Don't Let the Incurable Disease Define You!

I have been living with Meniere's Disease for 16 years (in my right ear). Most people don't know, but I'm deaf in my right ear from the inner ear disease and it affects my balance when it's "out of whack". I've been having to have an ear shunt (works the same way as a brain shunt, since my ear doesn't drain fluid properly due to the disease) replaced every 4 years for the last 12 years. It will be four years in March since my last shunt revision. I've gone the last three weeks in a row for ear treatments where they run antibiotic & steroid medicine down in my ear, and I lie still afterwards for 30 minutes. I have taken the meds by mouth. I haven't seen enough progress yet and things aren't working right. It's a nasty and incurable disease, and you never know when it's going to flare up or cause problems. When the attacks happen, I'm in bed for days with horrible exhaustion and brain fog... so when I can get out I do go, and I don't take it for granted. I look back on everything God allowed me to do + what He did for me in 2022 (8 trips + removing toxicity from my life and giving me much peace), how He kept me from surgery all year, and even what He allowed me to experience in January this year, and for that I am very grateful. But, sometimes you're back in the "be still and know He is God" season. I haven't been able to drive for 3 weeks and won't until this all settles down again. I've seen four different doctors since I was diagnosed 16 years ago. I didn't want to accept it. They all said the same thing. I've stared at that ear chart in the rooms at every doctor's appt, realizing just how much the ear/balance can take (not just a physical toll), but a mental and emotional toll on you when it's all not working properly. I realize it could be something worse, but it still doesn't make it easy at times. The doctor doesn't know why my body rejects the shunt every four years when I should be getting way more years than that (i.e. I should just now be thinking about my 2nd shunt revision instead of my possible 4th surgery). These last couple of days have been so rough. The next step is back to the operating room, and since I've had other surgeries on my ear besides the shunt... it would be my 11th surgery on my ear... at this point it's just about continuing to preserve my balance... as I continue praying for healing and a miracle from this! If I continue to have worsening symptoms through the weekend, I will see the doctor next week vs. two weeks out. So, just please pray with me for this vertigo to settle down and that I get some much needed relief, as it's been constant. I praise God for the strength He continues to give me to fight through it, and for the ability to have access to medical treatments and a good doctor. After 13 years of treatments by the same doctor, we just keep going and pressing forward. My mama is my right hand, and I praise God for her and my daddy!! They hang in there with me, and so does my brother and best friends! They are all my drivers when I need them! I praise God for support! If you've read this and live with this rare disease (1 out of 2,000 people have it) or any incurable disease know that you aren't alone. I understand and feel for you. Do your best not to let it define your life. You are so much more than the disease tries to make you (me) to be. We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.