I’m so frustrated with the increase in limitations over the last few months, especially with my grandma not doing well (and wanting to see her). I haven’t said a lot recently, but it’s not because things are better. More things are falling apart. My aunt called this morning to offer to come and get me to go see grandma (about 50 miles round-trip), and I can’t do it. I hate this. I really want to see her. I had a cousin offer as well (and an uncle volunteered my aunt)- so several offers. I feel SO badly for declining. But it’s just not physically safe at this time. :(
It kind of started with the reflux/GERD getting really bad. I have had an endoscopy and barium swallow. Those showed chronic gastritis and some esophageal spasms. I still have two tests I need to get done (gastric emptying and pressure of esophageal spasms), but haven’t been able to because my spine/back and leg pain being too bad to get through the tests. I had one test a few days ago (EMG) that showed peripheral sensory neuropathy, that is progressive. What that means is that my limbs (mostly legs at this point) are subject to strange pain and sensations, or lack of sensation. At some time, this will lead to not feeling my feet on the floor when walking. That’s a safety issue. I also drop a lot of stuff, and have more trouble opening jars, even when ‘unlocking’ the vacuum with an old fashioned bottle opener. I’m sending for one of those gimp things for opening jars soon.
The pain in my legs has been a burning pain unlike anything I’ve ever felt. Fortunately, it’s not constant, and mostly at night (which makes sleeping unpleasant, if not impossible). I wake up frequently to that ‘what IS that?’ until I can fully become aware that it’s the neuropathy pain. Now, both feet are beginning to burn at night, though not every night. It seems like it’s progressing fairly quickly. My neurologist did the EMG (pins into legs with electricity run through them, to measure muscle and nerve responses; sounds bad- isn’t that big of a deal). The MRI was horrifically painful, which normally isn’t the case. I couldn’t finish the “with” contrast part, as the “without” contrast part took about 1.5 hours, and by the end of that, I was in tears. I joke around during bone marrow biopsies- so I’m not a wimp. I was just in too much pain this time around.
Over the last several months, I’ve been having more trouble with my blood pressure and heart rate. The first time I was really aware of my BP being low was at an oncology follow-up appointment when it was 80/50. I’d been really tired- but I’m disabled with autonomic dysfunction- I’m tired a lot anyway. BUT, at that visit, my kidney function was moderately impaired (at the levels it was at, it would have been considered Stage 3 out of 5, of chronic kidney disease). Thankfully, with some additional fluids, I was able to get it to the vague acceptable range (normal levels are 90-100; the standard lab values only measure >60, or the specific numbers if <60). I’d prefer to know the actual number no matter what they are. Even 60 is stage 2. But anyway, I dodged a bullet with that.
At that same oncology appointment, I noticed that my A1C had gone up, so got myself off to my endocrinologist to have my insulin adjusted. With my 2016 Medicare part D drug plan, I will be able to get the “good” insulin, instead of the half-assed stuff I’ve been able to afford over the past 3 years. Insulin is ridiculously expensive- yet until next year, Medicare has been more wiling to pay for dialysis, amputations, blindness, heart attacks, and strokes before making good, up-to-date insulin a realistic possibility.
My blood pressure meds, which paradoxically maintain my blood pressure (or are supposed to) have been adjusted three times since this summer. I’ve noticed some orthostatic intolerance on several occasions, but once the meds were adjusted, things would get better for a while. But it seems that no matter what the dose, after a couple of weeks, I get symptomatic again. When driving to my dad’s friend’s house for dinner one night, I started getting lightheaded; that is a bad situation in the car. I got home OK, but it shook me up. I’m being referred to a cardiologist/electrophysiologist for ANOTHER work-up on this. I’ve looked up the name of the guy I’m being referred to- and he’s a specialist in heart rhythm and orthostatic issues… perfect for what is (and has been) going on.
I need to see my pain doc, now that there are some answers as to what type of pain is going on. All pain isn’t equal. What is going on is more neuropathic pain, as well as the pain from degenerating discs in my spine (neck to tail). I’m not sure what is going to be done about that. I don’t like the spine injections. They aren’t painful, but just don’t last all that long. I’m not a big fan of being on “routine” pain meds, either (instead of just “as needed”), but I may have to suck it up and just take them.
So, there’s my internal med doc (primary doc), gastroenterologist, oncologist (just follow-up at this point), endocrinologist, neurologist, pain doc, and cardiologist (to come). Seven doctors in about four months. I loathe adding doctors to an already complicated mess, but at least until things stabilize, I just have to see them. Fortunately, my pulmonologist (sleep apnea), plastic surgeon (scalp cysts), and dermatologist (psoriasis) get a break for now.
But the timing on any of this is horrible. My grandma is dying (as in actively). I want to see her, and don’t feel it’s safe to go 25 miles each way to see her. It’s not because I don’t want to. She was my best friend during those early years on disability when I knew nobody here (and had no access to Facebook or other online social connections and reconnections). We’d talk about so many things and laugh about stuff in the past. We’d also reminisce about my mom (who died in 2003). She’s almost 101 years old, and has been the glue holding our family together. All get-togethers and gatherings centered around her. I have called her care-taker who tells her I called, and that I love her. I know she knows that I do, but it’s still hard not to be able to go down and hold her hand one last time.
