A New Diagnosis

Kerissa • March 27, 2012

Hey, friends!

It’s time for a new update!  About two weeks ago, I saw my pain management dr.  It went well.  I learned something new about him.  He saw me reading Wuthering Heights, so he told me he read that when he took Advanced Placement English in the ol’ days.  Haha!  He’s the first guy I know who’s read a book like that .  On a more a serious note, I’m to stay at 50 mg of nortriptyline and not increase for now because I’ve been experiencing something called orthostatic hypotension.  He also referred me to OHSU rheumatology because my hand therapist has been noticing that I have joint hypermobility, so he was wondering if I have a condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.  So this morning, I saw a rheumatologist, and sure enough, she diagnosed me with EDS which is a genetic disorder of the collagen.  This new diagnosis makes me wonder if that’s why I got CRPS in the first place!  I may be having genetic testing done to see what type I have, and I’m to get an echocardiogram to check my heart valves because EDS can affect my inside organs…!  I had some fun after my appointment.  After going to OHSU for about two years now, I was finally able to ride the tram that connects the hospital to the Center for Health and Healing!!!  I was able to ride it in both directions because they gave me a patient pass, and it was super fun!  The view was breath-taking and made me so thankful for God’s beautiful creation.

Until next time!

Kerissa

October prayer request

By Kerissa Lee • October 19, 2025
Dear friends, At the beginning of October, I started taking a new medication for the autoimmune disease. I thought I was tolerating it just fine, but after several days passed, I began experiencing nausea, loss of appetite, weakness all over, and increased pain. 🙁 It’s like I’m experiencing another “mito crash.” I found out that this specific lupus medication affects mitochondria. That is, it causes an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This, in turn, causes cell damage and oxidative stress. I sure wish the rheumatologists would have known about this before prescribing. But I have to remember that Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome is rare, and they’re not “mito experts.” Anyways, the last time I felt like this was back in May.. I’m so grateful to God that I haven’t needed to be hospitalized from this, but at the same time, I’m also sad that this happened at all, especially because I had such a nice stretch of stable health. I’d really appreciate your prayers, that this muscle weakness can resolve soon, and that this increased pain all over will get back to my baseline. Every time I have a “mito crash,” it feels like I’m fighting the flu which always sucks. The pain has been hard to bear. And whenever I’m in the thick of it, it’s difficult to remember that this too will eventually pass. 😢 Pray that I will endure and follow Jesus’ example like this passage from Hebrews 12:1-2– “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross...” Thank you all so much for praying for me. ❤️

Thank you! (+ a prayer request)

By Kerissa Lee • October 4, 2025
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." James 1:2-3

Praises & Prayer Requests

By Kerissa Lee • September 3, 2025
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23