Looking forward to 2009!

I went in to see Doctor C, a Cardiologist. We wanted to be sure my symptoms weren't heart/circulation related.

Doctor C is the Cardiologist that diagnosed Joni with Pericarditis several years ago. Joni did not like him and switched Cardiologists after the first visit. He had been fairly sexist and condescending. That does not work for Joni. Nor should it. Joni is a great advocate to have. She knows how to ask the right questions and comes across as very knowledgable. Most doctors seem to respect and appreciate that. And it certainly helps in the whole recovery process.

After a few questions and a brief examination with Doctor C, he asked why I was seeing a Cardiologist. There really wasn't anything to indicate heart problems. I told he we just wanted to rule it out. He looked at the symptoms and suggested possible sleep apnea. I rolled my eyes but agreed to a sleep study.

After another battle with health insurance I was able to get in before the end of the year (December 30). My deductible starts over at the beginning of the year and at $1800 just to rule it out I wasn't willing to pay that. So I was very grateful to Missoula Sleep Medicine for getting me in at such short notice.

So I had a $1800 slumber party last night. What a miserable night! They hooked me up to a ton of wires and tubes from head to toes (literally) using massive amounts of sticky goo and tape. Despite the mega adhesive they used, I couldn't move without pulling wires off. They wanted me to sleep on my back. I NEVER sleep on my back. They turn out the lights and then suddenly through an intercom I hear, "Okay. SLEEP!"

RIGHT!!! Didn't happen. I think I may have gotten a total of 3 minutes sleep in 5 second intervals the entire night. I doubt they'll be able to determine anything from that. Just one more adventure out of the way!

I have managed to gain a bunch of weight in the past few months. I weighed in at 235, 10 pounds more than I've ever weighed.

2009 WILL be better!

Bitter Relief!

Well, I got the results back on the MRI. I had prepared myself for some sort of diagnosis...and, in fact, was looking forward to a diagnosis, no mater what it may be. NOTHING! No tumor. No MS. No aneurysm. It's strange feeling relieved and pissed off at the same time.

Next step...appointments with a Cardiologist and a Neurologist.

Waiting Game!

Okay. The MRI is over. Now comes the waiting. Tumor? Aneurysm? MS? Or just my frickin' imagination?

I have to admit that the MRI process was a bit more intimidating than I expected. I spent a total of probably 60-80 minutes INSIDE the tube itself. After removing any metal objects from my person, they laid me down on this narrow table and strapped my head into a frame that kept my head still. They topped it off my taping my head to the frame to lessen any chance of moving while in the tube. The woman tech told me not to move the entire time I was in the tube. "If your toes are moving, your head is moving." She told me the machine is incredibly loud and handed me some ear plugs. In I went.

Before the procedure they offered some Valium if I had a driver with me. I didn't so I opted out. But I wasn't worried. I wasn't claustrophobic at all. Well, come to find out, I can be claustrophobic if I'm not careful. At one point, at about the 30 minute mark, my mind started predicting the future. What happens IF I do have a tumor? What about work? How do I pay the bills? What if I die? Suddenly I realized I was trapped inside a screaming machine with no way out. I could feel my body starting to panic. I was on the verge of wanting to scream, "let me the hell out of here!" But somehow I was able to talk myself down and before I knew it I was dreaming of laying out on a nice, hot beach somewhere in the Bahamas. All was good.

At one point they brought me out of the tube and injected some radioactive dye into my bloodstream. After 5 minutes the machine sucked me back in for another 20 minutes of so. Before I knew it was over. They pulled the frame off my head and told me I was free to go. Just like that.

On my way out I started to ask one of the techs when I would get the results. Being the number one asked question, I figured, he answered before I got the word "how" out. He said either late this afternoon or tomorrow sometime. I thanked him and stumbled out to my car.

No word as of 8:30 PM. Let's hope tomorrow has some answers!

Ah, ironically I felt better today than I have in weeks! Maybe I'm cured!