Well, isn’t that special

The main reasons Dr. Garcia had me do another MRI and referred me to a neuro was because of the results of my last MRI and the symptoms I am/was currently exhibiting.

My last MRI showed what they called “non-specific white matter disease” (basically lesions on my brain). I was told then that the lesions were “probably” caused by all of the years of migraines. They did not at the time, though I was offered the option for further testing, believe it was MS (multiple sclerosis). I guess MS shows in what they consider a pattern and mine did not have this. Seeing as I wasn’t exhibiting any of the symptoms I am now, we chalked it up to the migraines.

Anyway, Dr. Garcia wanted me tested again. Most of my symptoms mimic MS though so does Lupus and Fibro. But I suppose it’s better to test and rule out than to not test at all.

Oh, by the way, do you know how freaking scary it is when you’re doctor says she wants you tested for MS because you’re exhibiting all of the symptoms and then sends you on your way saying everything will be okay, you’ll be fine. I freaked. (Though in all fairness, I do that a lot anyway.) For close to a month I had this possible diagnosis, this black ugly cloud, hanging over my head. I was not a happy camper.

Anyway…

Today I went to go see the new neuro and get the results of the MRI. Let me just say, I did not like this doctor. He was extremely hard to understand (and not because of a foreign accent), just very bad communicative skills. When asked why I was there, I started with the migraines and proceeded to list the rest of the symptoms. His focus: the damn migraines. Screw everything else. Let’s spend most of your appointment discussing the migraines you’ve had for close to 15 years. Doesn’t matter that your exhibiting hells of other symptoms, we’re just going to talk about the migraines. After 30 minutes of this crap I was like look, Dr. Garcia wanted me to have this MRI because she felt there was a possibility of MS. He looked at me like I was stupid. (I had brought in my previous films and he had the readings from both tests, but yet he hadn’t even looked at them.) GAH! His reaction was to tell me that no, from what you’ve told me, you don’t have MS. What? From what I’ve told you? You’ve only focused on the damn migraines, you haven’t asked me about anything else!

It was only after I listed the other symptoms again did he do any further testing. You know, the balance test, the strength test, etc. I failed the balance test miserably. Everything else he seemed to be ok with. Whatever. When I asked him what he thought was going on, besides the freaking migraines, he was all like…I have a few theories, but I need further tests. Umm, ok. You care to elaborate on those theories? Apparently not, because he sent me on my happy way with a date to have my brain electroed. Something about testing my eye/ear to brain stem responses. Who the hell knows. All I know is I have an appointment next Friday to have this done.

Joy Joy

You’ve got to be kidding

Both myself and G had follow-up Dr.’s appointments on Wednesday (we use the same GP). G to get his results from the cholesterol tests, etc. Me, for a bunch of stuff. He was in and out in about 45 minutes, though it did take a while for him to actually “see” the doc. No biggie.

Now me…uh uh. First off, they tell me that when I called on Monday to reschedule my appointment from the 31st (got damn jury duty…again), the person who changed my appointment (for Wednesday) made an “error”. I didn’t have an appointment. Umm, no. I have an appointment. I didn’t miss work for you to tell me I have to reschedule this shit again because YOU screwed up. Nope, not gonna happen. Apparently someone agreed with me because they said they’d “work it out”. Fine, whatever. Oh, this was at 8:40′ish. My appointment was for 9. They finally called me back around 9:30, give or take 5 minutes. Here’s where I pretty much decide to tell these people to kiss my ass…

I get back to the first nurse’s station. She does her thing and she asks me what I’m in for today. I bring out my handy dandy list. She balks. Literally. She point blank tells me that the Dr. will only talk to me about 2 issues. I’m sorry? What? Since when in the hell did limitations get imposed on how many issues I can talk to my GP about? She tells me to give her the “most pressing issues” and that’s what she’d write down. *rolls eyes* whatthefuckever. She takes me back to the room and tells me that the student, who by the way is getting ready to graduate, will be with me shortly. 10:00 rolls around and finally so does the student. I don’t like her. Gut feeling. I bring up one of the issues that I was told I could and we talk about that for a minute. She gives her suggestions, blah blah blah, and gets ready to walk out the door. I’m like whoa…what about my other issue. She gives me this look like I’m wasting her time but comes back to me to discuss it. Apparently I’ve stumped her. She doesn’t have a clue why this particular thing is happening. She decides to confer with the Dr. Fine. She comes back 20 minutes with some screwed up diagnosis (I don’t believe this shit for a minute) and says that they are giving me steroids and muscle relaxers. WTF? But you know what…fine. I just want to see the Dr. and get the hell out. Then she makes this comment that rather floored me…

“The nurse will be in to give you your discharge papers in a moment. We’ll see you in 4 weeks.”

Ummm…I’m sorry. I look at her and I’m like, am I not going to see the Dr.? She pokes her head out the door, looks around, and point blank looks at me and says “well, he’s in the room across the hall, and I can tell him you’d like to see him, but we are rather busy, so you’d have to wait a while.” WHAT?? You mean to tell me after all this, I’m not even going to see the Dr.?? The one I pay money to see.

Fuck you.

I will be calling my insurance company and letting them know that they should not pay this particular claim since I never saw a “qualified” physician. I’ll eat my co-pay, but be damned if they get anything else. I’ve also arranged to get my medical records and I will be seeing a new Dr. come August. That whole visit was a waste of my time.

I am convinced

After my unexpected trip to the ER last week (incidentally the same day my girlie bits were to be used as a receptacle for a swizzle stick), I’m convinced that the medical profession has no clue what it’s doing.

While the ER finally “diagnosed” my issue as some sort of freaky ass migraine, they decided that the best thing to give me was morphine. Um, I don’t think so. When in the hell did doctors decide that morphine was the cur all? I mean c’mon… The ER doc actually told me that their main goal is to make sure the patient is comfortable and in no pain. Um, yeah whatever. The only people, IMO, who need morphine are those that are pleading out of unnatural orifices or have lost appendages, etc. Not for a freaking migraine. The make non narcotic crap for that. They (the nurses/doctor) were actually shocked that I refused both morphine and percoset. That is just sad.

I’m also convinced that when my girlie bits do become a receptacle for that stupid swizzle stick (w007, next Tuesday. That so rocks! Not.), that it is a very real possibility that they may find something. All of the symptoms that I’ve been having that I didn’t think had anything to do with my girlie bits, do in fact have something to do with them. Pelvic pain, having to pee a lot, lower back pain…all are symptoms of uterine fibroids. I was diagnosed with these in the late 90’s. However, at the time they were extremely small (less the 2 mm). But I’m convinced that they’ve grown to the size of basketballs and that they are what’s causing all of my issues. I will tell you now though, if they don’t find something…I will go postal. I will use that swizzle stick to beat them over the head with. I will make them bleed.

But enough of that…I’m off to take a nap seeing as how we are going to the midnight showing of Indiana Jones tonight. Danielle…if you and the boy are feeling better, you should join us. 11:30 at the Orleans theater.