How my faith helped me with my chronic illness

(This is an excerpt from my book “OUT OF THE FIBRO FOG” which will be out later this year.)

I have been blessed with a strong faith in God that has helped me through my long illness.  I have had Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue since 1975.  This illness is one that is very hard because others can’t see it and question you all the time.  I have found that there are those who can see in my eyes the pain I was in and understood, but in general most people don’t understand.  I have been supported by my wife how loves me and knows that I would not just quit working and take to a bed if I didn’t have to.  Both my, now adult sons, suffer with fibromyalgia as well.  They have also been supportive and helped in any way that they could, especially our youngest son, who has always lived near us. He has taking me to doctor’s appointments and helping with thing around the house that I could not do.

It’s really hard when family and friends don’t understand and are not willing to help in any way.  Depression is a big part of any chronic illness and when you are ignored by those you need most it hurts in many ways.  I have to admit when the pain got overwhelming I did consider ending my life several times, but my faith in God and my love for my family keep me going.  I have chatted with lots of others over the years encouraging them, even when I didn’t have any hope of feeling better.  I have had over a dozen people tell me that just being there for them keep them from taking their lives.

I have seen the ugly side of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue over the years.  I lived on morphine for many years because of the intense pain.  I never understood why God allowed me to go through this illness till last year.  I now believe that he allowed me to suffer so that I could understand what others have to go through.  

I created this blog because I saw a way that might help me overcome my disease.  I wanted to let my fibro friends see what life was like before I started this treatment and all along the way.  

God spoke to my heart and told me that this treatment would work.  I waited till my wife was ready for us to do this together.  She had become sure that nothing would work for me and was concerned that the money would be wasted.  I just prayed that if this was what we were to do she would have peace like I had. That day came and we made the trip to the clinic. 

God has been so good to me in the year 2011, because of this treatment I no longer use a wheelchair, am able to drive again, don’t need all those medicines just to exist.  Ninety percent of my symptoms are gone and I am able to live a near normal life.  Am I cured NO but I will take how I am now any day over the way I was.  I have often though of Paul in the New Testament who was afflicted with a medical problem.  God didn’t cure him either, just to make sure he didn’t forget, but God used him in a mighty way.  I am no Paul, but I believe God has some great plans for us in the next few years.  

We started volunteering at two different Christian ministries within seven months of my starting treatment.  We are regulars there now and plan to build a home near them so we can be of more help to them. 

I now work even more to get the word out that there is life after fibro.  I was told that I was the worse case that this group of clinics had ever seen.  Yet with God’s help I made so much progress in a very short time.  They made sure that anyone from the home office saw me when they were in town.  I have had the opportunity to meet and talk to some wonderful people because of this.  Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum has been a driving force in fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue treatment for many years.  He developed the SHINE protocol (see earlier post or articles on my site for more info).  He has helped me create my website (recoveryfromfibro.com) so I can help others with these chronic illnesses.  Because Dr. Teitelbaum has suffered with chronic fatigue he does understand what we have gone through.  He is now the medical director for Chronicity Inc. (the group of clinics that I went to).  He spends his time teaching other doctors how to treat these chronic illnesses and doing research into the treatment of fibro and chronic fatigue. 

There is life after fibro/cfs and with some effort on your part you don’t have to see your health deteriorate like mine did.

God Bless you

Jerry

A Recent Update

Well we are over a year since I started my recovery from fibro.  Life is so much different now than when I started.  If you have not read my story, take a look at the oldest post and see how difficult life was for me.  Now God has given us new purpose in life.  As my body has begun to recover from fibro/cfs, I have been able to do things that I never though would be possible for me again.  I am volunteering my time to help others not only with physical problems but emotional and spiritual as well.  We have been working since labor day weekend at a ministry that helps men that have live a life of substance abuse.  We volunteer at at Vocational Residential facility that teaches the men to become responsible and productive members of society.  Because I can now get around I have helped in all phases of this work and am right at home teaching life skills, like how to balance a checkbook and how to use a computer. 

My wife loves to cook so she does the cooking and helps with that side of the work.  We also are helping put together a boarding home for teen boys that are at risk of making some of the same mistakes.  I am doing the wiring for computers, phone lines, television and a security system.  I have other men that do most of the heavy work but I am able to plan out these systems and help install them in this new facility. 

I am still seeing the fibro doctor as needed but am able to manage my own on-going treatment because of what I have learned in the last year.  I am often asked if I am cured, I say "NO" but I live with only 10% of the symptoms and medical problems that I had only last year.  I continue to not "sell" anything because I want to help others and we all have had others try to sell a cure.  I do have a new medical support website that helps others with fibro/cfs do the same things I did to start their recovery from fibro.  BTW: That is the name of my website; RECOVERY FROM FIBRO.com.  If you are interested in learning how to start your recovery, just start reading then come to my website and see what advice is available there.  I have many articles about the most important topics for people with fibro/cfs.  I also have a place there that you can ask questions.  I will research the answer and if it's not available to me Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum will answer your question.

The year of 2011 has been amazing for me, I went from being very sick to having a wonderful life.  It was expensive, but I would do it again if necessary.  Spend some time reading and see what life was like for me before I started this recovery.  I had a friend ask me "So how is what your doing working for you?".  Most of us could say that it isn't working, if you are like I was, it was a downward spiral.  But because I was willing to try something different and out of the normal mainstream medicine, I have a amazing life again.

Jerry

See my new website dedicated to help others with fibro/cfs find their RECOVERY FROM FIBRO/CFS.

UPDATE FOR OCTOBER

Wow it keeps getting better.  In August we met a couple we had known for years, they have a ministry to men that need a second chance.  it’s called Christian Vocational Ministries and can be found at www.cvmutah.com .  We got talking and they mentioned that they could use some help.  They need a cook (funny thing Deb, my wife, is a great cook and loves it.  They also need someone to help supervise the guys and teach them life skills.  Things like how to balance a checkbook and how to type a letter in a word-processing program.  Some also need help getting their GED’s. 

Well we prayed about it then acted.  We went for a visit and spent much of our time there since.  We love the area (mountains, 6000 feet, small town (350 residents) in mid Utah.  It’s about a two and a half hour drive from our home.  The guys responded well to us and love Deb’s cooking… They even started making request for food they had not had since their grandmother made them. 

I was concerned about how I would handle the work hours and the climate( we had snow already).  But I did fine, but found that the 12 hour days went better if I could get a nap in the afternoon.  We will see how the winter goes this year.  Where we live the winter days are in the mid 60’s so it’s a change for us.

We are home now for about a month.  Deb had to have surgery and will need a month before she can return to the mountains.  We are looking forward to returning to CVM and enjoy the work.  We have our own apartment and are able to do as we wish there.  We have most meals together with the men and other staff.

We think we have our house sold, this is a real blessing because we plan to start traveling next spring.  We are still planning on traveling around the US and Canada doing “Fibrohugs Reunions in the park” and sharing my story.  My book is coming along and we hope it will be published early next year.  I am in the process of getting jewelry, shirts and hats that we can sell to pay for the Fibrohugs website.  It has been down for a while and we are meeting on facebook.  But it would be a real blessing to have it back up and running.

I have a new website designed to support people that want more information on how to recover from fibro.  It’s at www.recoveryfromfibro.com  I will be back to post again next month… If you have questions or want to communicate with me, write me at fmsjerry@gmail.com.

Thanks

FMSJerry

WE ARE IN THE FINAL STRETCH

I got some good news this last trip to the Fibro & Fatigue Center.  Because of the improvement they don’t feel that any more chelation therapy is necessary for me.  I will continue on the supplements that I am taking for the rest of this year. After that I will be just on some maintains supplements to make sure my body has all the minerals it needs to work well. 

What a fantastic year this has been for me.  Going from what I was to what I am today has been a BIG change.  Even when visiting my MD she was astounded at the change in my health.  I had to see the cancer doctors and the urology doctors this last week.  They both told me that I don’t have to come back, unless there is a problem. 

SO AM I CURED???  Well I won’t say that, but my health and ability to do things has changed 95 percent this last year.  I was housebound, in a wheelchair and had not driven in over 15 years.  Now I am driving again, doing almost all I want to do (in moderation).  Do I still take a nap in the afternoon, sometimes.  But my quality of life has been so much improved that it’s hard to describe.  Will I return to the working world???  That is another good question.  I am being told to wait and see if this last for over a year, then my doctor might give me the go ahead and go back to work.  So we will see what happens.

Would I recommend that you try a natural approach to your health?  That’s a no brainer, after seeing what it has done for me, it’s hard to not tell everyone to do it. 

If you have any questions I can help with please contact me.   I will be continuing to post here monthly to let you know how I am doing…

God Bless…

FMSJerry

ANOTHER CHAPTER IN MY STORY

I had my last scheduled chelation (IV) this last week.  The doctor thinks that they have done all that they will do for me and I agree.  I have not seen a lot of improvement because of them for a couple of months.  They say now that you only normally need six chelation treatments in the beginning to get your system going.  Then the supplements will take over and continue the process. 

This will save us the cost of travel, hotels and food in restaurants when traveling, that will help a lot.  I was surprised at how much we have spent in medical travel expenses this year.  More than the medical treatment and because it’s in Las Vegas Nevada the hotels are all below $50.00 per night(where we stay).  

I just ordered all my supplements again and learned that I still have three problems.  The latest blood test came back to show that I am loosing Iron.  The doctor said that it’s unusual for a male to have his Iron content drop.  He thinks I must be bleeding either in my kidneys or in my gut.  My testosterone level is still low and he suggested I up my dosage.  Also my Aldosterone level is low, (a hormone that the adrenal glands make).  So he has put me on an additional supplement to help this. 

I will be seeing my MD at the VA this week and will request that she check me to find out where I am loosing Iron.  Also will have her increase my Testosterone by half again so that my levels will be in line. 

I am dealing with some pain from sleeping on a hard bed for two nights while in Las Vegas.  But if you’re a fibro patient you know that these usually resolve themselves in about three days.  So I should be good to go tomorrow. 

Another trip this week to Salt Lake City to see several specialist at the VA hospital.  I am having a spot checked on my back for cancer.  Also will be getting two new pair’s of glasses ordered.  I wear one to drive and normal things and the second pair has prisms to allow me to read better.  These became necessary after what can only be described as a stroke in 2008.  There is no evidence of a stroke in my MRI but the eye specialist said that is the only thing that explains my eye problems.  It was necessary to have eye surgery to correct my sight problems after this event. 

Till next time…

FMSJerry

SEE MY NEW WEBSITE DEDICATED TO HELP OTHERS WITH FIBRO/CFS START THEIR RECOVERY FROM FIBRO.