Living with Chronic Illness: My Journey to Finding Answers and Healing
Throughout my entire life, I’ve been living with chronic ailments. I vividly remember being in grade school, screaming in pain from stomach issues that no one seemed to understand.
When I was seven years old, I’d run around playing, and my heart would race like a hummingbird, leaving me dizzy and breathless. The adults around me just brushed it off, saying it was normal for your heart rate to increase when you’re running. My softball coach in 4th grade would tell me to keep going. What they didn’t know is that my heart rate was reaching 250 beats per minute. When I was 15, the school nurse finally caught on—supraventricular tachycardia. They told me I’d outgrow it, but it only got worse. It became a daily occurrence, sometimes 20 times a day, and I was left feeling constantly exhausted. But this was my normal.
I’ve always struggled with migraines, chronic pain, depression, and fatigue. Every day, there was some complaint, and after years of being labeled a hypochondriac, I stopped voicing my discomfort. I just accepted it. Insomnia became normal. Waking up at 4 a.m. in pain became normal. It hurt, but I just kept telling myself, “This is normal. Suck it up, Misti.”
I discovered CBD oil after an intense two-month stretch of ambulance rides, ER visits, and hospital stays. “Everything is fine,” they said. “It’s just anxiety,” they laughed. But I felt worse than ever, convinced my life was coming to an end. I went back to those same hospitals and requested my medical records from the past two months. No, I wasn’t having anxiety attacks. My neutrophil count was dangerously low, my lymphocytes were high, and my kidney levels were elevated, among other concerning results. My 30-day heart rhythm monitor looked like a disaster. Despite this, the nurses and doctors dismissed my concerns, sending me out the door with a “Everything is normal.”
That’s when I found my third electrophysiologist, and, as they say, third time’s the charm. Everything was NOT normal. My body was giving up on me, and I was terrified that each day might be my last. But I had three beautiful children and the love of my life by my side, and that was enough to keep fighting.
After countless hours of research and seeking second and third opinions, I demanded to get an ANA test (which checks for autoimmune diseases). They initially thought it was unnecessary, but reluctantly ordered the lab work. It came back positive.
Had I known this 15 years ago—before four cardiac ablations, one open-heart surgery, preterm pregnancies, endometrial ablations, hysterectomy consultations, years of self-medicating with marijuana and wine, chronic depression, sleepless nights, and endless pain—I could have received the right treatment sooner. I could have changed my diet, learned to manage my conditions, and potentially avoided much of the suffering.
I shouldn’t be here. If I had listened to my doctors and not fought for my health, I might not be here at all. If I hadn’t taken aspirin at the onset of heart attack symptoms, I might not have made it through. I was experiencing vasospasms—spasms of the arteries—that were constricting blood flow to my heart and extremities, sending me into circulatory shock. And to think, they suggested Xanax and sent me home!
I haven’t been back to the ER in over a month since my last hospitalization, which lasted five days with no answers. I attribute this to several factors: new heart medications, CBD oil, eliminating sugar and preservatives from my diet, and identifying my allergies and triggers. CBD oil has been a game-changer—it’s a powerful anti-inflammatory that helps with pain, nausea, spasms, and sleep issues, all of which I struggle with. I now sleep so much better, keep my heart rate and blood pressure in check, and feel calmer and more relaxed. My menstrual cycle is no longer a big issue, leg cramps have lessened, and overall, I’m in much better spirits. CBD oil has proven to be an invaluable alternative to the multitude of pharmaceutical drugs that were constantly pushed my way.
Every day is a new day. I take it one day at a time, making sure to treat my body right and eat healthily. I still deal with a lot of pain and will need a pacemaker, but at least I’m finally getting answers. I even pushed for genetic testing for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) because I fit the criteria so well, and it turns out I might have it.
Doctors look at me and tell me I look great. I look healthy. I look fine.
But I cannot stress enough how important it is to be your own advocate and educate yourself. Fight for your health. Trust your instincts. Take care of your body.
