A Quick Update

I really had not even considered writing another post until at least after the Christmas holiday just because everything is so busy this time of year.Then on the other hand, I really would like to give everyone an update on what has been going on lately in my life "health wise". not that I didn't have enough to deal with already right?

Well, I ended up going to see the woman who will now be my new neurologist. She is still a partner in the same practice where I have been treatIed now for I'd say 6mons., she is just a different neurologist than who had treated me previously. Which by the way, I cannot tell you how sad I was to learn that "my" neuro was transferring out of the practice. He had done more for
me in those last 6 months, then other doctors had done in 2 years. He was 1 of the first and only doctors to actually listen. Anyway I went into this doctor expecting nothing different, just thinking it was going to be my average everyday appointment... how ever it was anything but. I was finally given answers to questions I had asked ages ago, and better yet....I finally had a name to put on the face of this horribly painful "condition" that I had been battling with & suffering through all alone. I now had a diagnosis, now I could actually know what is wrong with me. I have "Reynauds Phenomenon". The next "BIG" thing to ask would be, WTF is this lovely thing called "Reynauds Phenomenon". It was A LOT of information to soak in all at once, but from what I "think" I understand so far it is mostly vascular. As soon as all the hustle & bustle of the holidays is over, I plan on doing my own research on this. I not only want, but I need to learn all about how this disorder works. Hopefully, there are things that I can do to lesson the symptoms. Most of minen affect me the most whenever I shower...just something about the water hitting my hands sets it off. The water can actually be scalding mhot,but to me...my hands feel like they're absolutely freezing. You know, I just sat here and realized that about a month ago at this same neurology office....I had the "head" physician, administer an ENG or "nerve conduction study" and was told that all this discomuro did start me on a trial run on a medicine called verapamil. She told me it's a blood pressure med but somehow works to help relieve the symptoms of Reynauds. I've had a week or so's doses and notice no difference...but am hoping that it's one that has to build up in your system.

The other bit of exciting news I have for everyone is that I finally got my "shower chair"! Ta-Da! *crowd cheers* For those of you that know me, you know how I have a serious issue w/syncope. That is just unexplained fainting...you'd think my doctors would have figured it out but no such luck. Most of my dizzy spells or a lot of them happen when I'm in the shower. Thanks to this nations great healthcare called "medicare" they had made it damn near impossible to even get a bath aide. Sad thing is, medicare does NOT cover ANY type of bath aide...which in itself irritates the living beejezzes out of me! Disabled individuals like myself barely make any $ on social security and/or ssi, and to top it off we have to sit back & listen to those at medicare as well as medicaid tell us a bath aide is yet one more thing not covered, yet one more thing that will have to come out of pocket. Sad too, because I imagine A LOT of disabled individuals out here have actually injured themselves because they don't have a "bath aide" available, and I think it's a crime this country allows this to happen. Anyway....I am elated that I am finally able to bathe w/out relying on someone to watch over me so I don't fall, having my privacy back. Something as simple as taking a bath so many people take for granted, but I for one am grateful my mother was kind enough to out of her own pocket, purchase a shower chair for me. Taking a bath is a luxury for some like me.....O:-) 

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