Well first, New Moon Blessings and Happy (almost) Yule!
So what's new?
After two separate MRIs of my spine Upper/Mid (cervical/thoracic) and Lumbar/Sacral I still have no answers of why things hurt, tingle, feel numb, weak, etc. Nothing is glaringly obvious. No pinched nerves or anything requiring surgery. At that point, the spine specialist saw no reason to keep me coming back and released me from her care. Though, if things got worse or new things cropped up I could come back.
In June I was finally referred to cardiology. Adjusting my thyroid meds did nothing to alleviate the palpitations and flutters I kept having. Anxiety at times felt like it was through the roof too.
In July, before even seeing me I was given a 14 day heart monitor to wear. It was quite the fashion statement <cheeky grin>. Wearing it in the heat was getting quite unbearable at the end and I couldn't wait to take it off. It made showering a challenge as well. I didn't always click it but it also said that I didn't have to, whether I did or not things would get recorded. Clicking it just was kind of a marker for them to look at.
There as a lot of unnecessary fiasco around getting into see the doctor. I got one appointment, then I got called to schedule an appointment. When I asked about me original one, it apparently did not exist. It vanished. Then the day before my appointment, I get a text reminder. And 15 minutes later, an irate employee that claimed to be "the only who schedules these appoints" even though I have talked to no less than 3 people prior already...insisted that there was absolutely no reason why I had to see the "actual doctor". He was like based on your results blah blah blah. To which I told him I don't even know what my results are. He response was "oh you JUST have tachycardia" so you don't need to see the cardiologist you're fine seeing a PA. I was so shocked, stunned, bewildered, flustered... that I didn't know how to respond. He basically bullied me into agreeing to the new appointment because he made it sound like I had no choice.
I can advocate my ass off for anyone else. But when it comes to doing it for me, I get so anxious and scared that I can't find my words.
I finally get in to see the PA (a week later). And he is so focused on my dental issues and kept asking if I was sure I didn't do drugs. Dude...I don't fucking do drugs. Him: but are you sure, because dental issues like yours are indicative.... Me: NO! I don't do drugs. Never have, never will. My issues are hereditary, health related, and I'm terrified of the dentist. Just talking about it is cause my anxiety to escalate. He apologized but you could still see the suspicion/doubt.
Then he asks me about what kind of work have I done. Do I work now, why not? Would it be more prudent to me and make my life better if I went and got a job? Are you in contact with your kids? (PS He noted this shit in my chart! Never even let me finish telling what kind of work I did in the past so it just says I worked fast food. He'd ask me something and cut me off mid answer.)
Well Mr. PA sir, I worked in more than just fast food. I wasn't just a burger flipper. AND I full intend to enlighten him if I see him again. He asked me if I had a college education. WTF does this have to do with my heart???
After running a couple of tests in the office, his assessment is POTS. Gave me a very clinic handout. Something I would expect to read if I was in med school. Told me to go home, limit my stress, do exercise, increase my water and salt intake and come back in three months. WTF? All very generic answers. OH and to start wearing compression wear. There was no, hey look add this much salt, try drinking xx amount of water/fluids a day, look into these exercises...NOTHING. I told him I do have Fibro and exercise intolerance and he just says well do what you can within reason. ????? Is it so hard to give suggestions or recommendations?
I talked with my primary a week later and expressed my concerns and confusion with her. She told me had to ask about the drugs because they get all kinds of people. Okay, fine, I get that...but REPEATEDLY!!!??? She told me to just walk more for exercise, drink more water and add a bit of salt to each meal. Funny thing is, when I asked her if it might be POTS, she dismissed me and questions. But I tell her what this guy says and she's all "oh it's POTS." Like did you know all this time?
I'm supposed to see this guy again next month. I just don't know. She said if it's POTS he can manage it, but I'm just not sure about him. I don't know what to do. I don't feel very confident about him, not sure if I'm comfortable with him either. He mentioned doing an ECHO and a stress test, then decided to wait until the three month visit. But surprise, he went and ordered the ECHO anyway. To which someone put on my file something about THYMOMA. When I asked the nurse about when he called me to tell me the results, he had no idea why it was there or who charted it like that. Told me to not worry about it for now since I've never had any surgeries or anything.
When I think back over the years the symptoms have been there for a long time, just like Fibro. With the POTS though, I think having had "that virus" last year sent it into overdrive and really made it come out. At least now though I have confirmation.
Reduce my stress...HA! That's a joke. Besides being impossible.
