I Have Learned

Unfortunately because of my health I have learned a lot about dealing with doctors and ailments. Its the one thing I can still do.

Someone I know has been dealing with a significant medical issue and now has gotten some more news which could impact the rest of his life permanently. As someone who has dealt with multiple medical issues I could relate to his concerns.

I shared what I would have done based on my experiences with ailments. I guess I have learned a lot in the past ten years or so of medical disasters. This is what I have learned:

Step one: education. Find out as much as you can about the body part with the problem. Research the crap out of it. I would start with any medical organization for doctors who deal with this problem. Then I would find out as much as I could about the ailment. And then the body part with the problem - what does it do, how does it work, and what is the impact of a not so good body part - can you live without it or if its damaged. What is the long term impact of it. Take the time to learn all you can about the changes in your health and how your body can deal with it.

Step two: ask questions. Write down all the questions you have and then get someone to go to the doctor appointments with you so you can the answers you need. Their job is to make sure you get all the information you want. This is always a good idea with a major medical issue. Keep learning, even attempt to stay up with the latest research.

Step three: options. Once you get the information so you have a better idea of what you are facing, maybe get a second opinion. Take your time and think about options. Digest what you have learned and figure out what you want to do. Don't assume the first doctor is correct.

I hate dealing with doctors and stuff. But I guess I have learned enough that I can share with others on what has worked with me. I just wish I was healthy.

More Needles????

I hate needles. I really hate needles. If a needle is near me I can't look. If a needle is near anyone else, I leave the room. (Actually sewing needles and knitting needles are fine. Its those icky medical ones that cause me problems.)

Now it looks like more needles are in my future. Ick. Double ick!

Yesterday I went to see neurosurgery because of increasing pain in my neck. Real pain in my neck, not the literal kind. I do have to deal with the literal pains in the neck (like insurance companies, hospital billing departments, and poor bedside manners). Back in 2014, I was having problems with my right arm. I was sent to see a neurologist to see if there was something going on back in my brain to cause this. (A subtle way to see if there was a 'thingy' in my brain.)  There wasn't anything in my brain (except my brain) but there were disc protrusions and bone spurs on my neck.

Jump ahead 2.5 years later and I have increasing pain in my neck, shoulder, and arm. My primary care referred me back to neurosurgery. The neurosurgery physician's assistant said the following:

• Your body may reabsorb disc tissue but will not reabsorb bone so its not going away anytime soon, probably not ever.
• Physical therapy may help so we are going to try that.
• They want a new MRI of my neck (and brain) to get another picture of what's going on and see if there are any changes (read that as growth).
• The next step is needles in my neck sort of like what I get in my spine.

I am overjoyed. I can't wait. But I guess I have to realize that I can force myself to deal with needles if it means the pain might go away lessen. That is my dream actually for a pain free, healthy body. So I guess I have to stick with needles (that is such a bad pun I have to leave it even though its not what I meant to say. What I meant is I have to cope with needles.).

Sleep, Glorious Sleep

So in recent months I have developed the ability to take two hour naps and then get a full night's sleep. I just thought it was just because I need more sleep because some nights I get lots of quality insomnia. But no. My doctor doesn't agree.

No, no, no, no.She is concerned that I get so tired that there might be something going on when I sleep (like snoring) and that my blood oxygen (not blood alcohol - which I often say instead of oxygen for some reason) level has been running lower and lower over the years. So I get to have a sleep test again.

I just had one two years ago. I don't sleep well during a sleep test. I hate the idea of being watched and monitored while I sleep. I sleep best when in a bed with my husband and my two cats. (Maybe I can bring them with me?)

Anyway, grr, grr, grr. But if it makes me end up healthier (but not with a CPAP machine) I will be happy. The idea of a CPAP machine drives me crazy. I am not sure I could sleep with one.

What Do You Do When You Don't Feel Well?

I guess on the short term when I don't feel well I stay in bed or on the couch. I sit around doing a lot of nothing. And eat and drink what I want. Or what I feel will make me feel better...

If I don't feel better I call my doctor eventually... If I think its that important. I hate calling the doctor. I will not go to the ER unless I am (literally) dripping blood.

I often pretend I am feeling well when I may not be. Because if I didn't do that I would spend entirely too much time sitting around.

But today I am not feeling that bad. Even though I painted part of the living room yesterday. I mean I am tired and soon I will get my act together and take a shower and get dressed. I have nothing on my calendar until 1 pm today. So I can be lazy for a bit.

However, one cat is not feeling well. I am not sure what to do because he can't tell me what is wrong. He clearly is not feeling well because he isn't walking much, he's moping, he's not eating, he's not drinking much, and he's just sitting.

He went out Tuesday night (to my displeasure). He did not appear until yesterday late afternoon. He came out and walked around a little bit and went back to sleep near the foundation of the house. I went inside and made him a quiet little space with his food dish, water bowl, litter box, and favorite pillows. Under protest, I brought him in and put him in there. He immediately jumped up on the table so I put his pillows there. He stayed there for a few hours and used his litter box. Then he came back out to the living room and slept on the sofa for a while.

This morning he was sleeping downstairs on the futon. I brought him some water which he didn't appreciate. He did come upstairs to eat a little and then has been sleeping again. He doesn't want attention. He protests when I pat him. He insisted on going back out - I hoped he was going to be a bit more energetic but he's not. He sitting back by the foundation again.

Damn. I think he needs to go to the vet. But at least its not me going to the doctor. He clearly is not feeling well.