  8. Hello Lori, I am so happy to hear you are feeling better. And I also want to thank you for putting up with everything to be such a blessing to all of your readers.

    Linda

  9. This update made me smile. 🙂 It’s amazing the difference between feeling poor and feeling good. Although we persist and do our best during the rough times, the sun seems to shine just a bit brighter on the days we are feeling more like ourselves. So blessed by this update.

  10. Thank you, Linda. A woman emailed me and gave me a great verse today after reading the “vile reviews” of my book.

    “The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.” Psalm 64:10

    I love being reminded of who has already won the war!

  11. Lori, I am so happy to hear this! What a wonderful picture of you and Ken! I am so glad that you have found solutions to your health issues. Please do continue to take care of yourself, not allowing anyone to steal your joy. Blessings to you!

  12. Praising God with you on these improvements! I have always been underweight and thought I would feel better gaining some so I set out to gain 5-7 pounds by eating lots of grass fed butter, coconut oil, and plant protein powder. Those few pounds turned into me gaining almost 30! Haha I think that since I’m nearing 40 my metabolism has slowed and hence the big weight gain. I may need to trim a little belly fat but I’m honestly enjoying having some fat on me! 🙂 Saying a prayer for you and hopping to google now to check out this gut medicine you mentioned. Thanks for all you share!

  13. You’re welcome, Jill, and thank you! I can only buy RepairVite at my naturopaths, unfortunately. If you find it somewhere else, let me know. Everyone who has tried is has a better gut. It’s amazing!

  14. Dear Lori,
    I am so pleased to hear how well you’re doing, and you do look beautiful in the picture next to your handsome husband!
    It’s amazing how something we think to be so innocuous (such as the wrong type of furniture), can cause us so many problems.
    I’m so happy you discovered the source of at least some of your issues, and I will keep praying for you that your next medical reports in New Year are good ones.
    Thank you for the update!

    Blessings,
    Christine

  15. I have enjoyed reading your blog. I have a chronic health condition that has plagued me since I was 16 (nothing as serious as what you have been through). Luckily it is now much better; it used to put me in the hospital once or twice a year. My mom and sister live nearby and have always stepped in to help with our 3 girls. I don’t how we would have managed with out them. It also caused much stress in my marriage. People can really take good health for granted. I know I always did. Being ill so much can really help your perspective on what is really important in life.

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