Recent Ramblings: Medical testing, dosage of medication, weight issues, exams and the Birthday of the BC community

“Hey there BC-ers”,

I am not sure exactly how to begin writing this post, I’ve had so much happening since I last posted it’s unbelievable. How about I just start from the beginning and hopefully that enables me to successfully post this post; and by successful I mean having written all that I wanted to write for this post.

Last week, I had to undergo some pretty traumatic medical procedures- a blood test  ultra-sound and X-ray. These are traumatic for me for a variety of reasons and have a lot to do with my past medical experiences, but what made things even more frustrating and traumatic was this: As soon as my vein see’s the needle coming; they disappear no matter what I do or how relaxed I am it always happens. The ultra-sound went well in the sense the staff were truly lovely and tried to make my experience as easy as possible.

I had to have the latter procedures done due to significant “non-injury” caused swelling in my left hand, arm and wrist- previously this had occurred but it was not sufficient to have testing done. The tests were done to investigate what is happening, as something has to be going on in order for such an thing to occur, the GP thought  it would be good to test for rheumatoid arthritis.

This week, the test results came back; not so positive; the bloods showed very little rheumatoid factor but, the anti-bodies in my blood were moderately high. After much talk with my GP it was decided that I best be referred on to a specialist to help us get a full diagnosis- it is strongly believed I have an autoimmune condition but as to which one(s) only a full diagnosis can help clarify. This would not only help to explain what is going on with my left hand, arm and wrist it may also help explain my sudden deterioration this year.

ALSO….This week

My medication “LexaPro” has eased in the sense that the hallucinations of “spiders and black bugs”  have decreased. However, my dosage has been increased.

This week though, was hard… I received a call from someone close to me “We’re so worried about you, you’ve gained so much weight since seeing you last,… “Can’t sleep, don’t know what’s going on  with you. Don’t get why you are depressed so much lately”. They proceeded to say to me that the last time they saw me was at my graduation from a highly prestigious leadership program- so thanks for making me associate what was supposed to be a positive night celebrating a fantastic achievement into a negative one- I now look at photo’s of the event and see nothing but a bowling ball. 

I got off the phone. Shaking unable to comprehend what I’d just heard. “YIPPIE” More invalidation just what I need. I was really angry because for the first time in a long time I chose to wear a dress to this event, and i actually felt semi-attractive for the first time in a long time. I’m still really hurt by such comments; because I don’t think they were very well thought about or constructed. I’ve just gotten out of a really deep dark place. I am still unsure of how I feel about me right now! Now I hate me more! 

I am stuck between this internal, external battle… I don’t know if what there saying is true because I am clouded with so much uncertainty about myself.. what I mean by that is this:

On the outside and to people who don’t know me well I present myself as someone who doesn’t care what others think, say or want to believe about me; I am someone who likes to present as a happy go lucky individual; someone who is as tough as ten bears. Probably the may reasons why this is said to me by people who meet me: “You seem happy and bubbly- not the kind of person to have depression”- that’s because the depression is not there all the time and I don’t allow it to define me 100% of the time. Some days sometimes leading to even weeks and months- it is hard to be bubbly and happy but the point i am making is that my depression isn’t always present in everything I do.

On the inside I am vulnerable, very afraid and hate myself. My blog is the only element I use other than mental health support where my true feelings are expressed.

As you imagine the situation about my weight has now made me feel self-conscious beyond belief. I only ate one meal yesterday and chewed on chewing gum for the remainder of the day so as to suppress hunger; as someone whose disability makes it difficult to exercise and rather painful too I might add this is a tough place to be.

EXAMS!!!! EXAMS!!!! EXAMS!!!!

Despite, all this. I have managed to complete all of my class assessment for the second year of my degree, and I am currently busily preparing to sit exams.. so busy, busy, busy.

Happy 1st Birthday- Beautiful Contemplation’s Want to share your story with the BC COMMUNITY?

Some of you may or may not be aware that on the 29th of November I will have been typing and sharing my stories under the name of Beautiful Contemplation’s for a year. And although i am the face of BC there are many admin and fans that support it and enable for the community to be what it is. SO to celebrate I thought I’d leave the floor open to you to share stories if you wish SO if you’d like to  head to https://www.facebook.com/BeautifulContemplations inbox us and let us know.

If you require assistance please call:

 LifeLine on: 13 11 14

 Or the KidsHelpline on: 1800 55 1800 

With Love,

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COPYRIGHT 2013 ‘Beautiful Contemplations’ Founded by Shaz Hermione Sturk.

Myself on the way to the graduation event  COPYRIGHT 2013 ‘Beautiful Contemplations’ Founded by Shaz Hermione Sturk.

Myself on the way to the graduation event
COPYRIGHT 2013 ‘Beautiful Contemplations’ Founded by Shaz Hermione Sturk.

The darkness continues to roll in

The darkness continues to roll in and the grey clouds begin fill the bright blue sky.

I am trying desperately to understand yet I am not quite sure just what I must come to understand and accept. They say it’s a part of life; rolling on this roller coaster; that if we didn’t experience sadness we wouldn’t learn to experience love and all other emotions in between.

I cannot bring myself to understand how it is a part of life; it’s a horrible way to live if you ask me- and take it from someone who knows what it is like to be riding the roller coaster and clinging on for dear life. You see, I think it is a part of life to experience some degree of sadness and in fact it is healthy to do so. However, what scares me is how I have witnessed over the last month or so my sadness spiral into something I cannot recognize anymore.

The pining, biting and slapping something: I cannot recognize being away from pain.

The fear of speaking: I cannot be in front of a group nor can I even talk to the people providing my course without huge fear and heart palpitations. I don’t want to speak i’ll be judged, hurt and ridiculed.

I see pictures of me: that is not the real me. It cannot be I look so happy, so carefree; now I fear the world.

I am scared to cry, in case I burden others with my emotions; I am terrified to write my feelings on the screen right now. I must as such words help others. Others words help me. Today I was told I am one of the strongest people known to a particular person. Words I cherished because despite all my pain such comments mean that people I can see beyond my episodically period of distress and see my strength. There’s hope for me yet.

The dangerous lack of sleep pattern: I worry constantly meaning sleeping is a difficult activity making falling easy.

Everything is so confusing and seems so endless. I pose this question to myself will I ever be me again?

Week three: Lexapro 

The new medication change seems to help; but I am still scared and confused by it as it still makes me extremely fatigued and some days I feel as high as a kite. It makes me forget some worries but then other times it exacerbates my worry.

Referral to a psychiatrist

I finally agreed to allow my GP to refer me to a psychiatrist: I feel I have exhausted all options and I need to explore this one. I am scared.

My thank-you to the true sincere BC followers:

You all have no idea how your words help me. Some nights I don’t post but I do read your posts about your battles and realize I am not alone. You are all so amazing

Pick your battles but fight the good one that is life!

 xx

Anyone requiring assistance with Mental health can call in AUS:

Lifeline:

13 11 14

or

Kids Help Line:

1800 55 1800

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COPYRIGHT 2013 ‘Beautiful Contemplations’ Founded by Shaz Hermione Sturk.

Fighting the Slippery Slope

“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan.

 

Hey Beautiful People, 

Michael Jordan could not be anymore correct with his quotation. Obstacles don’t have to stop you a friend of mine told me that obstacles won’t stop you unless you give them the power to do so. 

I continue to experience moments or sometimes days of distress in recent times. These experiences are not just moments of distress they are significant fragments in time where I find myself unable to get out of bed, eat, study and sometimes even shower. 

There is several reasons why this is occurring, but the truth is I cannot fully explain why I feel the way I do. In recent weeks I have had several “falling outs” with friends, I have been sick on and off for the entirety of the university semester, I even stopped taking my anti-depressants- even so I am left struggling to explain why I have been on such a roller coaster ride.  I am a person who knows what it is like to get “knocked down seven times and get up eight”.

Things got so bad that my medication changed from Zoloft to LexaPro, I have been so anxious I have been unable to function. I am left asking myself “Why?! Shaz Why?!” I have been through so much worse- yet this time it feels like I am on a slippery slop unable to regain my grip. I mixed Codine (with panadol) and Lexpro together, things got so bad. Then came the biting, and slicing my skin with a pin.. just for a relief from the pain. I could not come on here and blog because of the nasty comments I was receiving- so blogging was making me anxious.

With this new medication, I have only just begun going out in the public sphere again- I am very jumpy around people at the moment and very wary and sometimes nervous in my surroundings.

All of this is going on and I really have disconnected myself from the world, the only significant contact I am having with people has been Skype conversations with a friend from overseas however, I have been very agitated even during these Skype conversations. Today I went on air on radio, but then I came home and slept after finding out my family dog had passed away. I fear that with Giz’s passing I will continue to spiral downwards. 

I have not even engaging in advocacy work roles or my normal public speaking in two months now. I fear I will never be me ever again. Assessment deadlines pass me by, lectures and tutorials continue as I lay in bed fearful trying to fight, trying to breathe. I don’t even know where to start.

The friend I have been Skyping has enormous faith in me and my ability to overcome this, I am so grateful for that as it probably the only thing stopping me from slipping into an even deeper hole.

I want you all to know that I love you, you are all special people in my heart. But please bare with me until I can overcome this.

Anyone requiring assistance with Mental health can call in AUS:

Lifeline:

13 11 14

or

Kids Help Line:

1800 55 1800  

 

P.S: A friend sent me this video it helped me immensely. It might help you too x

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_Vg4uyYwEk 

 

COPYRIGHT 2013 ‘Beautiful Contemplations’ Founded by Shaz Hermione Sturk.

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