Soooo... this is a long overdue update, just maybe a bit more entertaining, I hope.
My primary doctor often feels bad that she can't do more (she says I’m above her pay grade ;) ) as we meet up every 3 months to go over what the other doctors have said/ordered, and she answers the more mundane questions (like.. why won't this bruise heal?! *I take Vitamin C now, we'll see what happens). Today, I told her it helps me knowing that someone is holding all the information.... then proclaimed her the Ringleader of this circus! Not sure how much she appreciated that, but I kind of like this theme....
Orthopedic: the self-proclaimed construction worker. He's broken up with me, but is on hand if I or someone else finds something for him to fix or rebuild. In the end, he confirmed the damage and defects from the past surgeries and general wear and tear, but none of that should have put me into the wheelchair. He's upset that he wasn't able to put the puzzle together.. even with his counterparts, the Lumbar Guy and the Injection Guy.
Rheumatology: the very temporary (almost seasonal) act. I'm borderline on some lab tests, so every now and then I see rheumatology again. The latest one wrote off my lab results pretty quick, not a fan of the borderline theories, but also said I was borderline on hyper-extended joints.. elbows and knees, not wrists/hands or ankles. Still, she said she wouldn't be of any help.
Gastroenterology: another temporary act. No ulcers! But maybe my stomach produces too much acid.. she gave me a couple prescriptions to try; one didn't do anything, the other one works too well. My primary is good with me using it as needed while I recover from a horrible recent prescription experiment (more on that in the psychiatry block). We need to see how my stomach is actually doing before deciding anything else.
Psychiatry: the act that took a horrifying turn. After knowing me for 45 minutes (for more details on this, you can read Witch Hunt here), she decided I was "very sad" and needed to be medicated and in therapy. Said medication basically made me miserable for two weeks; no sleep, no appetite, twitching... all escalating to chest pain and trouble breathing, and landing me in the ER. A week later, I'm still recovering from the side effects and from stopping the medication.
Bonus: this horrible act is bringing back an old favorite, my Therapist. Don't know for how long, my primary left all of this up to me and I'm choosing to stay on her list.. I figure with all that's been happening, it never hurts to talk. Especially to an impartial observer.
Neurologist: the hot, new act... can't decide between juggler or lion tamer.. hell, she might be juggling lions at this point. After going over my medical history, doing all of her tests (neurological and an EMG), and loads of blood tests, she decided my diagnosis is going to be a combination of pretty much everything above and she was basically looking for the first domino. Something I said at my last appointment got her very excited and threw in two more lions, Cardiology and Autonomic. My primary set up the Cardiology referral today and both are trying to figure out how to send me to Stanford for the autonomic work-up.
From what I've read, if I am disautonomic, it likely complicated the problems with my leg and created the perfect storm.... but it also explains pretty much everything: the stomach problems, the dizziness, the "asthma", the depression, the headaches, the dry mouth, the muscle weakness, the fatigue, and my newest tricks, the sweating and increased heart rate.
Aaaaaand because they always deserve a mention, The Nurses! In this metaphor, they are the backbone of every circus, the clowns; performing death defying stunts while keeping my spirits up and reassuring me something great is about to happen.
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