Becky C

I'm 23 years old and taking a break from college. I have had severe health issues for the past 5 years, although I had some problems before that--just not enough to slow me down. My current diagnoses are asthma, foot drop, minor mitral valve prolapse, and migraines. I also have suspected ehlers danlos syndrome and neurocardiogenic syncope (a dysautonomia), and now suspected celiac or gluten intolerance. I used to have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, but that no longer stands as far as I'm concerned. After I did a ton of research and found that a gluten free diet can help people with fibro, and then that I had most of the symptoms of celiac disease, my doctor decided to try me on the gluten free diet and not do the tests for celiac disease, since my insurance isn't great and they can have false negative results. I have been on the gluten-free diet for 3 weeks now, and I have a lot more energy and much less pain. I actually am able to exercise now, something I haven't been able to do in 2 years.

Ok, enough about my health...here's a little about me. Music is, and always be, my life. That is, classical music. I play the oboe, piano and all other woodwind instruments, and I love to play, teach, listen to, arrange, etc music. I was a music therapy major in college but had to leave because of my health, and now I can't go back because of financial reasons. Right now I work in group homes, which I love, but can't afford to do forever. I'm training to be a medical transcriptionist, and my hope is that some day I will be able to work from home as a transcriptionist and teach lessons.

I have 3 birds, whom I love. They are my best friends, my "kids," etc, and they provide me with a lot of enjoyment. There is Mira the cockatiel, my baby; Clara the lovebird, the cutest little bird you'll ever meet; and Teddy the black headed caique, the most high maintenance but funniest bird I've ever seen.

My other interests include photography, reading (especially classic novels), fixing things (like instruments), piano tuning and repair, randomly researching things, biking, and hiking.