Result Musings

The day before my 36th birthday this past week I was back at my neurologists office to go over some results.  It's summer so the kids were in tow.

Here is the visit briefing.

Got to office blessedly on time despite ridiculous traffic.  Sat kids down and told them to BEHAVE!  Trent proceeds to drop raspberries all over the white tile floor in the waiting room.  ''Mommmmmmy! I drop a berries!''

Luckily, I'd brought some new toys to distract the kids.  This game is GOLD, the original hand held game and my kids think I hung the moon with this.  Note: Old Navy has these for $2 a piece right now, great game for the car or plane on summer vacay.

The nurse put us in a room pretty quickly.  And we waited and waited and waited.  Then Dr. Alahi walked in and Nora busts out with ''We waited for you a really long time!''  I think he might of been taken back by her precocious outburst.  Oops.

Ummm, yeah back to the reason I'm there.  And I quote, ''So the EEG shows that you were sleep deprived.  It's pretty easy to fall asleep in a test like this.  And that you have quite a bit of anxiety running across your brain.''

Let me explain my mood towards medical testing.  I. Don't. Like. It.  I don't sleep the night before so yeah, that sleep deprivation is an honest assessment of my brain that morning.  And WHO wouldn't be a little nervous with a swimmers cap on their head that has 16 electrodes attached to the scalp my glue.  By the way, the glue gives you a fabulous after doo reminiscent of Cameron Diaz in ''There's Something About Mary''.

Good news, the damage spots are not impairing communications across my cerebellum.

''Your MRI looks pretty much the same as a year ago, very little growth on any of the damage spots. So this is really good news.  At this point, I think we've determined that the spots are most likely caused by silent migraines.''

Silent migraines come with no pain, just auras and visual disturbance.  This is the kind I get, but they are doing some damage on my brain.

If they wanted to see anxiety combining the EEG and the MRI would have been quite amusing.  It was torturous tube MRI that causes me sweats just looking at the machine.

This is not me, but a great example of the Man in the Iron Mask cage that goes around your head.  Complete with
immobilizing foam ear pads, great for anyone with claustrophobia.  Then, THEN you get stuffed in the tube.(see below)

Again, not me.  That little leg wedge to make you more comfortable, complete lie.  LIE.
The try to con you into thinking this is some sort of crazy spa relaxation exercise.

Ok.  Now to address this crazy burning on my arms that gets more intense with higher temps.  His eyebrows flew up folks.  ''Wow, that's really something we see with our MS patients.  The increase in symptoms with the heat index.  We can certainly redo the spinal tap to make sure they didn't mess up results in Atlanta.''  (I like that he remembers where I moved from)

I was conflicted on this idea.  Ultimately, I don't think all the tests I went through in Atlanta could be wrong or been botched in the lab.  The burning and itching arms is also seen in fibromyalgia so I'm pretty comfortable with that idea.

''It is seen in fibro patients as well and Dr. Reuda did list that as a developing auto-immune.  Fibromyalgia can cause damage to your nerve endings and heat is like holding a match to them.  I do agree that this looks like fibro but wanted to give you the option of a second test.  Sort of like getting a second opinion.  Now, if these symptoms get worse or intensify you call me immediately and we will get you in for the test."

I think I thanked him for the confidence.  I've been released back to the Rheumo for my follow up appt. this fall, barring any ridiculous symptoms.

No more doctors for now, it feels incredible to say that after over a year of specialists, blood draws, and days of testing.

And as Dr. Alahi left he said, 'Bye Trent.  Bye Nora.  Be good for mom.'  

Curry Chicken Salad with Hazelnuts.

Curry Chicken Salad with Hazelnuts

I went on a girls weekend to Santa Cruz and came back with a craving for curry and as I was walking thru Trader Joe's there appeared pre-marinated curry chicken.

1 package Trader Joe's pre-marinated curry chicken(approx. 1.5 lbs.)

1 c. golden raisins

1/2 c. chopped hazelnuts

3 stalks celery chopped.

1/2 c. raw shredded coconut

1/4 c. mayo or greek yogurt. (I'm dairy free so I used mayo)

The day before I put the curry chicken in the crockpot with the raisins and set it to low.  Easy way to get this chicken cooked without a fuss.

Chopped up all the chicken into small cubes.  Chopped up all the other ingredients as well.  Now add them together and stir.  This should be enough for five days of lunches for me served on a bed of field greens with clementines.  

All My Symptoms

Keep in mind, I don't have all of these at one time.  I haven't actually experience ALL of these, but this is the most complete list I've found.  What I suffer from is highlighted.  The most annoying one right now is the burning skin on my arms that itches like crazy.  The intensity of the itch goes up with the heat index, the only remedy I've found is cool towels wrapped around my arms and a cold shower.

*** I copy pasted from the website and can't seem to get the blue blocking to GO away!

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

+ Indicates most prevalent in patients.

+ Brain Fog
trouble concentrating – can’t recall words (anomia) / names – using wrong word – memory lapses – lose track of present location – overwhelmed performing multiple tasks – low mental acuity – varies from day to day

+ Pain
usually both left and right side – in soft tissues – feels like “bones hurt” – generalized – radiating – gnawing – numbness, tingling, prickling, “pins and needles” – aching / burning in hands, arms, feet, legs, and sometimes face / jaw – some pain always present – firm touch can cause discomfort – worse in morning, improves throughout day, worsens at night – affected by activity level, weather, sleep patterns, stress, and foods – burning skin

+ Stiffness
worse on awakening and after sitting or standing in one position
muscle tightness / lack of flexibility, especially legs, back, shoulders

+ Fatigue
chronic – moderate / severe / extreme exhaustion – disabling – muscle twitching – muscle weakness – shakiness – long periods of sleeping – strong need to fall asleep / a quick nap often refreshes, but unrelenting fatigue returns

+ Exercise intolerance
too much or wrong exercise may worsen FMS symptoms

+ Emotional / Seritonin Reuptake 
“Seritonin Reuptake Cluster of Symptoms” :
anxiety / panic – depression – obsessive compulsive – procrastination.
Not all Fibros have these, but if have one of them, and it came with FMS, they usually have the cluster of all four. Caused by Seritonin Reuptake. Can be effectively treated by taking a good SSRI med – at night. (An over-the-counter alternative is 5HTP.)

+ Weakness
body wide – suddenly drop objects – clumsy hands – poor grip – extreme weakness all over

+Coordination impaired – can be in all areas – can’t pick feet up

+ Mobility
forward body posture / typing, desk sitting, assembly line work can cause chest and upper body (thoracic) pain / dysfunction. unable to move body if severe

+ Dysequilibrium / balance
tilting causes disorientation / nausea – dizziness – light-headedness – not able to adjust quickly

+ Tender Points
painful, sensitive locations on the body corresponding to branching of the arteries

+ Restless Leg Syndrome periodic limb movement disorder – during sleep or awake

+ Sleep
trouble falling asleep – waking at all hours – not rested when awake – easily awakened – abnormal sleep patterns

+ Sensitivity
over-sensitive to smell, noise, bright or flickering light – normal sounds can be excruciating
certain foods, medicines – change in weather – feeling cold or hot when others are not
“paresthesia” = abnormal neurological sensations
“hyperesthesia” = increased neurological sensations

+ Hair
thinning – dry – dull

+ Fingernails / toenails
soft and break – ridges

+Skin
itch – rash – small “ricelike” bumps – nicks bleed more easily – greasier skin -
deep painful blemishes on face, torso, arms and legs – nose tender / outbreaks on the sides sub-cutaneous, painful swelling that can’t open to surface. Blisters on scalp. Pilomotor phenomenon (goose bumps).

+Perspiration
insufficient is more common, but some FM’s sweat profusely

+ Hands / Feet
numbness, tingling – not flexible – palms and soles of feet blotchy – poor hand-eye – calluses and corns on feet more painful and irritating – dry – in severe FMS hands can lose all activity and turn back toward arms, palms first

+ Swelling
sensation of swelling (edema) in hands and feet – ankles – throughout body.  No swelling is actually present

+ Headaches
chronic – “ice pick” – muscular (tension) and severe migraine headaches – often from trapped HA in narrow passages in sinus. It swells, creating severe pressure.

+Eyes
problems with focus / skeletal tracking muscles of the eyes – “visual confusion” and nausea
vision not clear – like looking through Saran Wrap – frequent prescription changes – don’t sparkle
dry or burning

+Ears / Hearing
reduced acuity – feel stuffy – tinnitus (ringing or whining in ears) – waxier – may feel damp inside

+ Sinus
chronic problems – closed-up feeling in nose and sinuses – sinus infections – easily catch colds and flu – chronic runny nose – non-allergic rhinitis = nasal congestion / discharge and sinus pain – post nasal drip causes throat problems

+ Mouth
tongue sore / swollen tastebuds – tender gums / backside of lips and roof of mouth blistered – dry – white coat on tongue like soft sand grains as tastebuds shed abnormally – excess mucus – yellow scum on teeth

+Saliva
very acidic – pH test may show 4.0 before treatment. Ideal body pH is 7.40

+ Teeth
grinding and clinching during sleep – splitting /cracking – require caps

+TMJ – Temperomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome

+ Weight gain
puffy all over – gain for no reason

Pelvic / Female Reproductive Problems 
Bladder Infection
Endometriosis – tissue resembling uterine mucous membrane occurs in pelvic cavity
Vulvadynia – unprovoked burning, stinging, irritation or rawness of the female genitalia
Infertility

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndromes - metals, dyes, perfumes.