One Sick Mother

I am a Irishwoman living in the greater New York City area.

Life used to be fine. I was married with two wonderful kids, a great job and fabulous shoes.

Then I started having fits in 2006.

First "they" said it was epileptic seizures, and I was put on a series of drugs, most of which landed me in the ER.

Then I was told it wasn't epilepsy, and so somehow not worthy (unfit?) to be called "seizures" anymore. My neurologist calls them "episodes", but that makes them sound like temper tantrums.

Convulsions might fit, but I have been reading the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon, in which the characters are always doing things "convulsively": shuddering, jerking, wincing... You name it, it was done convulsively. And my things were more ...well convoluted than that.

So I decided to go with "fits". It's snappy, irreverent and to the point. "Fits" fits.

I have found out in the course of the past two-and-a-half years that there can be many different causes of fits other than epilepsy and the other one the doctors tell you about; -psychosomatic illness (and Yes. I have seen a shrink). In fact, in almost every discipline you encounter, they can come up with a possible explanation for fits. And a test.

So I have been to 27 doctors trying to find the cause of these fits. During that process, I was "incidentally" diagnosed with numerous different conditions, most of which you will see listed on the page. Some impact me more than others. The grandaddy of them all is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetic flaw which impacts collagen. As collagen is in every part of the body, EDS can have some interesting ramifications for people like me.

And my kids.

I have a feeling when I get to the end of this journey, EDS will be at the root of my "fits" and other symptoms.

Or maybe not.

I am still learning. Follow this blog and learn with me.