24 years ago this summer I got a bad summer cold.

My kids had gotten lice from the church bus and we used Quell on them and myself as a prophylactic. I got worse and ended up in the hospital for over a week. They thought I had a kidney infection due to back pain and high fever. They put me on an IV antibiotic and took cultures. When the cultures came back negative they took me off the antibiotic and the temp spiked again. I could not breath, they diagnosed pneumonia and checked me for legionnaires and AIDS, again negative. The put me on prednisone and eventually sent me home on it. The prednisone made me batshit, hide the guns and knives crazy. We weaned off of it and moved on as best we could. Several weeks later, another episode with Quell and it was apparent that it was an anaphylactic reaction to the Quell. We tried amitriptyline to undo the prednisone crazy but it made my heart race. Then we did a bit of time on Prozac which helped some but I gained weight on it and eventually felt that it made me too loopy to deal with my children. No one told me to watch for the potential side effects of the prednisone and by the time I realized that the pain in my knee was serious, I had an avascular necrosis, my life had been turned upside down, I was disabled physically and emotionally I never was quite stable. They did an osteotomy on the leg to keep me from needing a new knee at 36 but it doesnt work great, and keeps me from being truly active. The doctor who worked with this has retired and his records are not available from what I understand. I was working with Dr Richard Fitzimmons for some time on an asthma diagnosis, using INTAL and rescue inhalers. Throughout this time suffered from chronic fatigue and much pain as well. I got so frustrated with being sick and tired that I called the CDC and asked what percentage of the population had to deal with this. They suggested I see an infectious disease specialist and I saw Dr Stemmer who after an extensive work up found that my adrenals were not working up to par. He put me on 37.5 mg of cortisone acetate a day. I took this for nearly a year when it was noticeable that I was developing a moon face and further test showed that the adrenals were working again and we weaned off of them and only use them when I am under undue stress and get the lower back pain. Before I started on the cortisone, my heart rate was high and my BP was very low. This should be in my Hammond Clinic records but they tell me that they may have been lost n the flood as they cant fine the asthma diagnosis from Dr Fitzimmons. Today my BP is normal and my heart rate is as well unless I get sick or am under some other serious stress. Hammond Clinic cannot keep an allergist so I have been controlling my lung issues with vitamin C and avoiding irritants. They requested I see Pat Kovalinka who is an excellent medical practitioner. She felt that my asthma came on too late in life and wanted some test done. She tested me for A-1 deficiency and found that I am a carrier and probably twenty years of working in the steel mills was not in my best interest. Because of the bad leg and drugs over the years I have not been able to control my weight and now have Diabetes, I keep it under control with

diet and as much exercise as I can get. My A-!C was 5.9 and it was a bad couple of months for graduation parties, it will be better next time. I deal with migraines which are getting more frequent, periodic hives that have no known cause, much joint and muscle pain which has been attributed to Fibromyalgia by a Rheumatologist that the clinic sent me to a while back. I have recurring diarrhea that occasionally I can pinpoint the cause of. I was diagnosed with IBS in my 20s but it has never been too much of a problem. I had a colonoscopy about 2 years ago and got a pass for another 10 years. For over a year I have been bleeding into my skin on my feet and lower legs, every Dr who looked at it insisted it was some sort of rash and refused to take me seriously. A couple of weeks ago I had two separate occurrences and could show the fresh red blood and earlier bruising so the Dr sent me to the Dermatologist who recognized it and took a biopsy and urinalysis. I have henoch schonlein syndrome with blood in my urine and no infection. When I have a serious episode of bleeding, I also tend to get quite confused and disoriented. I have been known to forget my phone number at this time and not be able to find my way home in town. I do not whine and take most things in stride. I am frightened of this latest issue because it has not gone away at all and I can find no real treatment for it. Most adults heal without treatment, only 5% have kidney problems but 20% of those who have kidney problems die from it. I wear support stockings to help but still can get the bleeding. I spend way too much time in a recliner on a computer as the treatment seems to be bed rest and hydration. I figure recliner rest and lots of water is good enough. I drink no soda and have cut nearly all refined sugar in the last month, very little bread. Prednisone is one treatment but I think I can safely say that it is not an option with my medical history. Intravenous immunoglobulin is another treatment but
somehow I doubt my insurance will pop for that. I dont expect you to perform miracles. I dont know is an honest answer that I can respect. I do expect to be treated like and intelligent partner in my health care. I realize that there is not much that can be done to cure this so you will get paid to support me emotionally and help me be as comfortable as possible. Pat Kovalinka picked you out as best suited for me and I trust her therefore I trust you.