Hi there people,
      I am 35 and new to the site but not to CH.  I have had them for going on 20 years.  The most important thing I'd like to tell you about myself is that I am not sufferer.   I've pretty much experienced all of the same things as you folks; meds, misdiagnosis, useless surgeries.  Things had gotten so bad for me in my mid 20's that I completely gave up on life.  I stopped caring about myself and what happened to me.  I wasn't suicidal but I could have cared less whether I lived or died.   I worked at a job that I hated but felt trapped due to CH.  I couldn't go and get a new job because I didn't think a new employer would be as understanding with my condition and give me the freedom to go and use my 02.  So I drug myself out of bed for several years and slumped around work with a hollow expression on my face.  I had completely lost the will to live. I honestly think that I was slowly dying.   Since I was a small child I knew what my lifes calling was and I felt like CH had stolen it from me.
       After a few years of this, I decided that I wasn't going to take it anymore and I began to fight back.  It was also around this time that I was introduced to Imitrex injectables.  Finally, I was free!  I could come and go as I pleased without taking an oxygen tank with me.  I didn't have to be controlled by never being too far from my car and 02.  So, I started chasing the career path that I knew I was put on this earth for.  I started exercising like a lunatic and lost 50 pounds.  People I hadnt seen in awhile didn't recognize me.  My whole attitude changed and I learned to believe in myself again.  I was empowered.  I turned in countless applications but kept getting turned down.  But I knew that if CH couldn't keep me down than nothing could as long as I didn't give up.  I went from barely being able to get out of bed in the morning to running 5-8 miles a day.   I went from being severly overweight and horribly out of shape to climbing up mountains for fun.  And finally, I went from being ashamed of myself and what I did for a living because of CH to graduating at the top of my police academy class because I woke up one day and decided not to be a victim anymore.
     Why am I telling you folks all of this?  I have no Idea!  Maybe I dont want the story of my life with CH to be looked back on as pain and suffering but rather a triumph over adversity.   Maybe becuase I've learned to live the pain free days with a greater intensity for life than any pain I've experienced with CH.  The greatest sense of satisfaction I get as a police officer, as a coach, or as a parent is trying to inspire others to truly live and not just exist.  I hope that every one of you can find a reason or purpose to press on no matter how bad things get.
Thanks for listening.

Sheepdog

Welcome Sheepdog and Brooner!

All your questions can be answered here!

  Read all you can, and I am sure you will find even more inspiration.             lorac

Beautifully written and truly inspirational..."makes me want to be a better man".

Welcome aboard!

Best,

Jon

Hey Sheepdog, welcome to the board from another badge! 31 year CH sufferer, almost 30 years with the badge. A sergeant back pushing a patrol car for my last few years. I like your attitude, you'll do just fine!

Joe