Yes, this sounds like something straight out of Dr. Seuss. Except it's more like six drs by now, but 2 I'm not counting. And it's my life. One was a GP who assumed it was just a virus (given the circumstances and the time frame, I probably would have, too). The other was/is just an egotistical moron with his head up his arse who found a diagnosis years ago and has blindly and stubbornly clung to it ever since, regardless of physical and scientific data right in front of his face (so I don't count that one either). So the official number stands at 3, with one to be scheduled asap. I'm wondering if there isn't some kind of record for this out there. Seriously. There must be. This just isn't normal.
I started with my neuro because I learned that they can treat fibromyalgia (the asshole's diagnosis) and because I knew it wasn't, but I trust his judgment. He found other anomalies that the asshole never thought of when every time I turned around I had Lyme Disease again. So it seemed a logical place to start. Doc One. After reviewing recent labs, taking a quick look at me, and almost falling on my face in his exam room, he referred me to a colleague, suspecting either a tick born disease or something autoimmune. Doc Two.
So I go see Doc Two and he tests for every known tick disease out there (holy sh*t I had no CLUE there were so many and just how many humans can get!!!) and a few other random things. I'm in even more pain, my hands are working less, and I'm worse than I was when I saw Doc One. He writes me out 2 scripts--which I grill him extensively on because I hate medications and I especially hate taking medications without knowing what's wrong with me. (It's kind of like throwing pasta at a wall... throw enough at the wall over time and eventually something will stick because it's done theory. Who cares if the patient has a diagnosis? They have meds that work, right? WRONG!! I want to know what's wrong and why before you want me to swallow, inject, ingest, etc. something....unless it's a pain medication and I'm in serious pain.) No tick diseases. Visit 2 brings a few extra tests and a few ideas, but another "I know it's not this, this, or this, but it's out of my specialty, so I want you to go see...."
Enter Doc Three!!! Cool doctor. Asks a million questions, goes through all the labs I had in my files (which I realize I'm missing a LOT over the past decade), does a physical, and sits down for a talk. First, I need more labs done (like I didn't see THAT coming). Then she explains the dozen or so other tests she's going to run. Don't ask me what they are because I don't have a clue. It all sounded like something out of Star Trek and I'm not entirely convinced that at least half of them won't leave me glowing in the dark by the end of these tests, but hey, if glowing in the dark produces answers and a diagnosis, I'll glow in the damn dark. Not to mention how cool would THAT be? Except it would suck playing Manhunt or hide and go seek... And I'd have to get some special ID or something to get through security checkpoints and stuff. Thorough is a serious understatement with this doc. I never did get a lecture about my smoking, even when asked about it, but then she drops the referral to another doctor in my lap about my lungs. Damn. That's why. Having asthma, smoking (it's my only vice, so shush), and being referred to a pulmonologist... yeah. I'm going to hear more than the basic "you know smoking's not good for you, right?" lecture. But I know she's playing it safe and she wants to make sure that whatever-the-hell-this-is has nothing to do with my lungs or vice-versa. Makes sense. But the lung doc makes Doc Four. And based on some of the questions she asked when it came to what tests I have (in this case, haven't) had since my diagnosis of asthma forever ago, the tests don't sound fun. Star trekkie, glow in the dark tests sound interesting (especially to the science geek in me), but the lung tests sound scary and downright sadistic. But it looks like I'll just have to suck it up and deal. No pun intended.
I SO feel your pain! Fellow smoker, asthma...LOL! Good luck on the lung tests. Most of them are more annoying than anything. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI was shocked (and instantly suspicious) when she didn't go into the normal "you know smoking's bad for you" lecture, but now I know why. I know it's bad, but like everything else, I don't hide anything from my doctors because not only is it a trust thing, you never know what might be important, no matter how tiny or seemingly insignificant it is (not to mention a trust thing.. trust is HUGE and very much a 2 way street, especially when dealing with chronic pain) I've had several tests done, from X-rays (done when I've had bronchitis or pneumonia) to the breathalyzer type ones several times a year, but she said something about being put in a box. That has me a bit worried. Wtf does having asthma and COPD have anything to do with stuffing me in a box for a test? And what kind of test is done that a patient gets stuffed into a box? I blanked out on any other tests she mentioned just because my imagination ran wild... lol
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