I meant to have updated you Friday night. Friday is when I went in to see the Neurologist.
I went in totally hoping that I was finally going to get some answers. Now though, I’m just more confused. I was hoping that I was going to go in, hear the abnormal results and know exactly what was wrong with me….
…uh no…doesn’t work like that!
Instead I get a range of conditions I could have. Let’s start with the mild stuff. My iron is low, I’ve always been one of those people that fluctuate on being anemic. I’m always on the low end here. No big surprise.
The second mild thing is my Vitamin B-12. I’m at the low end and she wants me to take a supplement. Just a pill, no shot. Those two things are not enough to cause these issues I am having.
The third thing that was way out of whack was my Sedimentation Rate. I am assuming that this is the same thing that the ER had mentioned to me back in July. At the ER in July I was told I had Inflammation markers in my blood. I didn’t really know what that meant. Now this is what a high Sedimentation Rate means:
When inflammation is present in the body, certain proteins cause red blood cells to stick together and fall more quickly than normal to the bottom of the tube. These proteins are produced by the liver and the immune system under many abnormal conditions, such as an infection, an autoimmune disease, or cancer.
There are many possible causes of a high sedimentation rate. For this reason, a sed rate is done with other tests to confirm a diagnosis. After a diagnosis has been made, a sed rate can be done to help check on the disease or see how well treatment is working.
The Neuro is going to continue treating my headaches and I will follow up with her in 3 months. She seems to think that my headaches are caused by the stress of the chronic pain on my body daily. The pain is always there and can get pretty severe. Since I have been on the Amitriptylin the headaches have been only normal mild headaches. The jerking is gone, except for my random arm jerks.
She has referred me to a Rheumatoid Doctor now. Monday I will call and make that appointment. I need to get my ass busy and make money to help cover all of these visits.
My hopes at this point…
Well, of course I hope it isn’t some sort of cancer. I really don’t feel that it is. The Neurologist seems to think that I have a muscle disease or an autoimmune disease. I really hope that I get answers soon.
Thanks so much for all the great support you have all been giving me. I know I have been being lame about responding. I am trying to get myself into a groove. I need to schedule everything now. I can’t remember shit anymore.
Girl on Fire
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The great thing is you aren’t dying. Even though I’m sure at times you might feel like you are. It sounds like everything that they mentioned it could be there is a cure for. I know this all costs money but soon you will be feeling better and it will all be put behind you.
.-= Joy Taylor´s last blog ..Getting to know you Sunday =-.
Well, I don’t really know anything yet. I very well could be dying. haha…we have to figure all that out, I’m sure I am not dying at this very moment though. If it is Autoimmune, there pretty much isn’t gonna be a cure. Just something I will deal with forever.
Oh girly, I hope you get some answers soon. I’m glad to hear though that you will be seeing rheumatology. Three years now and I am just finally being referred to rheumatology for Fibromyalgia testing
The rain is killing me today. My arm is on fire!
Stil praying & I’m glad that at least the headaches are a bit more under control. Hugs!!
Thanks Jen 🙂
((())) I’m sorry you didn’t get any concrete answers. Hopefully the other dr can give you those. Try not to stress about the money, I know easier said then done but the added stress won’t help you any. Keep us posted on your next appointment.
.-= Shana´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
Thanks Shana! I will email you back this week too! Trying to get my head together!
No rush hun, email when your ready 🙂
.-= Shana´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
I don’t know if you remember my comment to you a while back about all this but I finally chose to go to a chiropractor to try to get some kind of relief from my pain while still going through lawsuits, hearings, appeals… all the crap, basically. Good thing is, he was able to tell me that I not only have nerve damage to Lord knows how many nerves at this time, but that the doctor who performed my hip surgery had actually severed the nerves during the surgery. So, another lawyer, another suit. In the meantime, like you, horrible pain, nearly unbearable at times. I went to the chiropractor because that’s all I can afford. The tests I need start at $10,000 but I was told I would probably need about $20,000 just to get started….
I hope they get you straight. I know how you feel. It affects every aspect of your life and people just don’t understand. I get lots of ‘advice’ from people who just don’t get it. I just stick with the doctors and keep pushing forward, searching for answers.
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Brandy,
I am new here, but have been reading your bogs, I found you through that photo developing site giveaway. I am so sorry for ally you are going through, try not to worry about the money part, concentrate on getting yourself better.
Are they going to do a sed rate?? To narrow it down?? I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, And please keep us informed.
HUGZ,
Diane
Thank you for the update!!! I just want you to get better. You deserve it!!!
I hope to read a blog post soon that says it really was nothing serious!
Thinking of you.
.-= Nina Say´s last blog ..Zutano Review and Itzy Bitzy Boutique Giveaway! =-.
They will probably get an ANA to rule out rheumatoid arthritis of some form and maybe look to fibromyalgia or lupus type issues next? If you have any questions on the terms the doctors are using if they don’t explain them well, holler at me, it’s what I have done for a living for 15 years. 🙂
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Hi Janessa!
I already had those tests. It was part of the labs I just went in for the results on. My Rheumatoid Factor is within normal range and my ANA was Negative. I know she tested me for Lupus as well, although on this sheet of results I don’t know what the code is for that one. It would have been within normal range because she didn’t go over it with me.
Tomorrow I will be calling to set up the appointment with the rheumatologist. I am guessing the rheumatologist will give me the pressure point test for Fibro.
Sed Rate and Inflammation markers in the blood mean the same thing right?
Don’t you just wish there was a specialist specialist. I mean one specialist that could figure out what you have without having to send you to another specialist. I mean a person could get so broke being sent from specialist to specialist and around and around again like a big circle.
I watch the program on Discovery Health Channel about Mystery Diagnosis and it amazes me how many different doctor’s and specialists people have to see sometimes to find one that is willing to really hear and then do the searching to find the correct cause correlations to help their patient out, rather than just pass the buck onto another doctor to do.
I hope you get the answers you need before you get to the point like me and just say I’m never going to see another doctor in my life. Over 13 and a half years later living in constant pain that none of them have ever addressed though I complained to all of them (many doctor’s, even specialists) at all my appointments. I never got one single doctor to order an MRI on that area of my body, so I’m so totally done with all their non-caring attitudes. Military doctor’s are not my idea of good doctor’s and none of the doctor’s they’ve sent me to out of the military system have done me any good either. I actually had two military doctor’s laugh at me to my face. Needless to say I did the paperwork and changed to other doctor’s, but it’s still all the same garbage when it’s the military.
Glad to hear they got you in with a rheumatologist. It took me 8 years to get an appointment with one. I have to agree the chiropractor has helped too. If you’ve ever been in an accident, hit your head, etc. I’d suggest trying it out if you can. Most offer a free consult. I thought it was all a bunch of crap until they showed me my x-rays. My neck was so straight with was starting to curve in the opposite direction that it should, and my vertebrae were starting to round at the corners which would eventually be arthritis. My headaches are so much better. I’ve been goign 6 mos now, but I noticed a difference in a month. I’m back to going more frequently because Spring and the changing weather is kicking my ass.
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Bless your heart! I’m sorry your going through all of this. I know how much concrete answers would help your peace of mind. I’m praying for you and that they can figure out, definitively, what is wrong and treat it.
{{{Healing hugs }}} Brandy!
I went through all the run around too… they go first for the easy to dx stuff… but even if it is fibro that doesn’t mean you don’t also have some nerve damage or another form of arthritis… like OA… Have you looked into your states heath plans? you may be able to get coverage through one of their programs.. I know there is a medicade plan that once you pay out of pocket of “X” amount they give you a medicade card that covers everything else , but each state is different & there are suppose to be lots of new programs… ( if you believe the political machine) do you know if you have any allergies? Mine are really kicking my butt right now too, and that in turn kicks the fibro & around it goes.. I wake up with a head ache every day, some days are better than others…
I am glad that the meds they gave you is helping your headaches at least… I am allergic too a lot of drugs as well as seasonal & environmental….
email me if you need some one to listen… or call, if you don’t have long distance I can call you.
hugs, Faythe
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