24 October 2010

Depression in Las Vegas

I guess you can tell that I haven't blogged for 5 weeks. That's because the news is so discouraging.

Paul continues to do well, except for the depression about being stuck in Las Vegas and not in Homer taking care of his toys (equipment). He needs to winterize everything.

I am doing pretty good with the depression if I continue to knit all the time and keep my mind off my problems. I did get some allergy blood tests and they showed absolutely NOTHING! So my primary care doctor sent me to an allergy specialist. He poked about 120 spots on my back and found that I'm allergic to: Navy Beans, Apples, Peaches, Peas, Spinach, Clams, Nutmeg, and Black Pepper.

"Whoa" I said to the doctor, " the blood test said I wasn't allergic to Clams" (along with whatever else the they tested). I think the blood test was bogus and the doctor was in agreement. He called the lab and retested my blood. I'm waiting another 10 days for the results of that one. That was 5 days ago.

I did get an x-ray of my low back and it looks bad. I was sent to a neurologist who did a nerve conduction on my feet (which are numb and burning all the time). The insurance denied me having an MRI 3 times, even after my doctor talked to the insurance doctor on the phone. So, I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon.

I had my appointment with Doctor Lee on last Thursday, not good. I really liked the doctor but he didn't like my x-ray or the symptoms I manifested. He said I have 5 vertebra in my low back that are damaged (deteriorating) and there is a curve in the lumbar spine. When I told him I have burning in my feet he said "That's bad, we need an MRI" and he went out of the exam room and I didn't see him again. A girl came in with a paper in a few minutes. She said "Here is your return appointment on November 18th. and as soon as we get the approval from the insurance for the MRI, we'll schedule it and give you a call".

Well, after that appointment I was supposed to go to the yarn shop and knit but I was so depressed that I went to the car and cried. I called Paul and he said to come home and he'd give me a hug. I was so depressed I couldn't even knit for 2 days, that's just not like me.

PS: My friend, Joy, called me and said I need to put a note on the blog so people don't think I'm suicidal. I'm not, I'm just discouraged at the delays and still not having a diagnosis.