Monday, 24 August 2009

Diagnosis

by at: 16:29 Tags:
My doctor here tried "Don't know what it is, eat some ibuprofen, bye" at me through winter, but I demanded* getting to know what the next step in identifying the problem was and in the end (after all the tests turned out negative) I got an appointmnt with a specialist.

Who spoke to me briefly, poked at my ankles and knees, and informed me I have arthritis and that she wanted to inject cortison into my knees and big toes to begin with just for some pain relief and to lessen inflammation. I also got a prescription for malaria medicines to slow the process down.

My type of arthritis is related to psoriasis and is an autoimmunological response similar to psoriasis, except it is inside the joints not on the skin.

My initial reaction was relief. I have something with a name and there are things that will help. I almost started crying and kept saying thank you! to the doctor who gave me strange looks at this behaviour.

On the metro home, the second reaction struck. Simultaneously bursting into my mind: "What an old crone I am" crashing with "But I am barely 20" (not quite true, as I am soon no longer anything 20-ish) inside my head. The white and the green, crashing, mixing.

Oh, and the clinic did not have a card reader. Cash only. Had to go find an ATM and come back. Heh. Nice in a way, quaint. And they only charged me half of what they said it would cost in the letter I got with the description of how to get there and stuff. Meant I could buy some veggies and eat a salad as a reeeally late lunch when I got home.

* Footnote: I actually demanded it and did not give in or give up. I would not have managed if I had not discovered I could send e-mails to the doctor. Hooray for the internetz!

3 comments:

  1. I can relate to the feeling of relief you get by identifying the problem. It's a starting point; a solid piece of land to stand on. And like you said, there are things that will help. How are you feeling now that you've had some time to absorb the news?
    ReplyDelete
  2. Bleh. Sucks!

    So it's cronical condition, if it is the psoriasis type of thingy?

    Can you get any help from the system to help you with the thing? I mean, I suppose in here once you get diagnosed with that you might be lucky enough to be entitled to get-well-treatments.

    Nevertheless, you're strong. You can handle it, even it sucks really bad.

    *hugs*
    ReplyDelete
  3. Hanna: Yes, it is chronic and slowing the process down and providing pain relief is all that can be done. However that CAN be done. Nothing can be worse than being in pain without knowing why and without being able to stop it, so as far as I am concerned this is good news compared to yesterdays status.

    TP: Like there are things I can do. There are things I cannot do, like all my usual modes of exercise (I knew I couldn't or shouldn't do them, they hurt, but now it is confirmed), but there are other modes of exercise and I have to change my views abit and accept those. And then in a year I will be back to being strong and going for four hour walks. Nothing has really changed yesterday, except my knowledge. The body is the same, with its flaws and good sides. As Hanna said, I am strong and this too shall pass.

    So far I have discarded the mode of exercise recommended me by the doctor (vattengympa - too much people and too much water), and instead splurged on an elliptical trainer I cannot really afford but apparently need. I need to figure out how to make myself use it too, but that will come. But it is gentle on the joints and that is necessary right now, since just getting to the bus is a bloody pain. Maybe time to start watching movies I, gasp, haven't seen again? Whenever it is delivered anyway - will probably be a few weeks until DHL realises they have a package for me.

    This comment is almost long enough for a post.
    ReplyDelete

Be nice!
And apart from that, please don't use the anonymous function...

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)