The Month of Doctors Visits

I'm really bad at updating this blog, but I promise to try to get better. But, my old computer finally died. So now it's time to work on getting my mac! I have spent much of the summer convincing my dad (my mom was already on-board) we need a pool! Actually, a pool would be very beneficial for us, mostly me and my MS, but I'll get to that later!

Anyway, at the beginning of July I went to my pain management doctor. I was supposed to go at the end of June, but for some reason I was postponed (I think it had something to due with my insurance, but wasn't 100% sure about that). I got the botox injections, which was 20% more botox than the last time I had it done. The first week after the injections I was amazed!!! It helped A LOT, we made a trip to Gulfport to visit a good friend and went to the outlet mall. I was able to walk around most of the mall without hardly any pain. But, over the past few weeks the pain is slowly coming back. I think that was always my fear though, the botox lasts 3 months, but it doesn't just stop working over night. As it wears off the muscles become tighter. So, we'll see how it goes, my next Botox appointment will be at the end of October.

Then, I had my appointment with my neurologist. It wasn't a big appointment, just a general check-up because I haven't had an MRI or any other major tests since January. I went in assuming we'd just see how my neurological tests went and see if there was any changes. (For those who haven't been through the neurological tests, it's basically checking all my reflexes, timing how fast I walk, measuring sensation in my feet, my ability to move my hands/fingers/eyes, and small things like that). Anyway, my arm reflexes are fairly normal, but when they hit my knee my leg kicks up fairly high. This isn't anything new, BUT afterward my doctor mentioned that since I started seeing her (which was in February 2011), she has been seeing more and more patients with similar symptoms as me. She said some of my reflexes, walk times, and sensation tests are similar to those of someone who may have had spinal cord injuries. Then, she said she's pretty sure that my pain is coming from having very tight muscles. After feeling those in my back and my left leg they are both fairly tight. That diagnosis would make a lot of sense it also makes me hopeful that they get the right dosage of botox it would truly help!

It turns out that the appointment I felt would just be a general check up with information I already knew was pretty informative! Plus, it came up that I was working on getting a pool and she thinks it's a GREAT IDEA! Exercise is important with MS, but with the heat of the summer it's hard to do too much outside. For some unknown reason, heat makes MS symptoms intensified, so of course doing anything where I get too hot gets to be too much. It only took a few times getting overheated and feeling like crap to reevaluate going outside and getting overheated. But, a pool is the PERFECT answer! I can sit in the sun, which helps my back because the sun relaxes this muscles, BUT then before I get too hot I can get in the water and cool off. The pool doesn't just offer a way to cool off but also a good place to exercise. In the water there's no resistance so it makes exercise easier and less painful. Anyway, with some convincing and making a few deals (which if you know me, you know I am always trying to make a deal!!!) I think I've gotten my dad as excited as I am!!!

Then I went to the hematologist/oncologist, which it turns out that most oncologist are hematologist. I have been going to her since about the same time I switched neurologist because my blood work came back SUPER bad! Anyway, she checks virtually everything including my vitamin D, vitamin b12, and iron. Luckily, my iron has been fairly stable so I don't have to have infusions yet. It's still on the low side, maybe even a little below the "safe" zone, but iron pills are very hard to take/digest without a bunch of side effects. My vitamin b12 has been low since day 1, but we have decided that I have to start doing injections twice a month. Over the past year and a half I have been one various vitamin b12 regimens from daily, to weekly, to monthly, and then twice monthly, and back to monthly. It turns out that in order to keep my levels up I have to do it at least twice a month! It sucks, but I do it myself so twice a month I take two injections instead of just one.

The best news of all is that I'm graduating from seeing doctors every 4-6 weeks, to every 2-3 months, and now I go every 3-4 months with most of my doctors! I know for most people going that often seems unheard of, but in the Spring of 2011 I was going to the doctor almost every week, different doctors, but doctors none the less. Even though I know I didn't do too much, I feel accomplished only going to see them 3-4 months. The main issue is the doctors I see the most often all fall in the same time period so in October/November I'll get to do this all over again.