Update
I woke up pretty nervous on Tuesday. My appt. at the Dermatologist was at 8:10. I couldn't concentrate at work very much so I left a little bit early even though the office is literally across the street. You never know about traffic these days. Much to my surprise the doc was very young and extremely sweet. She was like the babysitter that I always wanted. I've gotten very adept at describing my symptoms, when they started, what I've taken, what I've had done, etc. She looked over my blood work, looked at my legs, looked at my hands...wrinkled her brow and said "Huh, very strange." I looked at her and said, "Yeah, I've heard that a couple of times." She proceeded to tell me that she wanted a biopsy. My stomach dropped as the table full of surgical instruments was wheeled in. What the hell does she need scissors for? I wondered. She was just doing a punch biopsy and showed me this pen looking thing that had a cookie cutter on the end of it. She was just going to push it against my skin, click it, and a circle approx. 2mm would be removed instantly. Of course, the anesthetic shot is what always kills...well, burns is more like it. She said I'd have the results next Tuesday and then started stitching me up. Aaahh, scissors, I get it! I thanked her and told her I'd be back on Tuesday.
Back at work I watch the clock until 10:15 rolls around. I go to pick up my mom because I feel I'm going to need some support for this one, if it's as painful as people are making it out to be.
At the Neurologist's I get to put on a snazzy pair of shorts that have so much elastic in them they could fit an 80 pound child or a 200 pound football player. I can't really describe what being shocked felt like. She started off putting two receptor things on my foot. They reminded me of EKG leads that get stuck to your chest. Then she had this machine that looked like an ultrasound wand but it had to round metal prongs instead of a flat smooth surface. She rubbed that goo on my leg and touched it to the back of my leg. A current would go from it to the little electrodes on my feet. Didn't hurt very bad. I felt kinda dumb because it makes your leg jump and flail around. My mom found it extremely entertaining. The technician left and I was stuck in a very VERY small room with my mother for the next 30-45 minutes....and I had to pee. After 25 minutes I couldn't hold it any longer so I stuck my head out of the door and stopped a passing nurse to ask her where the restroom was. "Through the waiting room, out into the hall, and past the elevators." I looked down at my gigantic shorts and then back up at her. I really had to pee. "You have enough time to put your pants back on and run out there before the doc comes in." I practically hug her before running to get dressed.
Another 20 minutes and my Neurologist comes in. She's excited to see the results of the biopsy next week. I figure that the electrical stuff was no sweat so this one shouldn't be bad at all. OH MY GOD was I mistaken. She inserted the first needle and I still thought, "Oh, this is nothing." Then she proceeded to move it around, pull it out half way, push it back in at an angle. She did this with ever insertion of the needle. I think I had six sticks total that last about 40 minutes...each stick took awhile since she was feeling around for so long. It killed!! I voiced my discomfort often and loudly...but I really didn't try to be a baby. She said, "You did pretty well. Most people are cursing me before it's over. You must have a high pain tolerance, what with the tattoos and everything." I looked at my mom and stuck out my tongue. She is always calling me a baby.
I sat up on the table and realized I was covered in sweat and my legs were very sore. She said she wanted to refer me to a Rhuematologist and I should start taking Iron. For the second time that day my stomach dropped. What's a Rhuematologist gonna do or say that I haven't already had done??
Turns out they had a cancellation so I was scheduled for Thursday. I get there and my Doc is an EXTREMELY nice man. I get up on the table, he looks at my legs...looks at my hands again and says, "Yep, those are petechia." I stare incredulously....Yeah, I already know that!!! That's why I'm here! Instead I say, "So I've been told." He orders more blood work. I almost want to cry. Four vials later I realize that I have had 21 vials of blood taken total!!! I should have the results on Monday. I figure by Tuesday if I still don't know what's going on, I'm just gonna chop my legs off.
Back at work I watch the clock until 10:15 rolls around. I go to pick up my mom because I feel I'm going to need some support for this one, if it's as painful as people are making it out to be.
At the Neurologist's I get to put on a snazzy pair of shorts that have so much elastic in them they could fit an 80 pound child or a 200 pound football player. I can't really describe what being shocked felt like. She started off putting two receptor things on my foot. They reminded me of EKG leads that get stuck to your chest. Then she had this machine that looked like an ultrasound wand but it had to round metal prongs instead of a flat smooth surface. She rubbed that goo on my leg and touched it to the back of my leg. A current would go from it to the little electrodes on my feet. Didn't hurt very bad. I felt kinda dumb because it makes your leg jump and flail around. My mom found it extremely entertaining. The technician left and I was stuck in a very VERY small room with my mother for the next 30-45 minutes....and I had to pee. After 25 minutes I couldn't hold it any longer so I stuck my head out of the door and stopped a passing nurse to ask her where the restroom was. "Through the waiting room, out into the hall, and past the elevators." I looked down at my gigantic shorts and then back up at her. I really had to pee. "You have enough time to put your pants back on and run out there before the doc comes in." I practically hug her before running to get dressed.
Another 20 minutes and my Neurologist comes in. She's excited to see the results of the biopsy next week. I figure that the electrical stuff was no sweat so this one shouldn't be bad at all. OH MY GOD was I mistaken. She inserted the first needle and I still thought, "Oh, this is nothing." Then she proceeded to move it around, pull it out half way, push it back in at an angle. She did this with ever insertion of the needle. I think I had six sticks total that last about 40 minutes...each stick took awhile since she was feeling around for so long. It killed!! I voiced my discomfort often and loudly...but I really didn't try to be a baby. She said, "You did pretty well. Most people are cursing me before it's over. You must have a high pain tolerance, what with the tattoos and everything." I looked at my mom and stuck out my tongue. She is always calling me a baby.
I sat up on the table and realized I was covered in sweat and my legs were very sore. She said she wanted to refer me to a Rhuematologist and I should start taking Iron. For the second time that day my stomach dropped. What's a Rhuematologist gonna do or say that I haven't already had done??
Turns out they had a cancellation so I was scheduled for Thursday. I get there and my Doc is an EXTREMELY nice man. I get up on the table, he looks at my legs...looks at my hands again and says, "Yep, those are petechia." I stare incredulously....Yeah, I already know that!!! That's why I'm here! Instead I say, "So I've been told." He orders more blood work. I almost want to cry. Four vials later I realize that I have had 21 vials of blood taken total!!! I should have the results on Monday. I figure by Tuesday if I still don't know what's going on, I'm just gonna chop my legs off.
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