New Year and all that stuff
It's been ages since I've been here, and of course, the reason is Facebook. Everyone I know (and don't know) is on Facebook, so LiveJournal seems a bit redundant and not so needed. That's probably still true, except I'm going to use it for one thing, and that's to chronicle some stuff I'm going through. So, bear with me.
Let's go back some. Last year, and it might have well been the year before, since I can't ever recall these things, I started to have this horrible "pins and needles" sensation on my lower legs. My right leg tapered off pretty quickly, but the left one was persistent. And along with this sensation was also this not-to-be-ignored itching. Pretty soon, my left lower leg looked like I had been loved by a cat, and the top of my foot was a bloody mess as well. By the time this all tapered off, I ended up with scars on the top of the foot, where the itching had been the worse. Odd, right? Went to the doc, but without insurance, really couldn't follow up.
Moving forward. The pins-and-needles sensation never really went away totally in the left leg, but just diminished to something I could actually ignore. It really only made itself known when I was shaving my legs or wearing jeans. And life goes merrily on.
Now, we're in the first part of 2012. I start experiencing the pins-and-needles sensation in my left arm. My hand. My side. It gets stronger in the lower leg. My neck, back of my head, my scalp, my /ear/. It's increasing in intensity each day it seems, and now comes the itching. And it /hurts/ to itch. Various comparisons come to mind to describe it. Ever had a bad sunburn, and an itch as well? And scratch it? Know that burning sensation that just lingers? Yeah, like that constantly on the scalp.
Well, fortunately, I'm employed by now and have insurance, and so I call the primary care doc to make an appointment for her to see me later in the week. Long story short is that she sends me to the ER and four hours later I'm seen by the ER doc who does all this oral history and checks and then suggests I get an MRI to rule out MS.
Let's just skip over all the frustration of trying to schedule the MRI and say that we got that done Monday. Results are in. They did find something abnormal, and I am waiting for an appointment with a neurologist to /confirm/ MS. I guess I should be more upset than I am, but I'm trying to think of the positives, doncha know? A handicap placard so I can get the best parking at Christmas. A tricked out walker with a bike bell and streamers in the handlebars, a basket and day-glo tennis balls. :)
Besides, I know people who are going through a lot worse than I am. Heck, my own youngest daughter has to go through some major stuff every day and she (rarely) complains. She's like my idol when it comes to weathering the storm of medical issues.
So, this is where the story pauses for today. I'm taking some neurontin for the nerve pain, although it's not that great. Oh, I am also severely anemic, too. So doubling up on the iron pills to try and combat that. I'm hoping to hear back from the neurologist today to find out when I can see him. I guess I'll keep this updated on that.
Let's go back some. Last year, and it might have well been the year before, since I can't ever recall these things, I started to have this horrible "pins and needles" sensation on my lower legs. My right leg tapered off pretty quickly, but the left one was persistent. And along with this sensation was also this not-to-be-ignored itching. Pretty soon, my left lower leg looked like I had been loved by a cat, and the top of my foot was a bloody mess as well. By the time this all tapered off, I ended up with scars on the top of the foot, where the itching had been the worse. Odd, right? Went to the doc, but without insurance, really couldn't follow up.
Moving forward. The pins-and-needles sensation never really went away totally in the left leg, but just diminished to something I could actually ignore. It really only made itself known when I was shaving my legs or wearing jeans. And life goes merrily on.
Now, we're in the first part of 2012. I start experiencing the pins-and-needles sensation in my left arm. My hand. My side. It gets stronger in the lower leg. My neck, back of my head, my scalp, my /ear/. It's increasing in intensity each day it seems, and now comes the itching. And it /hurts/ to itch. Various comparisons come to mind to describe it. Ever had a bad sunburn, and an itch as well? And scratch it? Know that burning sensation that just lingers? Yeah, like that constantly on the scalp.
Well, fortunately, I'm employed by now and have insurance, and so I call the primary care doc to make an appointment for her to see me later in the week. Long story short is that she sends me to the ER and four hours later I'm seen by the ER doc who does all this oral history and checks and then suggests I get an MRI to rule out MS.
Let's just skip over all the frustration of trying to schedule the MRI and say that we got that done Monday. Results are in. They did find something abnormal, and I am waiting for an appointment with a neurologist to /confirm/ MS. I guess I should be more upset than I am, but I'm trying to think of the positives, doncha know? A handicap placard so I can get the best parking at Christmas. A tricked out walker with a bike bell and streamers in the handlebars, a basket and day-glo tennis balls. :)
Besides, I know people who are going through a lot worse than I am. Heck, my own youngest daughter has to go through some major stuff every day and she (rarely) complains. She's like my idol when it comes to weathering the storm of medical issues.
So, this is where the story pauses for today. I'm taking some neurontin for the nerve pain, although it's not that great. Oh, I am also severely anemic, too. So doubling up on the iron pills to try and combat that. I'm hoping to hear back from the neurologist today to find out when I can see him. I guess I'll keep this updated on that.