"Well, your brain's okay"

[geminigirl]

Somewhere, in his book The Kid, Dan Savage talks about how he likes to think about the absolute worst possibility, and how that reduces the chances of those bad things happening. He makes reference to things like never having been walked in by his mom when he was masturbating, and how he's never been in a plane crash. I'll admit, that I employed the same technique when dealing with getting these CAT scan results.

Back in July when they thought they'd found out what was going on, and they thought it was toxoplasmosis, among the things I had to do was see the eye doctor.

So, I saw the eye doctor, who did a slit lamp exam, to look for toxoplasmosis lesions on my eyes. While she was doing this, she noticed that the nerve in my right eye looked "prominent", which meant a follow up with a visual field exam (where they look at the vision that's not central and not peripheral) and a CAT scan. This morning was the follow up exam. And the doctor said, "Well, your brain's okay." Which was reassuring. They went through some other exams, checked my color vision, and dilated my eyes. (That would be why I'm sitting in my office wearing sunglasses. And everyone is making fun of my dilated eyes. Especially A. who keeps sending people to me to look at my scary eyes.)

Okay. Long story short? The nerve is still "prominent" and she wants to watch it kind of carefully for the next six months. Since nothing's changed in the last six weeks, and the CAT scan found nothing, if, a short ways down the road, it looks fine, she'll consider it an "anomaly" that I've probably had for a long time, and while it does need to be watched to make sure that nothing else changes, there's nothing actually wrong with it. (As in, it's not sick. I don't have a tumor back there.) I have to have another visual field test in September to see if it matches the results of the first (which showed something going on, but she said, it might have been just because I'd never done it before)

The eye doctor pulled up the pages and pages of tests that I've been through on the computer, and ordered a bunch more tests for rheumatology-type things. I'm amazed. I'm amazed that an eyedoctor who saw me for such a specific thing took the time to listen, to consider and consult and think about why I might still not be well. And to order more tests. (Okay, just what I need, another hole in my arm!)

And, for all you localfolks...driving from Springfield, by the Mall, to my office, near the Pentagon sucked, with dilated eyes.

Still haven't heard anything from the regular doctor, but I haven't checked the messages at home either. We'll see. Did pick up new allergy script this am. Taken one dose, not sure if speedy-heart feeling is that or the caffeine or sugar in the iced tea.

It's time for snack.

Comments

[torena.livejournal.com]

Egads. You sound like I did when we were trying to figure out what was wrong with my stomach. Except, I got more than needles and some abdominal CT scans. Tubes down the throat are NOT fun. ;)

Good luck. At least the CT scan was alright! :)

[geminigirl]

I did the whole tubes up the nose/down the throat thing when I was having chronic sore throats that weren't helped by antibiotics a few years back...turned out that a very smart ENT realized it looked like acid refulx disease. The tube thing sucked. Course so did the reflux, and while I still go through tums by the bucketful, at least that seems to be mostly resolved, although it flares once in a while. It's better enough that I've gone off the prilosec anyway.

Re:

[torena.livejournal.com]

Yeah.. I've been on Prevacid, Prilosec and a couple of others. The problem is that my body, ater a few months, decides that it's gonna be friends with the medicine so it no longer works on me. So I dealt with the surgery. :P Tums are good for you, though. They have calcium. :P

[geminigirl]

I should own stock in Tums. And they're good. If only they made the ultras in the fruit and cream flavor though-then I could have that instead of the assorted fruit. Variety, you know.

How did you find the surgery? I was dreading it, but if I flare again, I may have to have it...

Re:

[torena.livejournal.com]

Well, I'll admit I was in a lot of pain afterwards. And it's difficult to eat solid food for a few months (but I lost 15 lbs!). At first I didn't think it was worth it, but the more days go by I realize how good it was that I got the surgery. I would be so much more miserable if I had continued without the surgery.

[roosterbear.livejournal.com]

I am surprised that you were allowed to drive while your eyes were dilated. If it's the same process I went thru, I could not focus my eyes for a very long time, for several hours. They made me close all the blinds in my room and dim the lights, and it was still blinding. I couldn't watch TV or read or anything.

I am glad that they have ruled out yet another round of scary possibilities. But it sucks that it sounds like they are still no closer to figuring out what's going on with you. *hughughug*

[geminigirl]

It was a good hour and a half after they'd put the drops in that I was driving...my office was entertained by the freaky eyes, and the fact that I sat around in sunglasses until things stopped swimming.

Yay!

[entirelysonja.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that went well, and sorry I wasn't here when you tried to call earlier!

*hugs*

Re: Yay!

[geminigirl]

I called because I wanted to give you a heads up before you read it here. I really appreciate that you went to the CAT scan with me, especially at that ridiculous hour.

But the CAT scan is over. Maybe something will turn up in what they drew today.