Another Mini Update

I wish this post had something to do with this little photo of my desk...but it doesn't.

So I'm off to see another specialist again today (this one is a general surgeon for the very painful Ganglion Cyst in my wrist).  I am sorry to say that doctor visits are not one of those things that gets easier with practice.  My last visit (last Thursday) restored my fear in needles when I was fiendishly jabbed at by a nurse who was clearly fresh out of medical school and had the bedside manner of a warthog.  If nothing else, at least I am learning how to really appreciate the time NOT spent in medical facilities.  That's good, right?!

Then coming up next week I have an appointment with a Pulmonologist (lung specialist).  Even though I'm anxious about it, I am relieved to finally have the referral to see him.  I feel like I've been waiting for answers to my health issues for way too long.  And even though I really like my general doctor I was beginning to get very frustrated with her, since it seemed that at every visit she would inevitably shove a depression screening test at me as though my struggle to breath, coughing spasms, chest pains, etc. were all in my head.  But finally this past visit I feel like she actually listened to me, and now I'm hopefully on my way to finding some real answers. 

On top of this, I've also been seeing a naturopathic doctor who I feel is really doing a lot for me.  In all honesty I'm a bit put off by holistic medicine in general (since I've seen my mom try just about every remedy, supplement, and gadget under the sun with only moderate results along the way). But something about this doctor is different and I'm willing to keep seeing her since it is clear that she is actually helping me.  Something that works...what a novel idea!

And finally...since I last reported on my health I have once again stopped eating chicken.  I ate it around 10 times and didn't notice any positive changes...in fact I started to have almost constant stomach aches, heartburn, and my face began breaking-out like I was 12 all over again.  Time to nip that one in the bud.  I don't miss not eating it at all, but I am missing how easy it was to find recipes to cook.  Sometimes vegetarian cooking makes me tired just thinking about it.

So none of this is simple or easy, but I am hopeful that we are finally getting somewhere and I'll have answers and solutions on my horizon very soon.  Thanks for all your friendly words of support and kindness everyone.  You all keep me going more than you know.  xo Ez

A Mini Update

Hello lovelies!  As you know my recent health has not been so great, and now with what seems like endless medical tests behind me (MRI, EKG, blood work, etc) I can finally give you a little update on what we've discovered.

To start with, I was given some scary diagnosis from doctors in the past...things like "spot on your lung", "degenerative bone disease", and more.  That compiled with some recent frightening heart/chest pain symptoms, breathing difficulty, coughing, constantly aching bones, and extreme fatigue (I was napping multiple hours every day - so unlike me) had me really worried.  Honestly we still don't know exactly what is causing all my symptoms, but two causes we know for (almost) sure...I have an extreme Vitamin D deficiency (causes bone pain and fatigue) and they have just begun to experimentally treat me for Asthma (I go back to the doctor in a few weeks so she can read my Peak Flow Meter readings, etc. - I currently have about half the lung capacity that I should).  Two weeks ago I began taking a prescription dose of Vitamin D and already feel a decrease in my bone pain and my energy level has improved quite a bit (woo hoo).  Here is an interesting article on the frequency of Vitamin D deficiencies in women that you might like to read.

Luckily the tests that I underwent were also able to rule out my past diagnosis of Degenerative Bone Disease as well as the "spot on my lung" which we were terrified by.  I will be hooked up to a heart monitor (starting today) to record its activity over the next month and am also scheduled to have an ultrasound of my heart just to rule out any further problems there (I had an irregular EKG a few weeks ago) but my cardiologist seems to think that all will be okay on that front...which is fantastic.

So now I will just be taking an inhaler every day, dosing myself with mega amounts of vitamin D and looking forward to breathing easier and feeling peppier in the near future.  I feel silly for all the worry I caused my family, friends and you all.  Thank you all for your kind words of support in the midst of it all.  xo Ez