Doctor......

I returned to the neurologist after two months.

Trent was with me for the return visit.  I prayed better behavior would happen this time.  Two months ago my kids terrorized exam room in a monkey-like madness sure to convince anyone of the usefullness of birth control.

The nurses were charmed by race car noises from the waiting room.  Francesco and Lightening McQueen sped across every piece of furniture, crashing into fake plants and chair legs.  The cars were tailed by a child full of giggles and animated noises.

When it was time to go back to the exam room McQueen found the power to fly invigorating until his cohort stumbled and found linoleum.  With cat-like reflexes both owner and car gained their feet quickly. The nurse was once again amused, mommy was praying that was the last of the drama.

Have I mentioned how much I like doctors out here?  Dr. Alahi walked in RIGHT on time at 10:30am!

He had received some of my blood work from the neuro in Georgia and had reviewed my MRI imaging from last summer.  The concensus is no MS, most possible diagnosis is fibromyalgia with a hefty side of Hughes disease to round things out.  Lupus is a vague, dimming worry at this point.

We discussed the potential of 'fibro-fog' and my definite need for 8+ hrs of sleep per night.  Lack of rest only makes the fog worse.  Dr. Alahi played some memory games with me to test a few things out.  He would like to run another MRI to check for hyperintesity advancement or new spots.  An EEG is needed to test electrical impulse strength throughout my brain.  My understanding is that baselines are being set to track progression of the disease from every angle.

Meanwhile, in Trents' world he got to entertain the student doctor from UC Irvine.  Fascinating him with his knowledge of colors, shapes, planes, trains and potty training.  Oh yes, he went there!  The mommy ears caught the cherub voice say, ''In the potty, I go BiiiiiiiiG pee pees.  Is yuuuuck yuucky.''  It could be worse, he could have demonstrated for them, right?

Dr. Alahi stopped asking ME questions to verify what he had just heard.  Yep, yep you heard him.  I apologized and explained that we are newly potty trained and enamored with our bodily functions.

At that, we all declared it time to go before anymore excitement happened.

I don't want....

We've entered another phase with Trent.  He's starting to express things that make him mad, happy, or confusing us with contradictory statements.

''I don't want cheesy noodles, I want FOOD!''  This statement happens a lot.  Apparently, the category of food is subject to interpretation.  

He was asking me what my eyebrows and eyelashes were at bedtime.  When I made him feel his own eyelashes he went nuts, '''EHHHHHHH!   I don't want eyelashes!!!  Take them off!''

The hubby was presented with this confusing statement at breakfast, ''I don't want that bagel, I didn't get it''  Interpretation, he didn't pick the bagel out himself and therefore, it is inferior and not worthy of being eaten.

Continue that into the epic ridiculousness of toddler logic, ''I don't want Nora to go out my door.  No!  NO Nora!  No use my door!''  Trent melted down, like on the garage floor choking sobs because sister got out his car door.  I can't even come up with something rational to calm him down.  One of those moments when I just shook my head, walked away and let him get over his irrational argument. 

There are times when the ''I don't wants'' are purely fueled by exhaustion.  ''Mommy, I don't want to go night night, I want a nap.''   Ok.  He can call it a nap, but it better last at least 10 hrs.

Time seems to confuse him.  We will tell him, Trent '5 minutes then we go home.'  We often get the response, ''I don't want to go yet.  No not yet, two minutes ok?''  Once again, this toddler logic works to our advantage.  We know one day he will be smart enough to know better.

Doctors....when they finally listen

I am blissed out.

The doctors here in California LISTEN to patients.  And take time to really ask questions.

I met with, Dr. Castro, my new Rheumie.

His opinion, most likely fibromyalgia with a smidge of lupus on the side or no lupus at all.  The Hughes Syndrome is there also complicating things.

He's redoing all my blood work from six months ago.  He wants a fresh look at all the numbers, he's sending the blood to a lab specialized in rheumatic disorders.  Read: they KNOW what they are looking for.

Other things being run.....thyroid, Vit. D, B6 and B12 panels.  All of these were low, but no one in Georgia was paying attention to them, saying they weren't low enough.  Dr. Castro pointed out that low for one person is different than another.

The treatment plan for now.  Keep taking aspirin a day.  Keep moving!  Keep eating healthy.  Rest when you are tired.   Rest at night.

The best part was this statement, ''Fibromyalgia IS a disease, no matter what you read.''  There are a lot of articles and insurance plans trying to discredit this diagnosis as made up.  Glad to hear that the doctor is on my side.