Dark Horse 2013

Dark Horse 2013

Thursday, April 25, 2013

A Whole New Chapter Is Being Written

When I first began this blog, I never expected to write a new chapter. I saw myself as an up and coming professional climber and I saw this continuing throughout my life. I saw world cups, high rankings, breaking into the double digits of bouldering, and traveling. Every climbers dream. To be completely truthful, I still want to continue that chapter. 

There is about to be a whole new chapter in the life of Melissa. 

My last post was filled with questions. So many questions. And now, finally, I have an answer. A valid answer. An answer that makes sense. 
A couple of weeks ago a saw a rheumatologist. Just a week ago I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. RA is an auto-immune disease where your body attacks joints and organs, causing inflammation. Other effects come with RA, including extreme bouts of fatigue. 

From what my doctor and I have observed, it seems that my RA is mainly in my finger joints and lungs. That is why it is so difficult for me to climb or do crossfit. The RA has also caused me to have chronic tenosynovitis in my ring and middle fingers.

This is the answer that I have been searching for. It answers all of my questions. But is it true?
25% of rhuematoid arthritis patients will have negative test results and it seems that I am part of that 25%. However all of my symptoms match up with RA. So only time will tell if this is the correct diagnosis.

My doctor is having me take a pulmonary function test to see if the difficulty breathing is associated with RA or asthma, or both. I have also been put on medication that is supposed to relive my symptoms for RA. I should begin to feel the effects of this medication within a couple of months. It will take about 6 months for me to feel the full effect of the medicinal therapy. 

So will I ever be able to climb? Will I ever be able to be the climber that I want to be? Only time will tell. My doctor seems confident that I will be able to climb again with no pain.


My biggest question that I had answered:
Why was I able to climb hard during the fall and some of the winter? There are two reasons:
One: I sustained constant activity with my fingers and lungs. I climbed every other day and I did crossfit enough to satisfy my RA. As soon as a took more than three days off, I was in so much pain. So by sustaining the constant activity, I helped relieve some of the symptoms. 
Two: Quite simply, I relapsed. The disease was in a lull, not affecting me as much. After a stressful event and some time off (Nationals and the post national week) it flared up worse than ever. 


So today is the start of a new chapter. I am waiting for time to tell me what is next. While I am waiting, I am keeping up with crossfit, climbing, lifting, stretching. Just keeping some consistency. If the doctors are correct, my pain will be relived soon. So soon.