February 2017

Like Losing a Superpower

moocowinthecity 2017-02-06 No Comments

My entire life, I have had ADHD, OCD, and TS (collectively TS+). My ADHD has been kept in check by my OCD, giving me just infinite amounts of energy; which I now find drained, and randomly sucked out of me during the day. It’s like having a power cord pulled out of me, randomly. I almost fell asleep while doing counseling with a client the other day…and I have to say it’s like losing a superpower. I’ve always had more energy than everyone else, and I mean a lot more energy…and if this is going to be my new reality (and we’re waiting to do the muscle biopsy, and then of course, find out the results of all of these tests) then I’ll learn to navigate it…but right now, I don’t know how, and I’m having to learn how to readjust…everything…how much I can get done in a day, how much I can do before I have to stop, how much I can do before I have to nap…

It’s giving me a world of insight into some of my client’s lives…and that’s the positive I’ll take from it; but it’s also scary as fuck, and answers can’t come soon enough. Friday I get a giant needle in my leg, and then next Tuesday I better have some answers.

#neurology

Updates from the Neurologist, Cardiologist & The Lab (By Way of Letters & Numbers)

moocowinthecity 2017-02-02 No Comments

-=LAB PART THE FIRST 1/30/2017=-

A) I went and got my HIDA Scan with CCK. I didn’t realize that’s one of the ones they irradiate you and make your organ light up…that was pretty neat…until they injected me with the enzyme that made my gallbladder fill up and empty, repeatedly…and I really wanted to just shit the table…but I did not, because I am…sort of…adult-ish…at times…but like 99.99% that fucking gallbladder is getting evicted.

B) I don’t think they’ll let me keep it in a glass jar on my desk

C) I did not get bitten by a spider, and – despite cuddling next to Akiva all night – I did not wake up with cat-like reflexes, or any kind of cat-like superpowers…I am just as clumsy as ever, and sadly, will not be joining #TeamCap anytime soon (#FuckTonyStark)

-=NEUROLOGIST 1/31/2017=-

1) I explained I was feeling a bit tired, going up and down stairs etc, and wheezing. Her husband shares her practice and has his cardiology practice there, so I was sent right in (after I was done with my neuro) for an echocardiogram of my heart, and arteries. I’ll get results of that…when I get results of that…maybe a week-ish. I also explained that I did army, two NCO courses, world travel, hiking, etc. while fat, so I don’t think it has something to do with my weight…because I’ve been active at between this weight range and another, for years.

2) She explained she was sending me to get the muscle biopsy because of the high CPK/Aldolase numbers, which is what I guessed.

3) I asked her what she expected to find/not find; she as honest and said mostly that she didn’t know, she really just needs to see what’s there, and the reason for this surgeon is that his samples are always good, especially around nerves, and don’t need to be redone.

-=CARDIOLOGIST 1/31/2017=-
4) I was then sent for the cardio stuff, it was cool to see my heart on a screen; I love when science and creation (like, humanity, like, does my heart know I can see it on screen, not the Jesus made the dinosaurs in school kind of science-creation) mix, and you get to see your body work…totally awesome, and because I was interested, the tech explained everything I was looking at, and the sounds and videos she was recording and why.

5) I had a good nap when I had to lay on my other side for the other artery and couldn’t see the screen.

-=LAB PART THE SECOND 1/31/2017=-
6) I was sent for more bloodwork (Fucking. Vampires). Me and Catholic Health System are now BFF. I’m getting signed up for their Patient Portal tomorrow, or Thursday; but until then, I have copies of everything sent to my neuro, and my primary…I have it sent to my primary because he has it set so that all tests automatically just post to the patient’s portal, whereas my neuro only posts what she’s reviewed (and I wanna see what’s going on).

7) They did a bunch more tests than they have done before

8 ) They ran CPK, Aldolase, Esr, RF, Ssa, SSB at the lab when they drew blood. I’m now waiting on results (though a few have come back).

9) One of the tests that have come back is the CPK (Muscle Enzyme) which today (on a day where my legs have been bothering me) is, surprise to no one at all, except me a bit, because you know, everything that’s non-visible is all in our heads: CPK today is 477. (Max range, of course being 174. Worst score to date, 627; Best 250). Bookies are now taking over/under bets for two weeks from today (see below).

-=BACK TO THE NEUROLOGIST (Still 1/31/2017)=-
10) I learned that the Aldolase thing she looks for is what makes the CPK relevant to muscles, and not for instance, heart muscles, or lung muscles. This is why the surgeon’s going to take a piece from my leg, or my upper thigh/hip/booty. MY UNCLE THE DOCTOR says that it’s less painful than some of my tattoos, and that the neuro is handling this the best way (in steps) rather than scattershot (more accurate differential diagnosis).

11) The neurologist was about as concerned as I was that Aldolase, on good/bad days has been pushing the upper limit of 8.1

12) I reminded her she was going to speak to my Nurse Practitioner, and she said she would also call the surgeon to move things along.

13) She must have at least called the Surgeon, because I have the date for my muscle biopsy: next Friday, February 10th.

If you want to start collecting stats for over/under the 174 max threshold :
Date CPK
1/31/17 477
1/17/17 250
1/3/17 627
$10.00 minmum bet, Vincent’s handling the pool.

-=2/2/2017 Updates=-
i) My gallbladder results came back; looks like it is coming out (I’ve been called in to discuss the results); but we’ll see. My appointment for that is on 2/13 (a couple of days after the Muscle Biopsy).

Lab results are as follows:

#neurology