Canary Life

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I was one of those kids who had to wear cotton and tuck my undershirts under my drawers so the elastic wouldn't touch me.  Eczema began in 4th grade.  I had two major accidents in which teeth were knocked out, at age 14 and again at 19, resulting in root canal therapies.  Began in 1975 with one broken tooth and ended in 1993 after 8 root canals and subsequent surgeries to re-seal the roots of the teeth after the chemical they used to kill bacteria in the roots of the teeth, phenol, broke out the ends of the roots and went into my bloodstream.  I lost 7 teeth and a fair chunk of my upper jaw bone when it rotted during a bout of persistent infection.  Each time this happened, I became "allergic" (sensitized) to any medications I was taking at the time.  I am now limited to a very few antibiotics and almost no pain medications, including NSAIDs. 

To add insult to injury, nobody believed me when I said I was in pain or having symptoms that didn't fit the norm.  I was sent to a therapist to heal emotional wounds that my dentist assumed must be causing the pain.  I endured years and years of painful dental work and spent tens of thousands of dollars through my 20's and early 30's before I insisted on having my teeth pulled.  I had to fight for that, because I was young and unmarried, and my dentist was concerned I'd never find a husband if I had to put my teeth in a jar.  One of my teeth came out with the bridge, and the rest popped right out in five minutes.  The oral surgeon had never seen someone rejecting their teeth before.  The infection was through my sinuses, halfway through my skull and headed for my brain.  I probably would have died had I not done that.  

At that point my health had deteriorated to the point where I lost my career of 20 years.  My company eliminated my position after a four month absence for surgery and recovery, and closed the office where I worked.  I was phenomenally lucky to get to a Clinical Ecologist and get disability based on MCS, which was almost unheard of at the time.  I have been getting by on disability ever since. 

I live well.  It is my intention to live well.  I live with a persistent illness, but I can be persistent, too.  I am far from perfect, but I try.  I know I will never fuction at 100%.  Ever.  I have been able to increase my quality of life by eliminating stress and as many prescription medications as possible, and by eating better and maintaining moderate exercise via yardwork and easy hikes, also known as fatpacking.  I simply refuse to live like a sick person, but I have to take care of myself and that often means lots of rest.  

I hope to find like-minded people who embrace the challenges of MCS and look for ways to meet them.  I do my best to maintain a positive midset and appreciate the same in my friends.  I hope if you are reading this, that you are also able to enjoy some level of wellness that can bring you happiness.  Or have a dog to hug.  Or both.