i finally convinced my doctor that I'm in so much pain now that i can't sleep or take care of myself properly. she referred me to rheumatology to get tested for Ehler Danlos, and started me on 2 medications which have cut my pain in half in just a week. I'm starting to have hope that I'll get some answers and treatment!!

If the corset brace continues to be as effective as it has proven over the last 3 days, my life is flipping 180 degrees, and it looks damn promising. Last night, after working on my bedroom lab all day, I set my goals to target the end of this year. I want to finish several projects and try to document them to show what I've done with myself and some of what I have learned in the last 10 years. If I am still in good enough shape by the end of the year, I will get my license, a car, and a job. I haven't worked full time since before the crash that disabled me 2/26/14, and have not worked part time since 4/17. So, a little exciting for me. I always felt so very close to okay but it seemed to always be just out of reach. Who would imagine that all it took was a cheap $20 brace strapped around my ribs; certainly not 13 of the most reputable neurosurgeons from San Diego to Los Angeles, a DO, a physical therapist, or a half dozen pain specialists over the last 10 years.

I found black mould behind the wardrobe in my bedroom this week (boo!), but the leak that caused it was fixed a while ago, we just didn't realise how bad it had been (yay!). I managed to move some furniture and clean some of the carpet*, and pumped the tyres up on my wife's car and my motorbike.

If I can get enough energy to actually get out on the bike now, I'll be laughing 😅

*My wife's been cleaning the mould because I shouldn't be near it 👍