Strength from Thorns

Symptoms

Let the Battle Begin..

• In July, I began having random bouts of numbness and tingling. It started as small patches in my right arm and right leg, but it didn’t stay that way. It progressed to the point where sometimes I couldn’t open or close my hands, where I would drop things, and where even walking became difficult. Test after test. I’ve been pricked and prodded more times than I can count. Doctor visit after doctor visit. Traveling both in state and out of state, searching for anyone who might be able to help…Spending thousands of dollars on appointments. Fighting for an answer. Arguing with doctors who would rather prescribe me another medication or a ridiculous “bandaid” procedure rather than take the time to dig deeper and find out WHY this was happening to me.

One day, I struggled to drive across town to a “specialist.” I literally almost had a panic attack in the car because I couldn’t keep my foot on the break long enough at the red light without my foot going numb. My whole leg was actually shaking and I was SWEATING (which I never sweat) I would cry out “JESUS JESUS I NEED YOU, GET ME TO THIS APPOINTMENT” By his grace and DIVINE INTERVENTION I made it! I actually was excited to go to this appointment because I was SO symptomatic, the Dr. would be able to see the symptoms flaring in real time. I couldn’t sit down in the waiting room or in his office that’s how bad it was. I paced trying to get feeling back in my leg, stomping the floor and still full blown sweating, I told him “Please, You have to help me” his response “I am a surgeon and I am not in the business of trying find out WHAT is wrong with you but will operate when you find out” he ordered an epidural shot for my back and I told him “this was a huge waste of my time, how incredibly hard it was to get to this appointment in this condition and I will not be getting anything injected into my back!” This wasn’t the first time I left a drs appointment in full blown tears due to no answers or help. He didn’t even offer to get me any assistance to my car and he thought that I would ever let him operate on me ? No, Thank you.

Collage I made to show Drs exactly where numbness was as it was happening in my hands and neck

As I limped into the elevator, that’s when I knew I needed Dr. Perri’s help.

Dr. Vincent Perri is my functional medicine doctor in Connecticut—the one who has walked with me and treated me with some of the hardest, most challenging health conditions. I remember sitting in the lobby, overwhelmed and upset, calling his office because I didn’t know what else to do. His response was simple but firm: “Gina, you need to come home so I could properly evaluate and examine you”

So I did.

If you follow my story, you’ll hear his name often. My family knows him. My closest friends know him. I talk about him to other doctors, too half-joking, but not really—because they should know they have big shoes to fill. That’s how much respect and trust I have in him.

How often do you hear someone talk about their doctor like that?
I do—because he truly is that good.

What he has done for me is hard to fully put into words. The care, the attention, the willingness to dig deeper when others wouldn’t… he SAVED my life. I was told I wouldn’t make it out my Graves flare but because of him, I did. I feel incredibly blessed that not only I, but my husband and my kids, are under his care.

I truly believe he is God-sent—placed in my life at exactly the right moments, time and time again. Now, I think I make him a bit nervous whenever I contact him bc he knows if I’m calling or emailing, it’s usually bad news haha but he still responds and By the grace of God, he has helped carry me through some of my darkest moments. He is what ALL doctors should be like—wanting to help you, wanting you to get better, wanting to find the why. Wanting you to understand that there are illnesses and diseases that don’t always fit neatly into a perfect little box… but are just as real, just as debilitating and just as dangerous when left untreated.

He has never once dismissed my symptoms. He listens and takes it seriously. He doesn’t wait until my numbers are severely elevated he begins digging as soon as I tell him. That matters more than anyone will ever fully understand… most of these illnesses can be better managed when CAUGHT EARLY rather than wait until they ravage your body. I know what it feels like to be dismissed especially by medical Drs. It’s terrifying. When you know deep down something is seriously wrong and they want to try and experiment on you, suggesting to remove organs and trying to over prescribe medications to only “see if it helps” As desperate as I have been I THANK GOD that he always gave me discernment to see through them and the courage to speak up and say NO when it doesn’t feel right.
I know the fear and anxiety that comes with all of that, the feeling of being left to figure it out on my own. Being the “rebellious one” who dare says no to a Doctor. They would make me believe I was going crazy, that I can’t tell the difference of real symptoms or not because “your levels are only slightly elevated, definitely not enough to make you like this’

Thats why it breaks my heart when I see so many others suffering the same way… desperate for help, to just feel normal. Not everyone has access to a Dr. Perri but everyone deserves one.

When you think of numbness and tingling, your mind immediately goes to the spine. I also suffer from migraines, so finding Dr. David Ritchie in Charlotte, the only atlas orthogonal chiropractor in the area, felt like a necessary step, whether to treat the issue or rule it out.

During my X-ray and exam, my atlas aka C1 vertebrae was of course, out of alignment. I began treatment twice a week, traveling an hour and a half each way. The GREAT news is the atlas adjustment DEFINITELY helped my migraines significantly. If you get migraines or have any issues with your neck GO TO HIM or find an ATLAS CHIROPRACTOR!! I began notice that after every adjustment, my body didn’t respond well. The next day I would be extremely sore, sometimes unable to even turn my head. It would last for a while. Dr. Ritchie explained how mild soreness was expected but not to this degree. Despite that, he was incredibly compassionate, caring and PATIENT. I would go in with such random numbness or pain and he never dismissed me, he assured me that this is a process and if it was a problem with my nerves it will take some time to heal and he did believe it was something much deeper going on. Because of his background in functional medicine he would have me try different supplements to see if it would help until I can get to CT and see Dr. Perri. He was so great, that I brought my son into see him so now we are both undergoing treatment! I feel extremely blessed to have found him for both myself and my son, for someone dealing with chronic illness once you find a great Dr you stick with them for as long as you can and if you don’t like the one your seeing FIND A NEW ONE!

It truly takes a village of people who just care about you to get well. I am so grateful and Thankful for mine. I could never Thank them enough for not giving up on me despite how difficult my symptoms could be.

SYMPTOM CHECK LIST UPON DIAGNOSIS:

Numbness and tingling in both arms, from the elbows down into my hands and fingers, more so on the right side. ✔️

Arthritis like pain in my fingers ✔️

Patches of numbness in different areas, jaw, under my chin, right side of front of my neck, my kneecaps, the tops of my thighs, my hip, and even down my right leg into my foot. ✔️

Left hip pain, specifically in the greater trochanter, when lying on my left side✔️

Sensitive to tiny pressure. Cant wear anything tight around my wrists, socks around my ankles, or elastic around my hips. Tiny pressure can cause me to lose feeling in those areas✔️

Bending my elbows or knees, driving, even sleeping✔️

One of the hardest parts… if I do too much, I pay for it. I can be completely wiped out for days afterward✔️

Migraines ✔️

Mental anguish ✔️

loss of appetite✔️

weight loss ✔️

forget simple words ✔️

My “Symptom Calendar” having 12 days where I felt decent with mild symptoms.

As the physical symptoms lingered, the mental battle began to take shape. The fight started to shift from my body to my mind… and that’s when I realized I have choice—to let this make me or break me.

I could give up… or I could suit up.

I could reach for the armor that had been hanging in my closet all along—waiting for the moment I would truly need it. The Full Armor of God.

I may be 94 lbs right now 5feet tall but I am a fighter and I definitely do not give up so

I call on Jesus to referee this battle

the One who sees every hit and every fall.
He doesn’t miss a single detail.
The One who steps in when I’m too weak,
who calls truth over every lie,
and brings peace into my chaotic mind.

Faith becomes the anchor when my body won’t cooperate.

Yes, Id be lying if I said I wasn’t scared, this all feels so uncertain but I have to continually remind myself that Jesus never is.

He knows exactly what He is doing.

Sometimes healing doesn’t start in the body…
but first begins in the soul.

This is something way bigger than my symptoms, it isn’t just a physical battle anymore. This is spiritual.

And like every soldier preparing for war…
I’m not going in unarmed.

Who’s with me?

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭11-18

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