Went to see my Rheum. today. This is the first time I've seen him in the afternoon, which I think is a good thing. I described my problems, and he had me fill out a little sheet about how difficult things are. After giving me the normal physical look-over, he sat down and said that he thinks my symptoms are getting worse. He is seriously thinking about putting me on Methotrexate.
I guess I was sort of starting to hope I wouldn't get worse, because I am a little stunned. Well, stunned isn't the right word... maybe anxious or numb...
I have to go back for x-rays and bloodwork tomorrow. Then we'll have a better idea.
My 3 hour long MRI is on Friday.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Last Physical Therapy
I had my last physical therapy appointment for a while last Thursday.
He popped my hip back in joint and gave me a few pointers, then let me on my way.
Have an appointment with the Rheum. on Monday... We'll see how that goes. I think this might be my routine gallons of blood and tons of x-rays appointment.
He popped my hip back in joint and gave me a few pointers, then let me on my way.
Have an appointment with the Rheum. on Monday... We'll see how that goes. I think this might be my routine gallons of blood and tons of x-rays appointment.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Muscle Testing
I have my muscle/nerve test thing this morning. I had pretty much no idea what I was in for. This turned out to be a good thing.
If You Expect To Take This Test In The Near Future, Read This Paragraph And No More:
To those that are going to take this test, just believe the nurse. It doesn't last forever. The shock part is not necessarily that painful. The needle part is not much worse than getting blood drawn.
If You Think You'll Never Take This Test:
This was the most painful medical procedure I've experienced in my life. Giving blood and getting your wisdom teeth pulled is nothing in comparison.
The first half is electrocution. The nurse sticks metal circles all over your leg and foot and then shocks you a lot. Some of them are not hard, and they don't really hurt. But every now and then she gives you a good bolt of lightning in your leg, and that hurts pretty bad. However, it's true that it doesn't last forever. If you grit your teeth and squeeze your eyes shut, you might get through it with just a few whimpers.
The second half is getting a needle poked in your leg. Not so bad, right? I mean, I've given gallons of blood to doctors. I've learned to conquer my fear of needles. But this is no ordinary needle. I'm not sure if it was a camera needle (my mom says not) or if he was just poking it around. But this needle moves. And it keeps poking deep into your muscles with an excruciating level of agony.
If you have read Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, you know that Frodo lived for a few chapters with a bit of the Ringwraith's sword tip making its way to his heart. I think the Ringwraith consulted this needle when his sword was made, because this pain is pretty much just like that.
You know the people who said this wasn't any worse than getting bloodwork done? They lied.
I bit my lip very hard, sweated, and squeezed my arms tight. I started crying a few tears of pain about midway through. The doctor stopped for a few minutes to get me tissues and let me calm down (I was on the verge of bursting into sobs, but I managed to swallow it). He asked me if I wanted to stop and I said I was fine. I did a little better through the rest of it. The last poke was in my hip, which hurt pretty bad.
In the end, I managed not to totally melt down and I limped out. I had to go get my bloodwork that the doctors wasted yesterday done again. The nurse lectured me about proper handling of a post-bloodwork arm after I asked her not to take blood from my bruised and drained arm from yesterday. I sort of wanted to say, "Bite me, please." But she wasn't being mean, she just didn't know my Experience in Bloodwork or that I had just undergone torture.
Now I am very tired.
If You Expect To Take This Test In The Near Future, Read This Paragraph And No More:
To those that are going to take this test, just believe the nurse. It doesn't last forever. The shock part is not necessarily that painful. The needle part is not much worse than getting blood drawn.
If You Think You'll Never Take This Test:
This was the most painful medical procedure I've experienced in my life. Giving blood and getting your wisdom teeth pulled is nothing in comparison.
The first half is electrocution. The nurse sticks metal circles all over your leg and foot and then shocks you a lot. Some of them are not hard, and they don't really hurt. But every now and then she gives you a good bolt of lightning in your leg, and that hurts pretty bad. However, it's true that it doesn't last forever. If you grit your teeth and squeeze your eyes shut, you might get through it with just a few whimpers.
The second half is getting a needle poked in your leg. Not so bad, right? I mean, I've given gallons of blood to doctors. I've learned to conquer my fear of needles. But this is no ordinary needle. I'm not sure if it was a camera needle (my mom says not) or if he was just poking it around. But this needle moves. And it keeps poking deep into your muscles with an excruciating level of agony.
If you have read Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, you know that Frodo lived for a few chapters with a bit of the Ringwraith's sword tip making its way to his heart. I think the Ringwraith consulted this needle when his sword was made, because this pain is pretty much just like that.
You know the people who said this wasn't any worse than getting bloodwork done? They lied.
I bit my lip very hard, sweated, and squeezed my arms tight. I started crying a few tears of pain about midway through. The doctor stopped for a few minutes to get me tissues and let me calm down (I was on the verge of bursting into sobs, but I managed to swallow it). He asked me if I wanted to stop and I said I was fine. I did a little better through the rest of it. The last poke was in my hip, which hurt pretty bad.
In the end, I managed not to totally melt down and I limped out. I had to go get my bloodwork that the doctors wasted yesterday done again. The nurse lectured me about proper handling of a post-bloodwork arm after I asked her not to take blood from my bruised and drained arm from yesterday. I sort of wanted to say, "Bite me, please." But she wasn't being mean, she just didn't know my Experience in Bloodwork or that I had just undergone torture.
Now I am very tired.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Neurologist
I saw the neurologist today. He was good--pretty quick and not very talkative. He had me describe my symptoms, and then made me preform a few tests ("Touch your nose, touch my hand..."). He tested my reflexes, which I know are abnormal. I nearly kicked the last person [who tested me] in the gut.
My endocrinologist (do you capitalize their titles? Probably not) had ordered a ton of bloodwork before I saw this doctor, to help him along. I think they all came back normal. He said that because she had ordered so much, he'd just order one or two. He also wanted me to go to Radiology and schedule a MRI. Oh, and he wanted me to see the adult neurologist and have him preform some sort of muscle test involving needles. I made that appointment for first thing tomorrow... I just want to get it over before I start worrying.
When I got to the lab, the nurse started printing out all these labels. Apparently he had come up with more tests. In the end, I had 8 tubes taken. I could feel my vein about to pop... luckily it held, though I am bruising.
I got a call once I was home to schedule the MRI. It's at 6:30AM on April 3rd. GAG. It's also three hours long, because they're doing my brain and my entire spine. So much fun.
I'm not really sure what he's looking for or what could be wrong, since he did not talk much. But I assume that's because there's a wide range of things that could be going on, so he'd just be shooting at air anyway.
My endocrinologist (do you capitalize their titles? Probably not) had ordered a ton of bloodwork before I saw this doctor, to help him along. I think they all came back normal. He said that because she had ordered so much, he'd just order one or two. He also wanted me to go to Radiology and schedule a MRI. Oh, and he wanted me to see the adult neurologist and have him preform some sort of muscle test involving needles. I made that appointment for first thing tomorrow... I just want to get it over before I start worrying.
When I got to the lab, the nurse started printing out all these labels. Apparently he had come up with more tests. In the end, I had 8 tubes taken. I could feel my vein about to pop... luckily it held, though I am bruising.
I got a call once I was home to schedule the MRI. It's at 6:30AM on April 3rd. GAG. It's also three hours long, because they're doing my brain and my entire spine. So much fun.
I'm not really sure what he's looking for or what could be wrong, since he did not talk much. But I assume that's because there's a wide range of things that could be going on, so he'd just be shooting at air anyway.
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