Friday, March 27, 2009

Hello from the Hospital...

Well, I am writing straight from my hospital room.  My weakness hit rock bottom and I ended up collapsing twice on Wednesday.  Ryan rushed me to the emergency room at St. Josephs Hospital in Phoenix.  We came here because they have the Barrows Neurological Institute.  They did a Spinal Tap and found that I had elevated proteins and sugars in my spinal fluid.  They admitted me and since there wasn't a room for me they kept me in the ER until Thursday night.  I am now in the Barrows Neurological Institute.  They did an EMG and at that point they were able to get me that much closer to a diagnosis.  They are treating me with something called CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demylinating Polyneuropathy).  It is a 5 day treatment that has to be done here in the hospital.  I have already gained a lot of my strength back.  I was able to do my hair BY MY SELF today for the first time in about a month.  I was pretty happy about that.  I don't know how long this treatment will last until I have to have another one, but I do appreciate all the prayers and thoughts and kindness to all those that have known about my condition.

Monday, March 16, 2009

A very scary day...

I figured I better sit down and write what is and has been going on with my body.  Some of you didn't even know anything was wrong and it was because I was so hoping that it would just go away.  Well, after a month of dealing with this it hasn't gotten better...just worse.  About a month ago my elbow started hurting and I didn't think much about it other than it really hurt.  After my elbow started hurting I started loosing the strength in my arms..both of them.  It bothered me but I kept thinking it would just go away.  About 2 weeks ago my hands went numb and would tingle some times!  This scared the heck out of me so I made and appointment with my Primary Care doctor and he couldn't get me in for 10 days.  I thought it would never get here.  It continued to worsen and has gotten to the point that Ryan has to do up my bra, pants, and do my hair.  That is when I really lost it.  I cried that whole day at work and I finally had Ryan give me a blessing.  I went to the doctor on tuesday and they ran a couple of tests and requested blood work.  I got the blood work done on Wednesday and got into the neurologist that the doctor referred me to for a Thursday appointment.  

The neurologist did some strength tests on me and just to give you an idea of how bad I really am...She had me squat and try to stand up and I couldn't do that without crawling over to the chair and pulling myself up.  I would lift up my arms and she would push them down and I couldn't resist them being pushed down.  I always feel like my muscles are extremely fatigued and shaky.  She told me that I needed to go directly to the hospital because she thought that I had something called Guillian Baire.  In order for this to be diagnosed a ton of tests are run that includes one being a spinal tap.  Ryan and I left her office scared and feeling like there was no hope.  I got Kayden taken care of and immediately called Dana and Keith.  Keith was home and I asked him a lot of questions and he was familiar with the syndrome and was able to give me hope and calm my fears.
Ryan and I checked in at the emergency room and went through a couple of doctors before the neurologist came in.  His name is Dr. Wu and he is very knowledgeable and was very thorough and amazing.  He took 2 pages of notes and asked a ton of questions.  He did all the strength tests that the first neurologist had done plus more.  He ordered more blood test, cat scan, and an EKG.  He didn't diagnose me with anything, but he did say he thought it was Myasthenia Gravis.  He called another neurologist and went over my notes with him and they agreed together that they weren't going to do any major tests until they get my blood work back.  I am being treated with medication for the Myasthenia Gravis until the blood work comes back with the results.  
I should be getting the results back no later than Tuesday.  We are hoping to get some answers and hopefully a diagnosis.  I go to the neurologist again on the 30th.  Dr. Wu will be my neurologist from this point on.  I was very impressed with him.
So that is what is going on with me.  I will try to keep you all posted with all the things we find out.  I am still really week, but when I take my medication I feel like I am getting some of the strength back in my legs, but my arms are still numb.  I am pretty weak all around though.  I feel like I can't do a whole lot, but I try.  I will be glad when I can pick Kayden up again and put my purse on my shoulder and not look retarded and wash my hands without getting to tired...I think you get the picture!