Mini Me Health Update

Life has been full of surprises over the last three months. Here’s a snippet of what is going on. 

Rheumatologist

I saw a new Rheumatologist to asses all the joint and leg pain I was having. She basically dismissed me saying that unless the test come back with something, she would not need to see her. Then the admin calls to tell me to see my immunologist and that my kidneys weren’t working properly. I see the doctor’s report and found out I have Sjogren’s Syndrome and they didn’t even tell me. Time for a new Rheumatologist. 

Tardive Dyskinesia

My Tardive Dyskinesia is still a problem. I’ve been on Ingrezza for two months but have experienced little change. I guess I don’t fall into the percentage of people who get relief in two weeks. The side effects are brutal. I fall very easily and have many dizzy spells throughout the day. At $7500 a month you would expect miracles, right?

Dementia

The Lyme virus went to my brain and continues to wreak havoc. My memory has been much worst this past month. I can be thinking or saying something and mid-sentence I forget what I’m talking about. I have been looking inward to decide if this is the next level downward. I’ve decided to kill myself before I lose all of my memory. I’ve been wondering if now is the time. It may be selfish but I think it’s better for my husband. I was a caregiver to my granny and she had dementia. The day she forgot me was a sad day. Dying slowly, every day the hospice nurse does everything for her. My granny didn’t know anything and was laying in a bed waiting to die. I don’t want that for my husband. 

My doctor has scheduled me to see a Neurologist to talk about the newest medication available and the side effects. When I hear brain bleed I get a bit nervous but I’ll listen to him. The monitoring while on the drug is crazy, you have to have a PET scan every month. 

Brain Surgery

I had my first brain surgery when I was 14 years old. The doctors would not remove the tumor because it had grown thru my skull and I was so young.  In 1997 I had the surgery, boy I don’t recommend it. They took out about a quarter of my skull and replaced it with surgical material to make up for the loss of the skull. Fast forward, the material used has shifted and is pushing on my skull. I have an appointment to see a Neuro Surgeon to see if another surgery is needed.  Surgery is very pain full, I had close to 75 staples in my head. I don’t want to go thru that again. Maybe he can do a smaller procedure than last time. Did you know it takes forever for your hair to grow back after it’s shaved?

Mental Illness

I had to stop one of my meds due to the Tardive Dyskinesia and we’re making changes to the amount of each drug I already take. I’ve increased three medications so far. I’m hoping to not have to start a new med. So far this approach is working. I was spiraling for a couple of weeks but we’ve increased the dose on another med and I’m feeling better. I’ve talked with my doctor more in the past three months than all of last year

You’re up to date.

What have you been going thru?

Melinda