Health Issues that su** (long)

[Velobambina]

Robyn --- Nothing helpful to add in terms of advice. I will, however, say a couple prayers for you and will send lots of good thoughts your way. Try to think positive and realize that you have a lot of folks who care about you.

FWIW, I understand about the family. Same thing happened when my dad died in '05 (my mom's been gone since '01). Although I have three siblings, I'm in very limited contact w/only my younger brother. The other two, forget it. It's sad, but for me, it's for the best.

[Zen]

Although I have three siblings, I'm in very limited contact w/only my younger brother. The other two, forget it. It's sad, but for me, it's for the best.

There are more than a few of us here who are "orphans".

[Crankin]

OK, I just got back from the endo, a very nice woman. I made Steve come with me, for an extra pair of ears. Basically, after reading the report and examining me, she told me the following: 1) 50% of women over 50 have nodules on their thyroid 2) if the nodules are less than 2 cm they are too small to biopsy as they would not be able to get enough tissue (both of mine are smaller). So the plan is to have another ultra sound in 6 months to see if they have changed and if not, then have one once a year.

She did listen to my whole medical saga and I got a stern "you are extremely anxious" and that i should consider meds. I told her that was out of the question that I ride to reduce my stress, so she said to consider yoga. I did a lot of yoga for cyclists at home last winter and spring, which I really liked, but when I went to a class at the health club, I hated it. I am not much for "spiritual" stuff, chanting, etc. I mean i'm not too spiritual even when i go to synagogue. But, I will try again since it is boring to do it alone most of the time, even though I have 3 different dvds.

So, tomorrow I go to the GI doc. I have a few concerns there, will bring up the celieac (sp.) thing and discuss my reduced appetite (which is improving), the fact that I am still losing weight, and some pain in my buttock area (a pain in the a$$?).I am sure I will be hyper focusing on that for the next 24 hours! I already have a colonoscopy scheduled for Nov. After tomorrow, I only have to go back to get all of my results from the rheumo. on the 15th.
Thanks again, everyone for your support. I have come to the conclusion that maybe I shouldn't have stopped working. But, so far I haven't felt good enough to go out and ride the way i had planned to.
We might actually go away for 3 days next week, to make up a little for our cancelled vacation.

[sundial]

Robyn, I hope you can find a relaxing, tranquil and peaceful vacation. I am sorry you are having to battle so much. I am keeping you close in my thoughts and prayers.

[margo49]

I have come to the conclusion that maybe I shouldn't have stopped working.

Too soon to come to conclusions, especially big ones.

Like someone said (and I agreed) on your previous thread you (we all) will take a bit of time to adjust to Big Life Changes.

[salsabike]

Yup, I agree with Margo. I don't know you so can't be a good judge of anything specific, but want to remind you that your symptoms are quite real and some level of anxiety in response to real symptoms is actually kind of reasonable. Of course it'll help if you have some anxiety-management strategies, but it will also help for you to get a real diagnosis.

Not to overdo the possibility of fibromyalgia, but the Mayo Clinic link below gives a good description. Note that it is considered a centrally mediated syndrome that includes a wide range of heightened body responses like irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder, sleep disruption, etc. And the average time to diagnosis is five years, I saw on another website. Sheesh.

Guess I'm just trying to say...it's not your fault or your flaw that you're having real symptoms. Use the best strategies for coping with the stress that you can find, but don't fault yourself for being distressed about it.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fib...079/DSECTION=2

[Crankin]

Just chiming back in here. Things are not going that well. I rode on Friday, which was OK, and I walked yesterday, but I am having new and distressing symptoms that are specific to Lupus. On Friday I called the Rheumo. doc; they told me to come in Tuesday. I doubt the test results are back yet. My husband called his employee assistance place and made me talk to a counselor. They didn't tell me anything I didn't know, but they are setting me up to see someone. She told me I was doing a "worst case scenario," well, duh, that's how I usually deal with things and at this point, nothing is happening to prove me wrong.
This whole thing is really getting to me.

[Bklynmom]

Just giving you some support here - I too am of the worst case senario school, so you have my sympathy. Every time I have a medical test I am sure I have the disease and don't stop worrying untill I have an answer. Here you are not getting any answers after so many tests - ugh.

I think you are smart to insist that the Dr. see you - sometimes they don't get how hard it is to wait for medical results -- it makes me totally crazy.

There is an excellent Mamography practice here in NYC that gives you your results right away - they don't take insurance. I can't tell you how many women I know, including me, go there and pay extra, just because we find waiting for test results barbaric.

Hang in there - talking to someone is an excellent idea to help you deal wih this too.