Tag Archives: Nutritionist

Now THAT Was a Doctor Appointment!!

Day by Day with a Movement Disorder Posted on by 4

I can’t praise my newest doctor enough. I had asked my Neurologist several months ago for a referral to a Nutritionist, since none of my doctors seemed willing or able to give direction to my own research on supplements and cofactors. Most Nutritionists offices I’ve found on the internet appear to be glorified weight-loss clinics, but this one is different. I’m sure that’s why I had to wait so long for the appointment.

I finally had the appointment this week, and the dialogue with the doctor lasted TWO HOURS!! It was the most thorough question and answer period with a doctor I have ever had in my life. He asked many questions about lifestyle, medical history of mine and my family, my sleeping habits, spiritual values, as well as the obvious questions about my current eating habits.

He asked lots of questions about how my Mitochondrial Myopathy presents, how it is inherited, and all the issues I’ve had over the years that were misdiagnosed, but were obviously early manifestations of this disease.

He spent time explaining his approach to achieving maximum nutrition. Unlike my desperate visit to the herbalist, there was absolutely nothing mumbo jumbo in his philosophy, but he still obviously embraces much of the holistic approach to medicine.

For the first time since my diagnosis, I have now had a comprehensive blood panel testing for current levels of every imaginable vitamin and mineral, as well as more standard blood panel tests. He’s also re-tested my heavy metal levels, as we live very near an EPA toxic site that is still being monitored. The phlebotomist took 14 tubes of blood!!

I see him again in two weeks, and we’re looking forward to it. I am to keep a food log for the 7 days prior to the appointment.

In the meantime, he wants me to up my protein intake – and he made specific suggestions about what to eat more of, based on foods I had already indicated that I liked and ate. And he wants me to do chair yoga and meditation daily, practices I have previously only dabbled with.

But the most wonderful and hopeful part of this office visit was his request that I provide him with information, so he could do research on his own about Mitochondrial Myopathy!! I do carry with me in my “medical bag” a card from Mito Action that outlines information for clinicians, and of course that has their url on it. He was very pleased to get that as a start, and I’ll be taking a list with us, and lots of printouts, when we see him again.

For the first time in a long time – we feel HOPE!

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!!!