Friday - January 30th, 2009 - Test Day

Had my Brain MRI today with and without contrast. Easy test, back still sore from spinal tap, but that was the only uncomfortable part.

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Sunday - January 25th, 2009 - More numbness, spreading upwards.

I woke up this morning and realized I could not feel the sensation when I pee. My urethra is completely numb. I am praying to God it does not move to affect me sexually. I still have complete control of my bladder thankfully. I also have decreased sensations in my upper belly now, not complete numbness by any means, just an altered sense, it doesn't hurt to pinch the skin but I can feel hot and cold. Weird.

Friday, January 23rd, 2009 - Seeing a Neurologist

I am going to leave names and places out of my blogging due to the fact that I had several bad experiences and I do not want people to comment on particular doctors and facilities. This blog is meant to help not to gossip.

The neurologist I visited was a complete idiot to say the least. He comes in the room, looking like he is high, I actually asked him if he was exhausted since he looked like he was ready to fall asleep and I could barely understand his speech. He had a very heavy accent and talked under his breathe. He does some basic sensory tests. Really doesn't want to find out what nerves in the "no man's zone" aren't working since he's not a gyno. He orders a brain MRI and some more blood work to check for MS. He also prescribes Neurontin assuring me this is exactly what I need and this should fix the problem. After 5 minutes, he has done his complete work up and charged me $300 for it. Jerk. He has scheduled me for a follow-up 2-3 weeks out. I am not happy but schedule my MRI and blood work.

*Note to self - look up Neurontin on the internet and find out what it is used for!

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Thursday - January 22nd, 2009 - Calling the Doctor

Well I woke up and the numbess has moved deeper. I can no longer feel my bladder or bowels. I know this sounds weird but I can only tell that I have to go to the bathroom when my bladder is full. I can push on my tummy and there is no pressure sensation or pain. I do have physical control thank God! I think it's time to call the doc. They tell me to go to the ER, they will have the proper testing needed to see what's going on.

When I get to the ER I am a nervous wreck. They are concerned and move quickly to get me into a room to start testing. When I first arrived the nurse wanted a gyno doc to check me out, but after the other doc came in he was certain in was neurological and began down the road of blood work, MRI's, CTs and Spinal Taps. Ouch. After 13 hours of tests and waiting, I was told everything was normal and was sent home to follow-up with a neurologist the next day. At this point I am frusterated and confused. I was thinking this would be an open and shut case. Little did I know this was just the beginning.

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Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 - Numbness Continues to Grow

The right side of my pelvis has also gone numb. It does not cross the midline of my belly, it is very distinct on the left and the right side. The right side area that is numb is not a large as the left side. I am very disturbed, but go throughout my day trying not to think about it. After all, it's only the skin, I can still fully function so maybe I just hit a nerve or something.

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Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 - Numbness Begins

I was laying in bed at night and I felt a weird twitch in my abdomen, if you've been pregnant I can only explain is as it felt like a baby jumped, but of course I am not pregnant so I was a little startled. I went to scratch my belly and realized I couldn't feel it. My entire left side of my pelvis from below my belly button to the top of my c-section line was completely numb. Just like when I had my c-section in 1998. I was very nervous and had a difficult time sleeping that night.

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Monday January 12th, 2009 - Pelvic Pain

This was the first day I started having problems. I had pelvic pain in my pelvis, low lying and constant for a full week. They weren't quite like any cramps I had experienced in the past. I had an IUD for 5 years and recently switched over to Yaz, a birth control pill. I thought maybe this was a precursor to finally having a period. I have not had one since I had the IUD placed.

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The Beginning

Where do I begin? Well I guess I will start with my past medical history brining me to the first day of my symptoms. This will be sort of long, but I feel it is important to share the past as it may have hidden clues for a diagnosis! Here we go.

• 1998 - Urgent C-Section to deliver identical twin boys at 33 weeks gestation. I received a spinal to numb me instantly and the nurse hit a nerve during the procedure. It took about 5 months for the feeling to come back after the cesarian and the pain in my back never fully subsided from the nerve she hit.
• 1999 - Threw out my back which was still healing from the twin pregnancy. Taken to ER, put on meds and physical therapy. Recovered.
• September 29, 1999 - My husband is diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Talk about stress overload. Went through a few boughts of depression and took some anti-depressents during this time. Husband ended up surviving after a year long battle and things were good.
• No Direct Time Frame - Have had strep throat on several occasions and everytime the docs test me for meningitis since my reaction is so severe. I was even hospitalized for it once since my body went into shock.
• Jan 2001 - Gave birth naturally to my miracle daughter. After my husband's leukemia, Stanford told us he was infertile. God gave us a true blessing and we thank Him daily for her! Had an epidural during labor and my right thigh went numb for 2 years,
• 2004 - Right shoulder blade went numb. No injury, just lost complete sensation in the skin. Muscle works fine. Still numb to this day.
• 2005 - Fell on stairwell, broke left foot in 3 places. Ouch. recovered in about 6 months.
• 2007 - Had severe pelvic pain in left pelvic are for about 2 months. CT Scan showed some type of growth in the abdomen. Small 1 inch incision made and a golf ball sized endometrioma was removed. Numb skin returned to normal after about 2 months.

So that is the past. Things were going well and I felt fine. This is where my story really begins...

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