Lets see, I stopped the trip and got a job at Five9 and with the new insurance I wanted to get my arthritis under control so I started to go back to Kaier. To make a very long story short I changed doctors and went to a new GP who was finally able to listen to my concerns and not push them off to Old Age or arthritis. She sent me to a spine specelist is Martinez who ordered x-rays and MRIs. Results were in ... it wasnt just old age or arthritis I had fractured my spine dureing one of my accidents, either the horse accident or the car accident. What do you know I was right there was more going on than simple age related issues or arthritis. They decided to do a block to help with the pain with the fracture and unfortunately the block was able to stop the pain but did not stop other issues I was experiencing like tripping and being off balance.
So another MRI this time of my neck to see if there was a pinched nerve in my neck and this MRI opened another can or worms....it had signs of Multiple Schlerosis. I was in shock to say the least. They referred me from the spine clenic to a Neurologist who ordered more tests to confirm her suspecions. The brain MRI showed more signes so she ordered a whole bunch of blood work and a spinal tap.
All tests confirmed Multiple Sclerosis. Unknown what causes it and no cure. To say the least I was really really pissed. What have I done to deserve this? I have always been a great mother and a hard worker. I thought I had paid all my dues in life but there I was hearing the diagnosis and thinking to myself they had the wrong person.
They didnt and it has been a rollercoaster ever since. It started with a leak in my spinal fluid afer the tap. Did you know that your brain floats in fluid and when it leaks out it just kind of bangs around in your knoggen and it really hurts. This was my 1st experience with a migrane headache. It lasted almost 3 days and I couldnt take it anymore and went to the emergency room. They said they had to do an emergency blood patch to stop the leak. I will save all of the nasty details but in short it was not pleasent. This episode with all of the stress and pain sent me into my very 1st MS relaps.
I remember thinking that I must be having a stroak or something because my right leg and had were not working right. My leg dragged and my hand was not fully functional. Additionally I was skipping time in my head, loosing words and not being able to find what I wanted to say. They treated me with a steroid treatment and I was 75 percent over these symptoms within a week. Then the fatigue set in and I found it very hard to concentrate and stay awake.
One month later relaps number 2 hit and this one scared me more than anything ever has in my life. I got up about 6am and took the dogs out and went back to bed for a few minutes. When my alarm went off I looked toward the right where my phone was and the entire room swooped around. I tried to sit up and the room kept moving and I immediately started to throw up. I couldnt stop the vertigo and I couldnt stop getting sick. I remember thinking to myself what if this does not stop? Is this what the rest of my life is going to be like? Can I live with this? My daughter got me into the living room into a recliner and I found one position that there was no vertigo. I sat in that same spot for 3 days before the vertigo subsided enough that I could walk along the walls of the house from room to room. The doc said no more steriods this soon so I would just have to wait this out. It slowley went away enough that I could function enough to shower and dress and walk a few feet unassisted.
One month later I started to get a very frequent electrical shock pain in my right cheek. It got so intense i couldnt think clearly. My neurol0gist said yet another symptom of MS and gave me a Med they give to people that have epilepsi. this immediately made me sick and a dog and make my right side weak and dragging again. But the paid stopped LOL so I backed down the meds and started even slower than perscribed, This seemed to work and i am getting stronger and stonger on my right side.
Now back to the back pain, they told me it looks like nerve paid from the injury and "most likey" not MS related but I did have spinal leasions fromt he MS so could be. So the Block did not work so now I am back to the spinal cleanic to get RFA which is a nice way to say they went in and Burned the Nerves in my back.
I am hopeful although they said it can take two weeks for it to show success. So unfortunately the stress from the procedure led me to a setback with my MS. I felt like I was getting stronger but I am back to where I was a month ago.
I am off work until at least June but I cant ever see being able to hold down a job at this time in my life. I am afraid to drive because of my vertigo and dizzyness, I am afraid to be alone outside because I am afraid to fall. This pretty much sucks........and to top it all off Brodie died about a month ago. Old age stuff but it still hurts.
So as a happy Birthday to me and to try to get myself out of this damn funk I have been in for months ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I bought a puppy. This is Izzy a blue merle Mini Australian Shepherd that is him at the top left
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