Day 124 - Answers
Today was my long awaited drs appt with the hypermobility specialist at University of Washington. First, he was a super nice guy and that was great because, well, you really never know with drs - some can be total idiots.
The doctor totally did the whole run down of history, exam and even asked questions to just get to know me better. The verdict was that I do have joint hypermobility disorder or syndrome or whatever you want to call it. It's not benign though and it's not Ehlers-Danlos.
Basically, Ehlers-Danlos would mean that I have some of the other classic symptoms as well, like fluctuations in blood pressure, spreading scars and stretchy skin - none of which I have.
His advice for the hypermobility is to start taking a high dose of vitamin c which is a key component in helping to make stabilizing compounds in the joints. It won't work over night but, in a couple months, I might feel more stable.
He also said keep up with the physical therapy. And that it should be and will be slow going. I should be doing exercise no more than three times a week right now. He also really encouraged swimming, particularly backstroke which can help stabilize my shoulders in the correct way.
The other thing he told me to do was basically try and stay stress-free and take time out for myself. Ethan explained it as a zen like approach to healing. I'm glad Ethan was there to hear all that.
So, I guess I'm getting a gym membership so that I can swim but my whole goal is really to get on a bike. I'm hoping to buy a spinner bike for Christmas. I know I need to get out of the house and do something active, swimming just seems like so much work to have to drive some where and get wet and blah, blah, blah.
The doctor totally did the whole run down of history, exam and even asked questions to just get to know me better. The verdict was that I do have joint hypermobility disorder or syndrome or whatever you want to call it. It's not benign though and it's not Ehlers-Danlos.
Basically, Ehlers-Danlos would mean that I have some of the other classic symptoms as well, like fluctuations in blood pressure, spreading scars and stretchy skin - none of which I have.
His advice for the hypermobility is to start taking a high dose of vitamin c which is a key component in helping to make stabilizing compounds in the joints. It won't work over night but, in a couple months, I might feel more stable.
He also said keep up with the physical therapy. And that it should be and will be slow going. I should be doing exercise no more than three times a week right now. He also really encouraged swimming, particularly backstroke which can help stabilize my shoulders in the correct way.
The other thing he told me to do was basically try and stay stress-free and take time out for myself. Ethan explained it as a zen like approach to healing. I'm glad Ethan was there to hear all that.
So, I guess I'm getting a gym membership so that I can swim but my whole goal is really to get on a bike. I'm hoping to buy a spinner bike for Christmas. I know I need to get out of the house and do something active, swimming just seems like so much work to have to drive some where and get wet and blah, blah, blah.