Category Archives: Tests

Pain after Allergy Testing

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Pain after Allergy Testing

You wouldn’t expect to be in pain after having allergy testing, but this last week has been terrible for me. I didn’t have one bit of trouble with my skin from the testing. I didn’t even itch afterwards.

The pain is coming from my neck. It’s as bad as it was before I had the cervical fusion surgery. My muscles are all jangled and spasming all the way down to my waist. Anything that requires lifting my head above eye level even the slightest is extremely painful. And I have a constant burning and throbbing at the back of my head. Turning left or right is not fun, either.

So how did this happen from allergy testing? I had to lie very still on my stomach on a hard and narrow procedure table with no good way to get my head comfortable. She lowered the head section as much as she could, and I had my forehead on it. There was no place for me to rest my arms, so I kind of held onto the sides of the table. By the time the testing was over after maybe 20 minutes like that my neck and shoulders were terribly fatigued and painful.

Pain Meds

I’m off Goody Powders or even plain aspirin in preparation for having more sinus and septum surgery, so I’ve had to use my Methacarbamol to try to relax my muscles. I was in so much pain Sunday after sitting in the pew Sunday morning that I took a Lortab I had left over from my last surgery. Obviously I can’t do that on a regular basis. So I’ve been supporting my neck with the gel U shaped pillow I use in the car and also sleeping on a hot pad.

Yucky

I’ve not been very clear thinking at all thanks to my pain level. And the yucky sinus discharge and blocked tear duct aren’t making me feel any better, either. It seems like everything my body needs to do ends up being harder than it should be. I blame it on my age and the MITO that makes my cells not work as efficiently as they should. It’s very depressing. I thank God that I have Him to help me through all this.

CT Scan and Allergy Testing

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CT Scan

I saw my new ENT Thursday. He has read through the reports from my old ENT. And he wants me to have another head CT scan to see what my sinuses look like now. Last one was in October, before I had the FESS sinus surgery. As soon as insurance approves, I will have the CT scan and allergy testing.

Allergy Testing

He thinks I’m still dealing with infection, as well as allergies. So he scheduled me to have allergy testing in two weeks. He took me off of all antibiotics, steroids, and antihistamines until after the allergy testing. It took just one day for my tear duct to puff back up when I stopped the antibiotic eye drops. It’s not painfully hard the way it was, but it’s noticeably swollen. And that means a lot of my tears are coming out of the eye, instead down into my nose.

Praying No More Surgery

He also mentioned the possibility of having Balloon Sinuplasty done. Hopefully the CT scan will not indicate a need for that. I didn’t tell him just how much I’m hoping I don’t have anything else like surgery done. The thought really scares me, considering how gross the recovery was for the FESS surgery. No need to say anything until the CT scan results are back. But of course I’ve been researching the Balloon Sinuplasty surgery.

I’m praying that dealing with my allergies will be sufficient to stop this long term sinus problem. I’ve been plagued with thick post nasal drip for well over a year now. I’ve been hoarse from all the drainage for months. And really, I’ve had sinus infections that were hard to get rid of for many years. That’s part of the reason why I’ve been sleeping in a recliner for many, many years. Between my lower back, my neck, and my sinuses – lying flat is just not an option for me.

Sneezing

I sneezed so hard and so many times a few days ago that I’ve aggravated my neck. The fused vertebrae really are complaining about the whiplash effect of those hard sneezes. So I’ve been taking Goody Powders until lunch time and Methacarbamol muscle relaxer later in the day. I’m also sleeping on a hot pad again. And when I have enough warning, I’m holding the back of my neck when I sneeze.

MITO?

It’s always hard to know what, if any, of my medical issues are MITO related. I do know for sure that it took my mucous membranes longer to heal properly from the FESS surgery. And I know that when I don’t feel well I REALLY don’t feel well. Everything seems to hit me harder than most people. I’m what people used to call “puny”.

So I’ll put up with the worsened allergy symptoms while I flush all the meds out of my system. If I’m not clear of antihistamines, antibiotics, and steroids when I have the allergy testing done – the results won’t be accurate. I’ll do what I can to keep my sinuses clear with the neti pot, and I’ll continue to pray for healing.

God is the true Healer – doctors only work for Him!

 

Earning my Medical Degree

Day by Day with a Movement Disorder Posted on by 4

I decided that the only way I was going to be able to get an accurate picture of what nutrients and supplements I was taking was to get out all the bottles and make a spreadsheet of each and every nutrient in them, with the amount of each vitamin, mineral, enzyme, etc., they contained.

That task took me a couple of weeks, because I kept getting confused by all the various ways different bottles displayed their contents. But I finally finished it, and I now know how much each pill costs me a day, how long a bottle lasts, and exactly what the total is for each supplement. I found one, D3, that I felt sure I was getting too much of, so until I can see a Nutritionist, I’ve cut that dose down considerably.

I’ve asked every medical doctor I’ve seen in the last month or so if they could refer me to a Nutritionist, with very little help in that direction. I saw my Neuro last week, and he gave me a recommendation. I have an appointment with that Dr. in November. Until then I’m basing my supplement regimen on my own attempts to do research.

I feel like I’m studying for a medical degree!! And I’ve about decided I know more about Mitochondrial Myopathy than 90% of the doctors I see.

My Neuro has finally decided that it’s time to try to do something about the ongoing pain I have in my neck, down my arm, up into my head, and in the mid back under my shoulder blade. So I had an MRI Monday. The tech really did all she could to make me comfortable, but lying still on my back on a hard surface is just something I can’t do. About half way through, the nerve from my neck going past my elbow and down to my pinky finger was causing such intense pain that I started having Myoclonic jerks – all that did was make her have to repeat one of the series – and make me lie there that much longer!

I haven’t recuperated from the MRI yet. Still feel completely worn out, plus I had another doctor’s appointment yesterday to make me even more tired. I did get some blood work done there that I’m quite anxious to see the results, compared to a year ago when they were so abnormal. I had another appointment scheduled for tomorrow, but I postponed it.

The epidural is scheduled for next week, and I’m trying really hard to remain positive about it. I had epidurals many, many years ago that gave me great relief, and I’m praying for the faith that I will get relief from the ones coming up. It usually takes several to get maximum results. My fear, that I’ve not totally overcome, is that the steroid will send me into a tailspin of weakness. That has happened to me twice in the last 10 years – once when I was on Parkinson’s meds, and last year when I had massive steroids to treat Angioedema (severe swelling of the lips and face from a drug reaction). Both of those times I was barely able to gather the strength to talk, eat, or move around at all for months afterwards. I pray I don’t have that kind of problem this time.

I do intend to continue with the series of posts I started about the various supplements I take, as it helps me to think through what the benefits to me are and understand more fully the mechanism by which they work to improve my energy.

I covet your prayers over the next week, and I pray for the faith to depend on the Great Physician, who DOES understand my disease completely!!!

My Open Muscle Biopsy Experience

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I had my muscle biopsy last Thursday after what seemed like an eternity of waiting for the appointment to finally come. It turned out to be in my deltoid muscle, not my leg, which suited me just fine, considering how difficult walking is for me already. They numbed me up with Novacaine so I couldn’t feel anything, and since it was right near my shoulder I really couldn’t see what the doctor was doing, either.

The doctor, whom I had found so difficult to understand when we saw him back in October, did the biopsy, and he and I chatted quite a bit during the hour plus procedure. I’m glad he was the one who did it, because it gave me a chance to develop some rapport with him and get used to his speech. I feel MUCH better about having him as my doctor at UAB now.

I told him about how much pain my neck had been giving me since the 3 hours of lying flat during all the tests in November, and he gave me a prescription for a muscle relaxer that has helped a lot. As weak as my muscles are it never occurred to me to ask for such a prescription, but I’m glad he offered it! I’m still using the cervical collar while in the car and when I’ll be out of the house for extended periods of time, but my neck and back are definitely less painful at home.

I was pleased that he had been impressed with my complete medical history printout I gave him back in October.

We have had extensive experience as care givers for our parents, and we learned quickly that doctor’s appointments were much more productive if I brought complete and easy to read information to each appointment.

So as soon as I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s back in 2006, I started keeping a journal and also created a Word document in table form detailing all my medical history from birth to the present. Thank goodness I had copies of our life insurance application forms, or I would never have been able to resurrect all the dates of my surgeries and life events. It’s very easy to update the document with any new test results, prescriptions, drug reactions, etc. So I print out a new copy each time I go to a doctor and always give them the front sheet with the most pertinent information on it. If they need a full current copy I have that for them, too.

I had done a good bit of online research about how the biopsy would be done, but somehow I didn’t realize just how big a sample they would be taking out. I had an open biopsy, rather than a needle biopsy. He took a piece of muscle tissue from my upper arm about the size of the last knuckle of my little finger. I was able to keep my knees bent the whole time, so I didn’t end up with as much back pain as I did last time.

Since I’m diabetic I have to wait 10 days to have the stitches removed. I was sent home with antibiotics to take, as well as pain meds. And I really was in a great deal of pain, which surprised me, too. I guess if I had realized what a big hunk of me he was going to take out I would have realized I was going to be very uncomfortable. I’ve been off prescription pain meds for several days now, but still use Tylenol sometimes.

I was also surprised by how little I was able to use my arm – almost nothing at first, but still difficult even now after 8 days. I’ve pretty much lived in sweat pants now since the biopsy, even wearing them when we go out Christmas shopping. I had no choice. The first trip out after the biopsy to get a sandwich and do a small amount of shopping I didn’t stop to think and wore my elastic waist jeans, as I normally do. That was stupid, because hubby had to help me get INTO them.

Well, I had to use the restroom while we were out – and I couldn’t pull my pants down one handed! I’ve done my share of going into the bathroom with my father-in-law, who had Alzheimer’s, but this was the first time someone ever had to go in a public bathroom to help ME. Hubby helped me of course, but he understandably wasn’t comfortable being in the women’s restroom, even though we made sure it was empty. It really makes you appreciate businesses that provide Family Restrooms for situations such as this.

I was told not to lift anything heavier than a plate of food. I’ve learned to do a lot of things left handed and am gradually using my right arm more and more. Hopefully when the stitches are out and the heavy bandage is gone I will be able to quickly get full range of motion back.

As for test results – it will take 3 weeks to get that back, so we’ll just enjoy Christmas and possibly New Years before we hear the results.

This is an expensive invasive test that is not performed if there is any other way to obtain a diagnosis, but I’m glad I decided to have it done. I’ve said it many times while my diagnoses kept changing that I can deal with the Devil I know much better than I can the Unknown.

If you’ve read this far it may be because you are considering having a muscle biopsy. I pray that you get definitive results that will help your medical team provide a beneficial treatment regimen for you. And we pray for that for me as well, that the Neuromuscular Specialist will be able to determine what type of Myopathy I have. We are praying that it will be one of the types for which a treatment has been developed.

May you have a Blessed Christmas!

Test Results??

Day by Day with a Movement Disorder Posted on by 6

The Neuromuscular Specialist called the other day – 2 days after I had called his office and left a message asking for an update on the test results. He was rattling off a lot of medical terms I wasn’t familiar with, and his thick accent didn’t help in understanding what he was telling us. But from what I could understand he thinks I have Mitochondrial Myopathy, which is a genetic disorder involving DNA mutations. I questioned him about that, as it would seem logical to a lay person that if it were genetic I would have had symptoms my whole life. He said symptoms often didn’t show up until a person’s 50’s or 60’s, and my first movement disorder symptoms did show up in my late 50’s. And I was what people used to call a sickly child.

From what I’ve read it’s actually called Adult Onset Mitochondrial Myopathy. I did find a very good information source online at the UMDF, United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation . Once I joined with a free membership I was able to read quite a few helpful articles.

There’s a long list of possible symptoms associated with MITO, as it’s abbreviated, depending on which organs are affected by the gene mutations. But I do recognize myself in the list. Even the Type II Diabetes is on the list, as well as the Myoclonus.

He is scheduling me for a muscle biopsy for a more conclusive diagnosis, although even then it won’t be definitive. But I’ll feel better knowing we’d tried everything we can to pin down the diagnosis and what type of MITO I might have. I handle the Devil I Know much better than an unknown enemy. There’s just something about being able to read about the disease that helps me deal with it – even if there is no real treatment for it.

There are some articles I’ve read that suggested there are some vitamins and supplements that may help to delay the progression of the mutations, but these articles caution not to take them without medical supervision, as some can actually make variations of MITO worse, rather than delay progression.

So it’s still a waiting game, as I continue to be very weak and find walking to be difficult and slow and holding up my head very tiring and painful.

Still NO Test Results!

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Our patience has grown very thin, but there’s not much we can do about it. I went through 3 hours of neurological tests week before last, and we still haven’t heard back from the doctor. I was already having misgivings that the doctor and I had a language barrier. So this isn’t making me any more comfortable with him.

Plus, I don’t lie flat well at all. I sleep in a recliner and have for years, so that 3 hour stint flat on the exam table, under so much stress and tension, has my neck dealing me fits. I’ve been using my TENS machine and the hot pad, plus I keep a soft neck support around my neck while I am sitting. I’ve taken more pain meds in the last week than I have in a very long time. That is very ironic, since the UAB doctor kept asking me where I was hurting…and I kept telling him I wasn’t. HUH! Now I AM!!

I do have an appointment with my own Neuro next week. Unless we hear something soon, he’s going to get an earful from us about the UAB doctor!

As for my current situation – it’s very difficult for me to walk – very slow and labored, and sitting without a neck support gets very painful. I end up propping my chin up with my arm…fist under my chin.

3 Hours of Tests Today

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The Bradykinesia (slow walking) continues, so today I went to UAB in Birmingham and had a Nerve Conduction Velocity Test, a complete Jolly’s Test, and an EMG (Electromyogram). It took 3 hours to complete all the testing, and that involved some fairly uncomfortable electrical stimulation in the Nerve Conduction Test and some very uncomfortable electrical shocks during the Jolly Test. The EMG is mildly uncomfortable, but they did that last, and by then I was so stressed and tired that it was not pleasant, either.

I’ve had variations of these tests before, so at least I knew about what to expect. I’m glad I didn’t realize ahead of time that I was having the Jolly Test, as it was extremely painful last time. It still wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t as bad as it was the first time I had it done. This test was more complete than the other Jolly Test I had, testing the eyelid muscles, the neck muscles, as well as the hand and arm muscles. The NCVT was done on my right leg and arm, as was the EMG.

A technician did the NCVT and Jolly Test, but two doctors did the EMG. They said the NCVT and Jolly Test looked normal, but the EMG showed signs of polyphasia. I tried researching that, but couldn’t tell much about what that meant, and of course they didn’t elaborate. They said it would be up to the Neuromuscular Specialist to decide if I needed a muscle biopsy, based on the results of these tests.

So, we still don’t know anything, but maybe in a couple of weeks we’ll get some indication of what the specialist thinks might be going on. We sure hope so.

The Long Awaited Appointment

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We’ve waited several months for an appointment to see the Neuromuscular Specialist at UAB, and I finally saw him Friday. We had spent the better part of a week going from doctor to doctor collecting every medical record we could to either FAX to them or bring with us. I had updated all my own medical history information that I keep on my computer and took that with me, too. All the paperwork made a stack over an inch high.

The doctor was very pleasant, but his English was difficult to understand, and at times I think he was having difficulty understanding me. He asked a lot of questions, did a very brief test of muscle strength, walking, and balance abilities. He gave me a prescription for Lyrica, which he said would help with the muscle weakness and fatigue. And he ordered an EMG. That’s the test where they put needles in your legs and measure the electrical signal between the needles to see if the muscles are working properly. I’ve had that test done twice – one was abnormal and one was normal – but that was some years ago. He also mentioned I might need a muscle biopsy. 

And that was it.

We left feeling like nothing had been accomplished. I have to wait on them to mail me the appointment time for the EMG, so I don’t know how long it will be before that’s done. And the doctor’s office won’t decide when to see me again until the EMG has been analyzed, so that’s up in the air, too.

And now I’m taking the Lyrica, which is leaving me so looped that you would think I was drunk! I’ll give it a few more days to see if these initial side effects wear off, but there’s no way I can take it if this continues. It’s an anti-seizure medicine, just as my Primidone was, but I’m not having the Myoclonic jerks any more. I told the doctor that several times, but each time he would say that it would help with the weakness and fatigue. 

I wish I could say I had confidence in him at this time, but I don’t right now. Very frustrating, as I’m sure he’s a top notch doctor – he wouldn’t be at UAB if he weren’t. It’s the language situation that makes me feel doubtful. 

So I continue to walk slowly and awkwardly, and now I’m drunk to boot! LOL!! And disappointed, although I knew they would want to do more tests – they always do. It’s just been a long year of doctor visits and tests and more tests, and we’re no closer to finding out what’s going on with me than we were back in April.

I Know Lots of Ailments I DON’T Have!

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Since all this weakness started in March I’ve been tested for just about everything you can think of. I’ve been tested for Myasthenia Gravis, Hemochromatosis; Lyme Disease; Thyroid problems, including an Ultrasound of my thyroid; had a Liver Ultrasound and a Biopsy; and had an Echo-cardiogram, an ABI to test for circulation in my legs, and a Nuclear Stress Test. All these tests came back with a clean bill of health.

We are very thankful that so many of the really scary possibilities have been eliminated.

But I’m not through with the testing yet, as my liver enzymes continue to be high, and the Creatine Kinase test I’ve had twice now shows elevated MB enzymes. That’s why I had a complete cardiac workup. I have read online that neuromuscular disorders can cause high MB results, not just damaged heart muscle, but my Cardiologist wanted to rule out any heart involvement.

I told the Cardiologist I really didn’t think it was my heart, but I’ll admit that hubby and I were both very relieved when the results came back OK yesterday.

So now I wait for my October appointment with the Neuromuscular super specialist at UAB. We’re busy collecting all the test results and CD’s from the various tests I’ve had over the last few months.And I’ve been keeping a diary, too. These specialists are very difficult to get to see, and I want to be sure the appointment is as productive as possible.

I still don’t walk very well, and I tire out very easily, but the Essential Myoclonus continues to be basically nonexistent. So we’re praying that the UAB specialist will be able to pinpoint the problem and help us deal with it.

Still Being Poked, but Optimistic

Day by Day with a Movement Disorder Posted on by 4

Well, I was hoping to wait until I had something definite to add, but it looks like that’s not going to happen any time soon. Since I’ve written last I’ve had two more sets of liver enzyme tests with varying results, but still high. I’ve been to the Endocrinologist, and he’s run all the thyroid tests again and done an ultrasound of my thyroid.  He is satisfied that all is normal there. The liver biopsy results came back normal. So far so good.

But, I asked at my last Gastro visit if muscle atrophy could cause the liver enzyme numbers to be high, based on some information I found on the internet. So he added a Creatine Kinase test to the orders for the liver function panel, and the CK numbers were elevated. I’m not sure yet what that means, as I’m having a routine colonoscopy this week and won’t see my Gastro again until the followup appointment for that.

I’ve decided that the variation in AST and ALT numbers I keep getting is determined by how much walking I’ve done prior to the test. When I had to walk a long way to the lab the numbers have been higher than when it was close by. I really do think all the abnormal numbers have something to do with whatever is making my walking so labored and oddly gaited.

I have a feeling I won’t get any answers until I see the Neuromuscular Movement Disorder Specialist at UAB in October. But at least we’ve ruled out several things that could have caused this weakness.

I’ve finally reached a point that I’m no longer worried about them finding some horrible something wrong with me, and I’m very thankful for that. I am not as weak as I was back in March when this all started, and I’m VERY thankful for that. I feel good enough to have made a dent in the backlog of work that accumulated when I was so very weak, and that helps my outlook, too.

I’m thankful to God that most of the scariest possibilities have been ruled out, and I’m no longer anxious about the final results of all this testing.