Gimpy Mumpy

So Long and Thanks for all the Fish....

O.k., I know that's not original.....but how do I wrap things up and say goodbye to this blog? 

As you can see I haven't been writing as often lately and this is partly because I have lost my anonymity.  This makes it more and more difficult to share my real thoughts and vent about the things that make me truly angry.  Which was the entire point of this blog in the first place.  It was my place.  My place to find and share the humor of my situation.  To find a way to deal.

The saga of the doctors continues (they have now ruled out MS but have no idea what is causing the deteriorating neurological problems) and I am sure that I will find new ways and new places to share about the experience.  I am not disappearing entirely.  I have made many friends through this blog over the past few years and will continue to frequent their blogs and messageboards (but perhaps under a different pseudonym).  I will also continue to recieve email.  The people I wish to stay in touch with will always be welcome to send an email.  My real readership was always a ray of sunshine to my day.  Your comments and encouragement have meant a great deal over the past years.  Thank you all for being the best readership a blogger could hope for.

2007 Already??

While others are writing a review of the past year I feel I should recap this past month since I've been a bit absent from the blogging scene. 
After much anticipation I had my appointment with the neurosurgeon regarding the cyst found in my brain on the MRI and CT Scans.  The surgeon said that in his opinion it was not the cause of my symptoms and that I should see an ear, nose & throat doctor and a neurologist.  I returned to the ear, nose & throat doctor for multiple visits and for an ENG.  The ENG had to be scheduled for the day after Christmas and required that no meds, alchohol or caffeine be ingested for 48 hours prior to the test and that I not eat the day of the test.  Oh My God.  Do you know how hard it is not to take ANY medications, drink a drop of anything or even eat chocolate (which contains caffeine) on Christmas Eve or Christmas!?  I then went for the test which I believe was envisioned by the Spanish Inquisition was extremely ill but with the required empty stomach lacked the satisfaction of puking on my torturer.  The technician not only seemed to delight in enducing vertigo, dizziness and extreme nausea she also decided to use sandpaper on my face before applying each sensor.  This meant I had raw, red burn-like spots all over my face for the past week.  A nystagmus was diagnosed which was the final straw to getting a referral to rule-out MS.   Oh and did  I mention that half of the equipment was broken so they could not complete all of the tests?
That's where I am now.  Hating doctors and their tests and holding my breath for my MS or not-MS appointment.  I am just hoping that I don't have to have a lumbar puncture.  Maybe this back full of metal can be good for something right? 

Maya's First Christmas

Maya had her first picture with Santa today.  Isn't she cute?

Which Way Is Up?

I've just found the perfect tree for my neurologists office. 

What could be more appropriate for someone who treats vertigo than an upside down Christmas tree? 

Blue Badge of Christmas

You are spinning one way while I am spinning another. Want to know more?

I've been thinking a lot about the invisible aspects of my disability today and realized that although my vertigo may make everything spin around me, I am the only one who can see the spinning.  So I've decided that I should add a new t-shirt design to the Mumpy store, "You are spinning one way and I'm spinning another.  Want to know more?"
The amazing Goldfish also talks today about invisible disability and travel in her post "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door".
And just in case you aren't afraid to leave your house yet you should read this ABC News story, "Arrested for Epilepsy" a frightening story of an epileptic's seizure being misinterpreted as suspicious behavior resulting in police tasering and arresting this man.

Guardian Part II: Where the Hell is my Confidentiality??

Well, it happened again.  Now it's the nurse who is supposed to come and do my in-home assessment.  Apparently they had cancelations and she called to see if she could come today, a week early. 
This wouldn't have been a huge problem itself but when I didn't answer my phone she immediately called my parents house and talked   at length about my medical conditions and what services I had requested to my father who is not even listed as an emergency contact.  Not to mention that this was not an emergency.

I am so upset.  The thing is this woman has no idea why I am so angry and hurt by this.  I tried to explain that the whole reason for requesting her services was to gain back some independence and that running behind my back to my parents every time I don't answer my phone is not aiding that purpose.

I don't need a Guardian!!

This may seem like a random rant but in the past week I've been asked numerous times who my guardian was.  I am 32 years old.  What. The. Hell.

Every time I am asked who to put as an emergency contact the medical staff then assume that person is my guardian!  Why?  Is there something that they know about my diagnosis that I don't?  Or are they passing judgement on me based on overt physical symptoms?  I am still incredibly articulate, intelligent and knowledgeable about my medical care.  I'm disabled not mentally incompetent.

This came up again the other day when applying for in-home services.  A woman called twice in an hour leaving messages to call her back about my application.  Obviously it was not a convenient time for me!  She then called a little while later and left a message that if I did not call her back within the hour that she would call my mother and if she could not be reached then she would assume that I was not interested in receiving services.  Oh really??  That sounded an awful lot like a threat.  I called her back but emphasized that she was to never call my mother unless it was an EMERGENCY since that was what EMERGENCY CONTACT means, damn it!  Also, if I had gone through a lengthy application process then OF COURSE I needed the services.  Talk about lacking understanding.

So my question is this, "Do others receive this kind of condescending treatment?  If so, how do you respond?"

Back from the Hospital

Well I had a lovely ride in an ambulance to the ER this afternoon and have just arrived home. 

Did you ever notice just how many sticky electrode monitoring pads they glue to your body??  Every time I think that I've removed the last one I discover another.  I just found one on each leg!  I didn't even know that the EMTs had put them there until I went to change my socks (I couldn't wait to get out of my germy hospital clothes) and there were two more 'trodes.  Damn, I sure wish I had shaved my legs today....ouch!  Plus it was just my luck that the day I don't take a shower and am turning all of the unpleasant shades of the rainbow (think puce, chalky and pea green) I end up with the most gorgeous tech-in-training along for the ride.  The head EMT also thought it would be amusing to lift up my shirt to attach a million electrodes while the new guy was sitting inches away from my chest.  Yah, he's not getting any flowers. 

So I get the full work up including an IV while en-route and proceed to get blood and urine labs which were normal and then off for a CT scan of my head.   Since they didn't have any neurosurgeons on staff they ended up just getting me to stabilize and ruled out stroke and told me to keep my follow-up appointment with my doctor tomorrow and with the neurosurgeon in December.   I was then allowed to have the IV removed  and sent home with my mom.  Since I had missed dinner at this point we went through Dunkin Donuts drive-thru for a coffee and a chocolate donut.  Yummy!

It's amazing what a girl will do for a chocolate donut! 

Doctor needs a nap

The news article, Sleep Deprivation Creating 'Nation of Walking Zombies' illustrates the need for sleep particularly for our nation's medical staff.
The graveyard shift just got a whole lot scarier.

Sia: Colour the Small One

Here's a bit of music therapy :)

For those who wake
With a blind headache
Who must be still
Who will sit and wait
For sunday, to be monday

-Sia: Colour the Small One

Vertigo a go go

Never suffered an attack of vertigo?  Then take a trip to the otolaryngologist I was referred to a few weeks back.  I mean this guy treats vertigo patients and his office building is set up like a damned Escher painting.  Strange twisting and turning flights of stairs going nowhere.  It was truly bizarre.  What the hell is this doctor thinking?  Is this some kind of job security measure?

I can't wait to see what kind of architectural torture awaits me at the neurosurgeon's office. *sigh*

Call For Help

Hello all.  I've just been told that the MRI scan of my brain yesterday showed a 2.4 cm cyst.  It is a benign arachnoid cyst but it's putting pressure on my right facial nerve, vestibular cochlear nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, the pons and medulla.  I had the MRI to look into my worsening vertigo attacks.  It seems we may have found the cause.  I'm playing the waiting game with getting in to see a neurosurgeon. 

Does anyone have experience with this kind of cyst?  Any stories or advice would be very welcome.

Pumpkin Carving

This was last year's Mump-O-lantern.  Any suggestions for this year's pumpkin carving attempt?

Mystery Peeps

It is hard to believe that October is nearly over and I haven't even posted this months page from the GimpyMumpy CWD Wall Calendar. 

Is chewable doable?

I've just begun a trial of Antivert which is an anti-vertigo drug that is taken as symptoms begin.  Sounds good in theory right?  The problem is that the "symptoms" are dizziness that feels like the room is spinning in one direction and my head is spinning in another direction.....not exactly the easiest time to open the damned pill bottle (or find it for that matter) and pour a glass of water!  That's also assuming that water is readily available, which is tends not to be when the room that is spinning is part of a department store, etc., etc.  Which brings me to my biggest complaint; why are any medications that either must be taken immediately upon symptoms or have anything to do with nausea in pill form? 
My phenergan, another med for motion sickness that I take primarily for nausea symptoms, is a large chalky pill tasting so bitter that it makes me gag.  Does anyone else find this a bit counter productive?  Ahem, a nausea medication that makes you gag?
Hmmm.....perhaps we need a bit of antivert apply directly to the forhead, antivert apply directly to the forhead, antivert apply directly to the forhead.

Meniere's Attacks!

After a lengthy appointment today with my doctor (whose nurse seemed to enjoy poking holes in me) I was told that I may have Meniere's Disease. I have had a huge resurgence of dizzy spells where I lose my balance, the room spins and darkens and I start to feint. This has been going on for years and what I can't help but wonder is if this is why I had my original fall, causing my disability, in the first place.  *sigh* 
My doc is referring me to a new neurologist and an ear, nose & throat specialist for additional testing.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that the bloodwork will just come back showing low blood sugar.  It's not likely but it would be nice to have a medical reason to eat that piece of pie after dinner!

Gimpy Puppy!

Poor Miss Maya is walking a bit like Mumpy this week.  In the midst of puppy mischief little Maya injured her front leg.  Her veterinarian kindly put a beautiful purple flower on her cast since they didn't have any casts in pink or purple. 

But Maya wants to go out to play!

Hooray for Walmart

I bet that's something you never thought you'd be reading here at GimpyMumpy.com but I must give credit where credit is due.  Walmart is planning to sell a variety of medications for 4 dollars. This is staggering and it is already causing a ripple effect amongst other prescription drug retailers.  Target has just announced that it will follow Walmart's example and also offer new low prices on generic medications.  I hope Big Pharma is shaking in it's boots.

I eats me spinach?

"I'm strong to the finish 'cause I eats me spinach...."
O.k., how many others heard about the E. coli outbreak just after eating raw spinach?  In fact Miss Mumpy had just served up dinner on a bed of baby spinach to guests the night before.  While wondering if that stomach grumble was a precursor to signs of poisoning I waited for my phone to ring with angry friends wondering why I oh why did I feel the need to make them ill.  Fortunately no one became ill but it got me wondering; how do we know we are ill if we are always sick?  I mean the side effects from my meds alone cause half the symptoms to look for in E. coli poisoning!

Has it really been that long?

Wow, I knew that I'd been away from my computer for an unusually long time but I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted!  Lots to catch up on.
On the Big News front Miss G Mump has graduated from Physical Therapy!  I've moved on to a regimen of daily home exercises (with the help of my brother's home gym) and my leg strength and core strength is greatly improved. 
Then my doctor's office procrastinated filling my Celebrex leaving me without over a weekend only to have them call it in and have the insurance refuse it until a new pre-authorization had been done.  Since the last time I was off my anti-inflammatory pain relievers I was in massive pain and had a multitude of funky things go on with my legs I expected the worst.  To my surprise I actually don't think it's doing enough good anymore to be worth the risk of taking it, so I've gone cold Mumpy!  The most bizarre outcome of this is that since stopping the Celebrex my SI-joints have gone into alignment and stayed that way all week! 
So no more tedious trips to the hospital and one less med to take.   In addition to my home exercises Miss Maya is keeping me walking and moving around constantly which has been a great way to shed a few pounds (actually 10lbs which I am just a wee bit psyched about!). 

A Very Merry UnMumpDay To Me, Yes Me!

Well tomorrow is MY BIRTHDAY but the celebrations begin this evening with a dinner OUT OF THE HOUSE!  That means eating a meal AT A TABLE and wearing something OTHER THAN PAJAMAS.  Wait, wait it gets even MORE exciting.  I am going to do it all again TOMORROW!

Falling To Pieces

Have been incredibly busy lately which has led to an increase in pain issues and a lack of blogging. 

Where Does It Come From?

Ever wonder where that transplant skin comes from?  Here's an eye opening article about a woman who lost over 140 pounds and donated 50 pounds of her excess skin.  According to the article this is a growing trend with over 200,00 people receiving skin grafts from weight loss patients last year.
*I think I just threw up a little.* Perhaps some questions are best left unanswered...

Is it me?

I've just received a call from doctor #27 who just last month was ready to take on the world in order to help me get the proper care I "so desperately need" from a multitude of specialists.  By last week he was already acting a bit strangely during our weekly call-in progress reports and was back sliding a bit in his promises.  Today, just a few minutes ago, he informed me that he would not be continuing with my care.  He's going on a "leave of absence of an indeterminate period of time, possibly for good."  WHAT.  THE.  HELL?
Is it me?  I mean, do I emit some sort of doctor repellant pheremones?  There has to be some rational explaination right?  *sigh*