Author: Teresa Love

I thought last time was going to be the last time that I was crying and upset about not being able to do something. Last year I got engaged and married and started our new life together. I thought I would do anything, nothing was IMPOSSIBLE. Well that’s not how chronic illness works…it’s scary, with so many unknowns.

Here’s the story, my sister invited me to the Taylor Swift concert in the cutest way!! She made me this pdf which I will cherish forever!! I really really really wanted to go of course Taylor Swift is my absolute favorite and an Eras tour of all her music is absolutely a dream. 🤩

But that’s not the reality of my condition I was so thankful to be invited but I knew in my body I couldn’t go. It looks like such an AMAZING experience full of lots of great memories. But what you don’t see from the disabled perspective is bright light, flashing lights, fire, lots of movement, and loud noises, plus the crowds can trigger a POTS episode. All of a sudden I will get chest pain, shortness of breath, my body will start to shut down telling me to lay flat which isn’t possible at a concert. I’d end up on the dirty floor probably crying.

I am REALLY bummed I thought I’d be at a place to go but my health just isn’t there. Too many unknowns and it wouldn’t be smart to put myself in a situation where there was no exit plan. Even bring my wheelchair wouldn’t work.

If you have the ability to walk, the ability to go do fun things without symptoms, the joy of being out in the world and not worrying you’re going to get sick, GO Do the fun thing!! Have the best time and don’t ever for a second take it for granted cause you never know when you will not be able to again.

Update: the concert would have definitely been too much for my body between the height of the seats to the walking a mile to get picked up. But my kind sister got me Merch!!!!!!

Love, T

Shout out to the guy who doesn’t have an Instagram but deserves the real shout out.

The man in my life my Husband Ricky. We started a crazy healthy new lifestyle and he’s been making 3 meals a day full of protein, veggies, and fermented foods. I’m just overwhelmed with his dedication and willingness to help me.

I may be emotional lately, but the amount of work he puts in for me is absolutely astounding. He knows how I’m feeling before I even say. He helps me remember to take pills and other routine things.

And now he’s been making so many healthy lifestyle choices, I’m very proud of him. We are doing this together!

We had our first Valentine’s Day married and it was amazing. Just a little bit of bragging about my husband.

Love, T

So much has happened lately…In December my husband and I both got Covid. My body handled Covid in not an easy way. Fevers, shakes, so much chest pain, and a bunch of my POTS symptoms got worse.

It all started after Covid, a week after recovering from covid my husband got RSV. We were sick and at home for way too long. Not to mention we had to stay further a part so I didn’t get sick again. That was REALLY hard, especially since my love language is physical touch and quality time.

Then after covid my depression got WAY WORSE. It was really scary for a bit I got an appointment with my psychiatrist which is Medi-Cal….I’m really not a fan. He changed my medication to help and it did the opposite. Why can’t my body just listen and do the right things, well the definition of my chronic illnesses are literally dysautonomia this means my body doesn’t do the normal functions correctly. I guess I should know but years and years of this dang it’s hard. Finally after fighting for another appointment and me having to tell him EXACTLY what I needed change, then I helped it.

But then after that my body physically started getting worse, like my chronic illness symptoms started flaring up. You don’t need to hear the whole list but some main ones are definitely chest pain, vertigo/dizziness, and body pain with neuropathy. This was also hard for a while, I was really nervous I was going to just keep getting sicker and sicker to the point where I was before having to use my walker and not be as independent anymore. Thank God this didn’t happen after a week in a half, it started to get better.

I’ve also noticed more swelling again which kind of scares me. I’ve been really swollen before and that was really hard to control.

I started seeing my Functional Medicine doctor again. She did give me some tips. 1) I need to start cutting out sugar slowly and then get rid of it mostly. 2) Some special tests she wants me to get done. 3) Movement and strengthening each day. 4) Seeing my nutritionist again and learning how to eat healthy again. 5) Need to create a better sleep schedule again being asleep by 10pm and up by 8:30am. 6) Get more sun each day to help with depression and energy.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. You can do it!

Love, Teresa