My Story

I have noticed that my last few posts have been very impersonal. I was basically giving lessons like I was a teacher. I want my followers to know me in a more personal way. I'm going to tell you in this post of how I got to where I am today with my PKU.

I know I have mentioned in at least one post in the past, my name is Laura. I am 20 years old, married, and as I'm sure you have figured by now, I have PKU. Well, since the introduction is over, let's start when I was younger....


I was pretty good with my PKU diet when I was little, but I had no choice. My mom, dad, and grandparents were very good at keeping me on the right track. I never really enjoyed what PKU entailed. There was the formula, the blood tests, limited food choices, and frequent doctor's appointments. But back then the only thing that I didn't realize was the limited food choices. My parents and grandparents took care of that part.


The part that was the hardest for me when I was younger was the weekly blood tests. No one likes to be poked and having an ever sore finger. Well as I grew into a pre-teen, the weekly blood tests turned into monthly, annual , and eventually nonexistent blood tests. I hated those tests with a passion, and looking back on it, they weren't that bad. But as time progressed, the blood tests were the last thing on my mind. My new struggle was with my formula. It was so harsh on my stomach, and didn't taste very pleasant either. So with that, it wasn't hard to forget to drink it everyday.


As soon as I was old enough to start playing sports, I did so. My 7th grade year, I joined the basketball and track team. When I entered 8th grade, I threw volleyball into the mix. Back then I thought I was very busy, then I realized what busy meant when I got into high school. In high school, I played volleyball and ran track. I was also on two cheerleading teams (the varsity team and the competition team). Add in school and work, it isn't hard to imagine that I forgot to drink my formula, and breathe at times.

I was in high school when my diet took a back seat to everything else I had on my plate. I have mentioned in high school, I started having skin problems (eczema) and mood swings. I thought the mood swings were normal for a teenage girl, and I thought I just had really dry skin. I never realized until recently that that was signs I had been eating too much protein
.


In my senior year of high school, I met the man I know as my husband now, Chipper. We started dating and that added into my busy schedule, I also started attending church three times a week. The fall after I graduated, I moved and began attending college. Since I moved away from Chipper, I was traveling 180 miles (round trip) at least once a week to see him.


Shortly after my first year of college, summer of 2010, Chipper asked my to marry him. Two weeks after that, I had a surgery that put me out of a job for a while. I started planning my wedding, and on February 26th, 2011 Chipper and I were married. Directly after the wedding we moved 165 miles away from the town that we both knew as home for as long as we can remember.


Marriage is quite an adjustment for a couple, especially if they haven't lived together before had, like Chipper and I. I forgot all about my PKU, well as much as one can. I always remembered what I could and couldn't have. But formula, blood tests and all that never once crossed my mind. One day, my husband mentioned something about my PKU effecting a baby if I got pregnant. I had really never thought too much about that. Thank the Lord he had said something.


I started researching what high protein levels could do to an unborn child. I cried when I found some answers. Not too long after that, I started this blog. This, also, helped me to open my eyes to what damage I could be doing to myself, and if I wasn't careful, a child. That's when I called my Metabolic Specialist.


Now, with the support of my wonderful husband, loving parents and in-laws, my grandparents, and Dr. Kathleen Huntington, I am working very hard to get my diet under control. I want to start preparing my body for when Chipper and I decide to start our family.

This blog has helped me so much, so far. It doesn't really matter if anyone reads this (of course I would  love it if someone was reading) it still helps me to feel accountable to my readers. Who am I to tell you that people with PKU should stay on the diet for the duration of their life, if I can't set a good example.


Well, thank you for reading and now you know more about me. :)


Until next time,
Phe





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