I too am sick. I have lymph cancer which has taken its toll and as of now, I am maybe in remission and maybe not. Many unanswered questions.

It struck me in this article that the author has a unique disease. I too have an axillary disease which as far as my doctors can tell is unique. I have an unusual gluten allergy, which I'm damn sure is connected to my cancer. It was first only triggered by eaten high-gluten foods like pizza or bagels, and then sweating. It has since in the 15 years since it first appeared become more and more sensitive, and now I can have the reaction without a cardi-vasular workout.

In Norway they will give you extra money every month if you have an allergy because food costs more (yeah, fuck yeah Norway!). You just have to test positive for the allergy. But I showed negative results on the tests. My doctor, bless her, did not say "you don't have an allergy" but instead said "you show negative on this test." I still got the feeling she didn't believe me. But what can I do? Eat a bagel and run on a treadmill in front of my doctor? Naw, as far as getting extra support for diet, I just fall between the cracks. So what?

I avoid gluten altogether now. Last year I had so severe a reaction, with hives and swelling over my entire body including my nose and eyes and into my lungs, that I lost consciousness for a few minutes. Woke up looking at the ceiling of an elevator. I now carry an epipen with me so I can ensure that I can breathe if I have such a reaction again. Thankfully, since reducing my gluten intake to 0 I have not have a reaction since. I must still deal with people who say "Oh, you think you have a gluten allergy? Most people who think they have an allergy don't really have one." Fuck you very much. I almost died from mine. I'm pretty damn sure I'm not imagining it.

So it was interesting to read an account from someone else with a unique disease. It sucks when people don't believe that you're really sick.

The author talks a lot about fatigue. I was fatigued for a loooong time. Chemotherapy does that to you, in my case almost for a year after my last treatment. Some mornings I woke up feeling like I was filled with bricks and could barely get out of bed, but I did, and I went to work, and felt shitty because I was supposed to be better and couldn't hack it.

So anyways, I feel for the author. I know fatigue. I know what it's like to a disease with no name that the government doesn't recognize. I'm just lucky to be a steady job already.

Kaius I'm sorry to hear about this sickness. Are doctors able to help allieviate the pain at all with medication?

The fatigue thing is particularly disheartening, my grandfather had a great amount of fatigue due to chemotherapy I could tell that is what really made him upset.