Some answers - finally!

Last week, I finally got some much sought after answers: which vaccines did I receive as a child?  I was able to obtain my shot record from my old school after a visit to my pediatrician in December yielded nothing (they only keep records for 7 years?  What?). 

According to my records, I received 12 doses of 8 vaccines between 2 months of age and 5 years:

5 DTP (3 in 1)

4 polio

2 MMR (3 in 1)

1 Hib (HbPV - PedVaxHIB)

According to my mom, I had always been a sweet, happy, and obedient little girl.  I didn't even go through a Terrible Twos phase.  Instead, after I turned 7 I became very difficult to deal with. 

A year later, a month shy of my 9th birthday, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and what would later be properly diagnosed as Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. 

At age 24, in 2012, I received my Celiac Disease diagnosis, although we somewhat suspected it as early as 2008.

Those are all autoimmune diseases.  My working theory is that the attitude change was due to a delayed vaccine reaction as well as gut imbalance.  That then progressed into my immune system being compromised and my autoimmunity issues manifesting.  With my MTHFR gene mutation, it was only a matter of time before my body pulled the trigger.  I'm surprised it held out that long.

I guess it's really not surprising that all of the vaccines I received have been linked to Type 1 Diabetes.  MMR is also a big contributor to gut issues - hence Celiac.  Behavioral and digestive issues can trigger thyroid diseases.  Everything's connected.   

DTP has been associated with:  Type 1 Diabetes
Polio has been associated with:  Type 1 Diabetes

MMR has been associated with:  Type 1 Diabetes, behavioral issues, gut inflammation, immune system disorders
HIB has been associated with:  Type 1 Diabetes    

Stay on Target

I went in for fasting labs on Monday morning.  They were quick and painless...3 tubes full of blood and I was done.   

On Wednesday, I got an email saying that my transmitter had finally been shipped...and what's more, it had already been delivered!  I ran out of the bedroom to find that it was laying on the kitchen floor in the FedEx box, which DP had brought in before he left for work.  I opened it up and praised God for its timely delivery (it had been over-nighted to me before I knew it had even been shipped!).  I would've put it on right then and there but I was delayed by a family emergency.  ;)

Today, I went in for my 3pm appointment.  After the nurse went over the usual questions and medicine doses, Carrie came in to discuss my numbers and lab work.  The first thing she pointed out was my A1C.  It had dropped a whole percentage from 11.1 to 10.1!!  I was so thrilled!  I reached my goal for August!

She then went on to say that both my HDL & LDL cholesterol levels were normal and the rest of my lab work came back normal.  Even my thyroid is where it should be!  I couldn't believe it!  Even though my A1C is still high, I found it to be a very good health report card!

She suggested that I start my Dexcom today and set my low at 70 and not to set my high alert so that I wouldn't get annoyed at it right off the bat for going off all the time.  Every week or two I'll set it 50 points lower until I get it down to about 200.  I'll be coming back in 6 weeks so they can see how my Dexcom is doing.

I told her I'd be pressing on toward my next goal...9%!!  And 7% by the year's end.  She smiled and said, "Then you can start baby-making."  Yup!   

After watching the tutorial video, I now have my Dexcom sensor and transmitter in place.  My receiver is all set up and ready for action.  At 6:45pm, I'll do my first calibration session.  Until then, I've got a yummy dinner to make in celebration of this wonderful news and God's goodness!