spinal tap – Blooming in Idaho

…is that there isn’t just one thing about chronic illness. You don’t plan for it. You didn’t ask for it. Yet, you are subject to it.

I have certainly played the victim of my circumstances. And, I am super harsh on myself for not being one of those amazing “rise abovers” that go on to win Nobel Peace Prizes with their four disability’s, unstable childhood’s, or breaking of addiction’s coupled with a determinate attitude to persevere. I’m just your average lady, trying to wing it like everyone else.

I am learning. Willing to be taught. Call me a slow learner. Perhaps this is mid-life crisis time? At 38, I’m no spring chicken. I can say, with a bit of confidence, that I am getting a bit smarter. Is that arrogant? I hope it’s not arrogant.

My internal flight or fight is still easily provoked. Due to my childhood, it’s still a little trigger happy, launching much quicker than others, I am assuming. But, now I am able to look past single moments and try to find what is beneficial long-term, instead of what is just, what is right, what is okay in the here and now. It is in the acute lows, feelings of blame, and moments of potential hope that pass me by that the fight or flight emerges.

This last week revealed some abnormal blood work. It was this blood work that launched these old questions brand new. It was this “abnormally normal” blood work that made me fight back fierce tears and realize that there was still a hope inside of me that life could be better. I didn’t order the lab tests, the office called me back due to my last tests being off a few months ago as part of a wellness check-up. This time, still off, the doctor disregarded them with no further investigation as to why. Neutrophils are probably way overrated. She said very few lab tests are actually indicative of something, most just relative and susceptible to clinical interpretation. Only a few, such as Potassium, actually indicate something. So, when you don’t find the standard, you just disregard the value and chalk it up as abnormally normal. Can I live with that? Am I a hypochondriac? Where do I go from here? So many questions, so few tangible answers.

I’ve come to a point where I know that choices must be made about this super long experience of chronic illness of mine. A couple of decisions, actually. I know I am a stubborn human. As a stubborn human, I have been fighting the circumstance of chronic illness for years. Lots of them. About 17. If you count when I first knew that there was somethin’ fishy going on, it was about 19 years ago. That makes me gulp hard. I think of Scooby Doo and the loud “Gulp!” that he would make when he was stuck in a debacle of sorts.

gulp

The thing about my situation that is somewhat unique, is that I lived in this chronic illness wonderland for nearly 14 years without a diagnosis. The first neurologist I went to told me I was crazy and needed a psychiatrist. If that doesn’t knock your socks off, I’m not sure what will. I lacked confidence as it was and to hear this professional, who wasn’t able to find easy answers, disregard me as a nutcase… man, that caused a lot of damage and still causes me to doubt myself.

The difference between now and then is that I have been diagnosed. I have seen one neurologist for about 10 years or so, and though she is nice and kind, whether it be the vagueness of it all or the liability or the lack of courage, she was unable to officially diagnose me with anything. It took a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona to get a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2014. Or, 2015. No, it was 2014. Years blurring into years.

The diagnosis wasn’t obvious there, either. Multiple Sclerosis didn’t come until I expressed, quite desperately, that I would rather be in heaven than live the way I was and a super empathetic resident demanded a spinal tap before I left my three day visitation at the clinic. The overbooked lumbar-puncture lady suddenly became available and it was this test that confirmed that I was not crazy. You should know that I had had one of these pokes before and it revealed nothing. This time, though, a few years later, the oligoclonal bands would be too numerous to overlook. Another puncture, in 2016, revealed several more bands.

bands

So, it was official. I was officially diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. My Idaho neurologist will say it is ‘atypical’ or ‘chronic.’ Not following the same patterns that the typically unpredictable disease is supposed to trend toward. Sometimes, I even get the feeling that she doubts the diagnosis and I fall into this category of “We are treating you, but we aren’t totally sure what you have.” It does not feel good. But, at least I am getting some treatment.

By treatment, I mean, I get prescriptions to respond to some of my symptom’s. Baclofen is for spasticity and helps with pain I get in my arms, back, abs, hips, and legs. That, in combination with the Ativan, do help my muscles to relax. I have a pretty rad tremor in both hands, but much worse on my right. The Baclofen, which I am now taking 20mg 4x daily, helps to settle this tremor down on most days.

I am unable to keep my head in one position for too long. The rest of me stiffens up, but not as intensely. My neck and back get super sore from straining one way or another, even for short periods (5-15 minutes). An example of this, would be needing to sit straight on toward a speaker, stage, or screen if at church or watching TV. Otherwise, I have to look away a lot, or prop my head on something for support.

My leg pain, which has been my chief complaint for most years, has been helped with the Baclofen, Cymbalta, a Quell tens unit, and alternating Tylenol and ibuprofen throughout the day. All of this still does not completely stop the pain.

My arms and legs both get tired quicker than they used to. I really enjoy walking and try to walk regularly. A few times I have tried to jog and I notice that my ankles respond by being unwilling to bend to absorb the stride when my foot hits the ground. It is both a painful and odd sensation. “Why aren’t you bending, silly ankle?” I am super thankful to be walking. I have experienced a time many years ago of not being able to walk on one leg at all and throughout the years have needed a cane, during super difficult seasons of the disease, to get around. Canes are not cool.

In addition to treating some of my symptoms, I was also prescribed Copaxone injections as my first MS disease modifying drug. It was not bad in the beginning and I took the injections well for over one year. But I slowly developed anticipatory anxiety and huge diversion from the treatment. I was experiencing a large amount of anxiety in my overall daily grind, so I am not sure if it was just the shot, or a phase of my life. It was during this phase that I started the Ativan for the anxiety issues and found it helped with other things. After I struggled for some time with the Copaxone, my doctor prescribed Tecfidera. It is pill form for fighting MS. Like the Copaxone, it would not make me feel better, but would hopefully prohibit the disease from progressing.

I was prescribed the Tecfidera a little less than a year ago. Unfortunately, I was given the full dose at the onset of this pharmaceutical therapy and the thing is, it is super hard on your stomach. I was feeling sick daily and struggled through it for months before tapering off. I had escalated issues outside of MS that made not feeling well for several months super inconvenient. I do want to try this medication again with the appropriate low dose starter package that I did not get before. I should have already called my neurologist and had this corrected, but life has been difficult outside of MS. It is difficult to take something that may or may not slow the disease down, and does not offer any feelings of better’ness now, but actually causes more problems in the present, when you’re already dealing with life and pain and life and more life.

And, that’s the thing with chronic illness, is that there is life beyond it. Life struggles that everyone faces and you’re doing it with a hand and a foot tied behind your back. Which, brings me to the whole point of what I was trying to get at eight paragraphs ago… decisions must be made.

Decisions to accept or to fight. Do I accept that this is some wonky type of MS that my own neurologist doesn’t feel confident in diagnosing, but is very staunch about treating; I have not scheduled an annual exam just because I don’t want to be lectured about the Tecfidera. “Maybe if you took the medication you wouldn’t have more lesions on your brain MRI.” This came from the medical assistant when we updated my medications last year. Those same lesions your doctor wouldn’t call MS in the first place? Are those the lesions we’re talking about? The ones that were there and have been gaining for 14 years before going out of state to get help? Are you talking about those lesions? On top of that, no, I do not want to pay a thousand bucks for another MRI that is abnormally different, but was never enough evidence to help me all these years. I think I may be bitter. Regardless, here I am.

At a point where I know my heart, mind, and spirit need to align to the same purpose. Accept this for what it is, think it is, have been told it is, or to fight for assurance in my diagnosis and the possibility for a better quality of life. Will accepting this bring peace or will fighting produce different results? Is it possible to do both?

As I fervently pray for the right choice to be made clear, my heart reaches out to those in similar situations. If there is one thing I know, I know it sucks to be in a chronic illness whirlwind where life seems to pass you by while you’re just struggling to hang on and find some joy out of this gig.

When I contemplate my choices from a spiritual standpoint, I wonder what might bring the Savior more glory. I wonder if the victory is the faith, the perseverance, the hope I have in Him WITHOUT getting the answers I so desperately seek. Moses did not get to basque in the promised land he strove to get millions of Hebrews to. I may not see healing this side of heaven. Can I still believe in an all-powerful, all-knowing God who chooses not to provide my miracle in this earthly life? Absolutely. Is it hard? Absolutely. The measure of one’s faith is not weighed in the answers they receive, but perhaps, in the solutions that never come and the choice to seek, serve, and love Him, anyways. With that in mind, I suppose perhaps I was led on this journey only to proclaim that I believe God is good even in the storm. Even if my life turns out to be one big blessing of a stormy mess or a messy storm, God is still good.

I will continue to pray for clarity on which direction I should take: surrender in this diagnosis or fight for a solid solution that brings closure to my soul. I am thankful to serve a God who will answer my prayers, provide me with patience not to rush or question His sovereignty, and to feel loved in circumstances that I wouldn’t choose.

With love and hope to those in familiar trials, may you be blessed with endurance and assured with the salvation that only Jesus can bring, Amen.

~Dana

It has been told, and I’d like to agree, that I have a gift of writing. Somehow, words I cannot articulate verbally flow like soft tap water dripping, dripping through my fingertips when I write. Today, the words are softer, yet bolder. Sometimes there are no words. Of course, I will try.

I’ve never been to the end of my rope before. I thought I was there, only to realize, last week, I didn’t know that I didn’t know how much rope we actually have – enough for friends, family, and more to lift us up and hold on tight while we struggle through the obstacle course of life. This article is not a cry for help, nor a plea for pity. This is about sharing my rope with someone else who I know needs it tonight.

Last week I was a patient at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. After a 12 year battle with a plethora of vague neurological symptoms which included tremor, chronic leg pain, and fatigue, I was at the freakin’ Mayo Clinic. I had never been more terrified. Countless doctors in three different states had already processed me as damaged goods with no avail. No diagnosis. More prescriptions. Baby. More pain. No diagnosis. Psychiatric? Depression. Pain. Another baby. No diagnosis. Twelve long years living inside of a body that others deemed as able.

I was more fearful than expectant at the Mayo Clinic. If the big dogs can’t figure you out, you’re screwed. Then, that leaves the door open to me being crazy. To life being sucky because God is okay with it. So hard for me to handle.

We met with a lovely doctor the first day. Kind. Simple, honest, assertive but soft. In a few short hours he had processed my twelve year history and tests were ordered. I hugged him. He hasn’t been hugged that much. I could tell. Awkward.

It was a relief to walk away from that exam as much as it was a struggle. There were no new ideas and it seemed like we were running the same tests that we had already run before – this time expecting different results. That Monday would include labs and naps. A little bit of swimming.

Tuesday was frustrating. Our insurance information was being flagged in their computer system. It was also as if I had not been there the day before. They were having to check me in brand new at labs, and doctor’s visits. I don’t handle that stuff well. I needed it to be easy. My biggest concern nearing my 2:00 appointment that afternoon was that my spinal tap had not been ordered yet. There was a change in the schedule and there was only one person actively doing the taps on Tuesdays. And she was full.

In walks a girl, yes a 20-something cutie patootie. My doctor? Resident, or “fellow,” actually. She is technically a doctor, but is getting her sub-specialty in neurology. I had tried to find out who she was before I came to the appointment. I like knowing the doctors I will see. I could not find her anywhere on the internet. I still can’t. She doesn’t even exist in the google! Toby said walking into that appointment that maybe this doctor was my angel.

About three minutes into the appointment, she was reviewing the notes taken by my doctor the day before, I started feeling frustrated. She wanted details I couldn’t remember. As she finished reading my chart, I totally broke down. I laid it all out there in an honesty that I haven’t been able to with other doctors. My heart poured out. She listened. “Am I really just a bad mom?” The tone of her voice changed, the determination in her movements. Her eyes were deep and sad. As a doctor she could and would do my spinal tap, once she found an open room. She was off to bring back the supervising movement disorders specialist. At exactly 2:22 a knock on the door. The spinal tap lady was going to get me in, that day, I’d be home by 4.

Triple deuces. I knew. God’s fingerprints. Quincy’s birthday. Our first house address. Why Tripp’s name is Tripp.

The spinal tap wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t easy. I was her ninth patient of the day, the first time in seven years she had ever performed nine lumbar punctures in one day. At one point in repositioning the needle, I felt painful sensations where you never want them! I felt fine that evening, but the next day would overdo it.

That day we didn’t have any appointments. Me and Toby. My guy. We were two thirty something’s on the loose in Phoenix. Watch out, Home Depot! Seriously, though, we wanted to play a bit. It’s not every day we get a day in a big city together. We found a zoo with a baby monkey. We found the Cardinal’s training camp at University of Phoenix stadium and watched a touchdown pass or two from Carson Palmer to Larry Fitzgerald. The perfect day. I cheered, screaming, even though it was a scrimmage. I loved it.

I didn’t realize the headache I’d been fighting through the day was the spinal headache. Related to not resting enough and allowing the fluid in your brain to re-pressurize. That night I did not feel well. Something festered. Progressively irritated, tired, and nauseas. Fight with Toby. Perfect day ruined.

Tears, screaming, so many tears. Ready to be home. Crying. The realization of how much I did hate myself surfaced in one big breath and I reached for whatever I could to gouge my arm. It wasn’t sharp enough. Fingernails ripped as Toby pinned my hands to my lap. Tears. Nothing left. I demanded home.

I’ve never inflicted self-harm upon myself. I’ve thought about it. I don’t advise it. I don’t want to share it and I am embarrassed that it is included in this story. But, to exclude it would be to take the very breath of my testimony away. I can see now it was desperation. Pure desperation. We cried in the dark on the bathroom floor. Sobs.

Toby and God worked it out that night and somehow Toby got me to promise him that I would do the MRI and I would go to my final evaluation the next day. The fear of rejection and failure weighing me down. What if I’m just stupid and this really is in my head? It was so much pressure. I hated him for making me go.

Somebody at home must have prayed hard. I went to the MRI. I went to the final consult. One more lesion on my brain MRI that they don’t know what to think about. No answers. I knew it. So much better off expecting nothing. The test results were not all back and there would be a phone call sometime next week. Doesn’t look like MS, we’ll rescan in a year… change these meds, call us if you decide you want something for the tremor. We left. Empty handed. I still hugged him. Less awkward than last time, but still awkward.

Toby played cards while I daydreamed. Killing time. We had a few hours until we had to be at the airport. I checked my phone to see if any updates were on the “my lab results” tab of my fancy and highly technologized Mayo Clinic app. In one moment, my world was changed.

An abnormal result. The one we were waiting for. Answers.

One night I confess my desire to die and be done with this suffering and the next day the Lord provides healing. I have hope again. Hope so big. I am redeemed.

Tag: spinal tap

The Thing About Chronic Illness…

Redeemed