Foot-related medical stuff

[cjsmith]

Feet:

Called the NY doctor to plan trip.
He said he wanted me there for two weeks.
I said AAAAACK!
He said oh okaaaayy, get these three tests done locally, and then we'll make plan B.

So I have an appointment with my GP on Monday, and I have a prescription mailed from New York for these tests. I am scared to think what they will all cost.

Other, also mostly feet:

I switched gynecologists because mine closed his practice.
My new doc wanted a glucose tolerance test, with several other tests thrown in.

She also wants me tested for Lyme Disease, which I will go do as soon as either of my arms heals up. Lyme can attack joints and show nothing on an MRI. Lyme is also one of those lifelong diseases: once you've got it, you're forever waiting for the next flareup. Lyme is best treated immediately. Me, if I do have it I've had it for seventeen years. Not much hope there. I'm torn between hoping I don't have it, because goodness knows I don't need another lifelong health problem, and hoping I do, because if my foot problems are Lyme then what I have is something doctors have heard of. That alone would have immense value.

She also gave me injectable B-vitamin supplements. I am getting better about needles, really I am. I didn't get woozy at all during the glucose tolerance test. I even know how to do subcutaneous injections. I've done them for years on my cat. I know how to prepare the syringe. I have alcohol swabs. So I sat there looking at the needle in one hand and the fold of my own skin in the other... and stayed that way for about twenty minutes before I gave up. It's just not going to happen. I think I will ask a diabetic coworker and see if she's willing to be on the other end of the syringe for my first one. :-( [edit: She was. It went fine. I am so grateful!]

Comments

[tendyl.livejournal.com]

I know the whole needles thing. I could give my dad his insulin shots, but could never give myself allergy injections. *hug*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can give a cat a shot, which sure did take some practice and desensitization. I can have someone else give me a shot, which requires a few deep breaths but I've gotten better so it works out. But me being on BOTH ends of the syringe, well, I think that's a whole new step.

On the positive side, this is handy-dandy desensitization practice. Gee, thank you, Fates, for handing me an opportunity for growth. :-)

[tryslora]

When I was pregnant with Chick, I went severely diabetic very very abruptly -- as in, over 300 and dumped into the hospital for a weekend, and insulin controlled.

I couldn't use the stomach as an injection space because of well YEAH Chickie was in the way! *laughs*

I was given the choice of thighs or arms. It took me a long time that weekend to get used to giving myself injections, but they wouldn't let me go home until I'd done it.

In the end, the way I found easiest to do it was this (because I could look away and pretend it was someone else's hand).

Sit back in a chair, and press your left shoulder to the chair. Roll slightly further left, using the chair and motion to "pinch" the skin appropriately. Position needle. Promptly look to the right so you can't see what's happening. Push plunger.

It sounds bizarre, but not having to watch? Really really really helped.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's a cool idea. I couldn't imagine how anybody could do their own arm; there aren't enough hands. (Plus my arms are pretty skinny. I was going to do belly-fat. That, I have. *chuckle*) I might be able to adapt that technique for a thigh.

Weren't you supposed to pull back a little and make sure there was no blood? I was taught I had to do that for all sub-cu injections, to make sure they're really sub-cu and not intravenous by mistake. Maybe for some things it isn't so critical. That would be nice.

[tryslora]

My arms are pretty fleshy, so that's probably why they weren't too worried with me. I remember something about the blood, but don't remember details. I have some vague memory of talking about going through veins, rather than into them, but yeah, I'd think intravenous insulin might react a bit too quickly. But that's something you can talk to the Dr. about too.

Oh, there are also pens and various devices which allow for injections without seeing needles. I couldn't use on when diabetic because I had to use a mix of two insulins, but it might be something else to look into.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

My coworker did manage to pinch enough on the arm. It doesn't take much, and the underside of my arms... well, hey, I'm forty. Heh. :-)

I have no idea of whether I could get this stuff into some kind of a pen. I don't know how those work. After my coworker "shot" me, I know that I can barely feel it AT ALL, so next time it won't be nearly so hard. THANK GOODNESS!!

[tryslora]

All I know about the pens is that as long as it was one type of insulin it worked, but mixes didn't. *wry smile* And it does get easier, I swear.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm glad. Having my coworker do it was quite painless, but somehow it's not really about the pain, it's about the NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDLE.

I now have a lovely splotch of fuchsia on the back of my arm. It didn't occur to me that that stuff is bright red!

[allanh.livejournal.com]

It wasn't nearly as hard for me to inject myself as it was one of the tortoises.

Pretend you're a cat; the injection will be easier. :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Man, I can "shoot" the cat any day. O'course, the first time was much more difficult than it is now! And it helps that she truly doesn't seem to mind. Heck, she comes trotting into the kitchen when I open the fridge (where her insulin is stored). But ME? Yiiiiiiiikes.

I'm sure I'll get used to it. By the time I run out of this stuff, I'll be an old pro at it. Right now, though... :-(

[allanh.livejournal.com]

You're welcome to bring a syringe and pop over tonight and we can shoot up together. Moral support in groups, etc.

This offer only good for five more weeks.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Hee! My coworker just shot me, so I'm good until tomorrow morning. You do Friday nights, not Saturday mornings? Somehow I always thought it was first thing Saturday.

Honestly, the sensation was so minimal that now I think I'll probably be good to go on my own... but if not, Rob is going to get awfully tired of me pestering him for my morning B sting.

[allanh.livejournal.com]

Pity. I rather liked the image of us "going shooting" together.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

You could come over when I'm "insulating" the cat. :-) This sort of thing really lends itself to goofy wording, doesn't it?

[hopeforyou.livejournal.com]

I've been catching up on LJ lately and it seems I've stumbled on something I might be able to help you with...

I recommend getting a Lyme test from more than one lab, and try Igenix because they test on bands outside of the CDC reference bands. Know that Lyme tests are not very accurate and Lyme is generally a clinically diagnosed condition. Also know that while doctors have heard of it, a lot of them are skeptical about it being a chronic, long-term condition. This was made worse by the IDSA getting power in stating guidelines for Lyme treatment for the CDC, but they have been under investigation and have a lot to answer for (see yesterday's postings on the IDSA on lyme_disease).

I sincerely hope you do not have this disease. I didn't need it either. But if you do, there is a path to follow that will help and potentially you can get symptom improvement.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Igenix is where I'm going, yep. I'll probably never have a true diagnosis, because I have no commonly-recognized clinical symptoms of Lyme. But this doctor has seen cases before where people with pain in or near joints have had no other Lyme-related symptoms, but have tested positive for Lyme, and upon treatment, have had their pain recede. Fingers crossed. 'Sall I can do.

This disease is a truly sucky one. I wish you didn't have it. :-(

[tryslora]

My boss' daughter has lyme and the only symptom she ever had was that her hip hurt. Badly, right in the joint. So it can definitely hide.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Scary stuff. Gah. I suppose at least I'd have an explanation, and that would be worth a lot...

[airporter.livejournal.com]

Explanations are worth everything sometimes!

I have TMJ (well-managed now, thank goodness) - when I first developed the migraines that go with it so often (at 16) the doctors all said it was a psychosomatic response to having my wisdom teeth removed.

Ten years later I was given a physical reason.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh yikes. That's awful.

[airporter.livejournal.com]

Nah, it's just what happens when you take an isolated approach to medical problems - had anyone looked much beyond the symptoms they'd have found the answers much sooner. It's not like I didn't already know I had issues - I just didn't need Doctors adding new ones! :D

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Sure, but ten years without knowing is rough. I feel for ya. Glad you finally got an explanation!

[tryslora]

That's why I mentioned it. Sometimes, even if it's not a good answer, just KNOWING something is such a relief.

I hope that some answer comes back in the blood, or from the dude in NYC. I'm keeping all my fingers crossed for you!!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, even if it's not a good answer, just KNOWING something is such a relief.

No kidding! Some days I envy people with really nasty diagnoses, simply because they HAVE diagnoses. This is partially silly, of course, but partially very real and sane.

Thanks for the finger-crossing. I'll take all the help I can get! :-)

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

I totally get the need to have some sort of diagnosis, a better starting point.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Amen to that. I know you went quite some time without one, too... and I know being called a puzzle doesn't necessarily help. :-(

[kateyule.livejournal.com]

The only thing that made it feasible for me to run off with my 8-yr-old niece for most of a week? The fact that she could do her own growth-hormone injections once I prepped the needle. Aunt Kate pushing the plunger -- not gonna happen!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd be grateful for that bit too in your shoes! I do think I'm going to get to where I can do these for myself... but wow, did I ever sit there unwilling to move for way too long. I thought I was doing so much better that surely this too would be easy. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

[airporter.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I could prep a needle, but I'm just as sure that I'd never be able to inject myself! To this day, I don't watch the needle going in for blood work.

If I don't have to watch, maybe I could...

I'll cross my fingers that you'll be doing yourself really soon!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I didn't watch the needle at the lab on Monday, either, but this is a whole new hurdle. *sigh*

[recordersmith.livejournal.com]

Learning to give yourself injections is scary. When we were doing the IVF treatments, it was three shots a day for 2 weeks per attempt. Whew. J did most of it but I occasionally did some of them. It became much easier after the first few. Also, one of the injections was such a small needle I often didnt feel it at all.

But mostly I made J administer the shots instead of doing them myself because there was always a moment of standing there with the syringe pointed at my belly going....NO!..before I could actually do it.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

there was always a moment of standing there with the syringe pointed at my belly going....NO!..before I could actually do it.

That's exactly it! I sat there, needle hovering, and just couldn't make myself do it. When my coworker finally came along and agreed to stick me, I felt nearly nothing. It's really not about the pain. There's just something about sticking a needle into myself.

[composerjk.livejournal.com]

Which B-vitamin supplements? B-12 sublingual tablets work and taste okay.

It took me 45 minutes of holding the needle just above the skin of my belly the first time I had to administer a subq injection. My brain kept saying "you have to have the injection". My instincts kept saying "you're not sticking a sharp metal object into your body". Now, it's not a problem. Some people like quick flick injections. I prefer the slow insertion.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, B12. It's a totally long shot thing for my feet, to see if I have nerve pathology due to vitamin deficiency. I almost wound up with sublingual, but my doc said some people don't absorb it well that way, so we figured we'd eliminate one potential variable and go straight for the injections.

45 minutes, eh? Wow, you're braver -- or more determined -- than I am. I got a coworker to stick me. :-)

[composerjk.livejournal.com]

Well, if you need to keep doing the injections, B-12 sublingual tablets are a good way to go, in my opinion. :) I assume your doc also did blood work to check B-12 levels.

Not necessarily more brave. Just that I had to learn to do it. I've been giving myself injections for over three years now on a mostly weekly basis, though the latest drug is every other week.

Good luck figuring things out!

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

Whatever the test results: Good luck!

*Best wishes for you & your feet!*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[eichin.livejournal.com]

> and stayed that way for about twenty minutes before I gave up

On a longer baseline, staring at a needle for twenty minutes without passing out, all by itself, is progress for you, isn't it? :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

*laughter* A reasonable point!

How the heck did I work myself up into this kind of... "phobia" isn't quite the right word... ? What made me that way? It sure is a long road to STOP being that way!