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.
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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)
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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.
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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.'
