Been to the Physiatrist and I’m Still Very Busy
I saw the Physiatrist yesterday. He’s the doctor who had to review my records before he would agree to even see me. As it turns out, oddly enough, he is the person who did my original EMG and Nerve Velocity Tests.
I was extremely pleased that he did a complete checkup, rather than just asking about my neck. He went through a complete neurological exam, but didn’t venture much as to what he thought was wrong, other than to say Dr. Watts was the one who would be able to say what is going on. He did say he was sure I had some kind of Movement Disorder, but he didn’t think it was Parkinson’s, either.
He went over some options for the neck pain that has persisted since November. We agreed to try the least possible first, particularly since I will see Dr. Watts in less than three weeks. It’s hard to imagine that something I’ve waited so long for is almost here! Anyway, the Physiatrist gave me a prescription for Lidoderm patches that I cut and apply to the trigger points of this pain. They are basically Novacaine that goes through the skin to the muscle. He felt like I would not have any stomach problems by doing it that way.
I put half on the top of my shoulder near the neck and the other half just below the shoulder blade, next to the spine. Those are the spots that really scream if I sit or stand unsupported for very long. Even the time to wash a full sink of dishes or eat a meal at the table is usually enough to set it off, and sitting on the church pews has been very uncomfortable.
I felt a little bit light headed soon after putting the patch on, but that could have been for any number of reasons, as I had not eaten breakfast yet. I am hurting now, but maybe not as bad as usual. Obviously, one day’s use can’t calm down this spasm, so I will just have to see how I do. The prescription is for 3 months worth, and thank goodness I have Medicare and good insurance, as it was listed at over $500!
I’ve been going around in circles lately trying to get a whole lot of things accomplished all at once, and not getting much finished at all. We have started on our taxes, but there are some parts that I must work on before the exact number can go in the form. I’ve been doing them with software for years, but this time my hubby sat down next to me and we went over each part together. That helped me stay calm, plus he needs to know how it’s done.
I’m also trying really hard to get as many of our toys in our online catalog as I possibly can, and I have run into several road blocks I had not anticipated. I had to learn how to use a Shopping Cart program, upload and download files to Google and our ISP to make a searchable data base, and I have been driven half crazy trying to get the catalog to show up properly in Google Base. OK, I know if you are not using the programs yourself that was just a bunch of gobbledygook – but they were very confusing to me, too, and I am definitely not learning new things as quickly as I once did.
I’ve had printer problems and had to buy a new one yesterday, so I couldn’t mail out some orders today, because I hadn’t figured out how to set up the network part of it. That actually worked pretty well, once I did understand the directions, and it even has an answering machine and fax included in it! I feel like I have my own home office now.
Our Search Service is keeping me extremely busy, too, and we have made a few sales from it, as well as helping several very happy parents find the lovie they needed, whether we made the sale or someone else did. I am pretty much caught up with answering the initial request, but I am miserably behind at getting the ones I could not find turned into blog posts.
I feel bad about that, as some of these parents sound so desperate, but hubby is still computer phobic, and that leaves this part of the business entirely up to me. He’s great at scouring the yard sales and thrift stores several times a week when he goes out on his own, and we thoroughly enjoy our Friday Date Day, and he helps a lot with the packing. He takes everything to the Post Office, too, and he has a lot of input about how to do the business side of selling. He just doesn’t want anything to do with the computer part.
Well, enough about all that. It just goes to show that I am staying busy with lots of different parts of my life – and our messy house proves it. Something had to give – so…..
Hopefully it won’t be so long before I post again.
Rosemary, good to hear you have a phychiatrist who take the job seriously.
I hope one of these days you have a relation and find out what is wrong with your body.
Carolyn/finestitcher
DB, I would be completely overwhelmed with all the things you do!
I hope the new medication is helping by now, and that the awful spasms are lessening.
Time is flying by,and you will be at your specialist’s before you know it.
I’ll be thinking of you!
I agree, Marion. I don’t think my feelings of being overwhelmed have anything to do with whatever the neurological problem is. I have taken a serious look at all my different “pies” and decided to turn over BLOG VILLAGE to someone else. Hopefully, that will help.
Thanks, Joe. I just needed to decide which online activities were the most important to me time wise, and as much as I hate to give up a community I started, the Village just takes up too much time. Besides, if I am not administering, I might have time to actually visit the blogs I want to!
DB, sorry to hear you are turning over blog village, but I thoroughly understand. I continue to read your posts, and like everyone else, I wish you well.
I guess I am confused at why a phyciatrist instead of a neurologist would do nerve velocity tests? But hey, since he seems to know what is what and has options for pain, who cares.
Keeping up with an online business is very difficult and I know the drowning feeling just getting a few days behind can produce. I was just trying to sell stuff on ebay and that was enough of a headache at times (not having to incorporate programs like you are) – but I wish you great success on it, and am glad you don’t have parkinson’s but also wish you did know what you had so you could move on from the tests and into working treatment.
It’s not misspelled, Elizabeth. A Physiatrist is a doctor who specializes in treating problems that can be helped with exercise, rehab, pain meds, etc. It’s related to the word physical. Who knows, before this is over I may be seeing a psychiatrist!! LOL!!
Hello DB,
good to read about you again.
Don’t feel sorry if you can’t post as much as you’d like.
Follow your rhythm, go on step by step.
Don’t let PD stop you.
Keep going
Saludos
Hi Arcadian! I’m trying really hard to drop what I can and make better use of my time. Whatever neurological problem I have is called – I don’t intend to give in to it!!!!