Listen to your body

This would be written tomorrow but since I'll be busy tomorrow and not busy now, it's written now.

A month ago I was sitting in the ER crying in fear of my life upon diagnosis of PE. Today I am 1 month out in surviving a PE! If I had not listened to my own body, I probably wouldn't be typing this right now. I kept telling them there was something wrong, I kept requesting imaging but they wouldn't listen to me. Upon returning to the ER 1.5 days after being discharged home, I said there was no way I was leaving until they did that imaging. It's become more real to me now in understanding 1 in 3 don't survive it. It's become more real after talking with others who have PE or know someone who has and didn't make it. For once I was not part of that smaller percentage. God must have a purpose for me here on earth.

Thus I want to advise to all- listen to your body. Doctors are educated and of course have their very important place in this world, but- they don't know your body best. YOU do.

This is the most serious time, but not the only time this has happened. I went undiagnosed of MG for over 2 years. If I had not listened to my body, I would probably be on tons of anxiety medication and either nothing else or way too much else. I can't even count the number of times I was written off to having "just anxiety". And I can't even count the number of incorrect medications I was given from antibiotics to steroids to inhalers to acid reflux meds and more... I stopped counting after about 50, no joke. But at the same time I kept pushing for that answer. This is especially true for an "invisible illness" such as mine where they make the assumption that it's all in your head. It's not, your insides exist even if they can't be seen. Keep pushing for that answer.

Another time this happened, there's a chance I may not have made it either if I had not listened to my own body. Last February when I was prescribed a medication and started showing almost all of the listed serious side effects shortly after. I went to the ER because of trouble breathing, trouble walking and much more. That ER disregarded my symptoms, told me it was anxiety and sent me home! Sent me home and told me to continue that medication! They completely ignored my symptoms were listed as serious side effects. Well I went home and tried to tell myself they were right, but I knew they weren't. The next day when I continued to decline to the point of not knowing if I would make it- I called the prescribing doctor who told me to go straight to clinical admitting at his hospital. Thank God he was on call at that time. He immediately stopped the meds and said it was a serious side effect. Little did any of us know at the time it was because of Myasthenia Gravis and I was going into crisis. There is a long list of meds that can cause MG crisis and this was one of them. Another pill, another day I may have ended up on the ventilator as many MG patients do. But I listened to my body. I knew something was off.

Currently, I'm still listening to my body and not giving up. I still have a number of symptoms that don't fall under any diagnosis. I pushed on the heart issue thing for about 3 years now and finally starting to get it figured out. I will keep pushing and advocating for myself regardless of what anyone tells me. If my gut doesn't say that's correct, I won't accept it. At least my strong willed personality pays off in one area of life here.

Any doctor can tell you what's in the books. Any friend or family member can try to encourage you that you're "fine." Listen to your body anyways. And if you're a doctor, a friend or a family member of anyone who has a chronic illness, an invisible illness, or is experiencing symptoms you can't see or don't believe- think twice about it. Listen to them. Listen to them before it's too late and you won't be able to listen to them ever again.

I listened. I survived. <3