Hello, I'm not exactly sure how to start this entry to my blog. I guess I can start by summing up everything new that is going on in my life. Well, I've already shared the bad news (my mom having cancer) so everything else is good or just normal.
School started last week and so far its going well. I like my professors and have classes where I enjoy the material. I am grateful for that because it makes it easier to go to class. I guess that is what is supposed to happen when you are only taking classes for your major, right? That is a good sign anyway.
I also went to the doctor last week. I don't know if anyone is familiar with Doctors of Osteopathy. I don't particularly understand the difference between DOs and MDs (except letter differences). I read about it online, but it didn't make too much sense. Anyway, you can look it up if you want, but when I saw DOs on my insurance's list of providers, I decided that since a regular MD couldn't figure out what was wrong, maybe a DO could. I am so glad I made that decision. Not only did this doctor have an answer for me the very meeting, she has several treatments options. This doctor has dealt with several other people with similar symptoms and it was caused by stress. That may sound like a poor diagnosis, but when you think about it, it makes sense. What does stress do to you physically? What happens when too much stressed is placed on a person and his or her body can't handle the stress?
Well, as far as we know, that is what happened to me. She drew blood and ran some tests, and gave me an andrinocortex test to take (I had to bring it home to take it, spit analysis basically). She also started me on a treatment to treat the symptoms that I have so I can start feeling better sooner. I have been put on a yeast control diet. Basically, that means I can't eat any of the things that I love to eat: bread, sugar, fruit or fruit juice, and cheese are the main ones, but I can't use margarine (only real butter), or vegetable oil, white flour, rice, etc. I CAN eat brown rice, whole wheat tortillas (but only if there is no yeast in it), oatmeal (without any flavoring), vegetables, meat, milk, and eggs.
At the same time, she put me on this medication that is supposed to kill everything in my stomach and intestines. Then, because there is bacteria that is supposed to live in your intestines, I have to take a complex that replaces that bacteria.
She also wants me to come in for a glucose resistance test just to see how I am doing in regards to diabetes. There are other treatments that she wants to pursue, but they are unconventional treatments and my insurance wouldn't cover them. But, she told me that I can still get better without them, it will just take longer. The three treatments are: intravenous vitamin injections to give my system a jump start (total cost would be $600), Goji juice which is a high-vitamin content nutrition drink ($600), and acupuncture to treat infection and I forget what else ($200). So, there you have it. I could do one, or all, but the problem is, I don't have money for any. I normally would talk to my parents and see if they could help so I could do at least one . . . but with my mom's cancer and her still being in the hospital, I don't think that is really an option. I guess I will have to suffer it out and hope that I don't get worse with the added stress of my mother's illness.
This is turning in to a really long entry and I don't want to bore anyone, but I got the results back from the blood work my doctor did. I have too low: cholesterol, vitamin B, white blood count, and thyroid hormone and too high (barely) sugar. I am going in for another visit today. Hopefully I will start to feel better soon.
Other than that, work is going really well. It makes me tired going to class and working, but I'm glad I have some kind of income. I don't know what I would do without it, and plus, I love my job.
Currently Reading:
The Postmaster
by Aleksandr Pushkin
The Overcoat
by Gogol
Poor Folk
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Diary of a Madman
by Gogol
The Nose
by Gogol
1 comment:
HI Rachel,
Thanks for the update. there is a good reason why insurance companies don't cover those suggestions. I would avoid intravenous vitamins. and $600 for a vitamin drink seems pretty excessive.
There are other ways to deal with stress and once you identify stress as a key component, you can actively work to control it with relaxation and positive activities.
My own response to stress is to rapidly loose weight. For me its a good thing and I try to channel it in that direction. When I get unstressed I tend to eat to much and get my pounds back.
How is it going with your mom?
Larry
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