Liter8ure

I suppose a little about me is in order. Hello. My name is Brittany. I am a quirky nerdy girl. I love nothing more than to stay in instead of going out. Most of the time my nose is stuck between the pages of a book. I would guess that makes me a bookworm. I love to watch Classic, Silent, and Foreign films. Writing is my passion, though all I want most in the world is to be able to help others.

My two weimeraners Cobalt and Lakota are the loves of my life. They are the two kindest and most gentle dogs you could ever have the pleasure of meeting. I spoil them rotten. They both think they're actually people. Having them sweetens the suffering in my life.

I suffer from an incurable, debilitating bladder disease known as Interstitial Cystitis. I'm considered to have a very rare and unique case. This means that I have a severe breakdown of the bladder wall. I am a part of a rare percent of IC patients that have Hunner's Lesions (which are bleeding ulcers found in the bladder), an unusually small bladder, and a bladder that shrinks in size over time. It is a very difficult disease to live with. There aren't a lot of ways to treat the disease for me. It affects every aspect of my life. It leaves nothing untouched by its taint. Living with IC is a minute by minute process. Life never gets easier. You have to learn to be strong in forcing yourself to have a quality of life. It's something that every IC patient struggles with every day. And as the disease becomes more recognized, hopefully funded research will bring some hope.

I have suffered from Primary Nighttime Enuresis (bedwetting) since I was four years old. It is caused by a birth defect in my pituitary gland.

I have many undiagnosed muscle and GI tract issues. We have never come  close to uncovering what those problems are. They are proving to unaffected by any treatment and undiagnosable.

I have been diagnosed as having Cataplexy without the presence of Narcolepsy, which is exceedingly rare.

I want more than anything to help people who are dealing with similar issues as I am with being chronically ill.

I am also blessed enough to call myself a Christian. I've had a rocky road with God. Since being diagnosed I have been very angry towards Him. I'm working on my anger, and re-building my relationship with Him. Despite my anger, I am proud to call myself a child of Christ. I love being in love with God. And I love knowing that He loves me with an intensity that is impossible to imagine.