Health-related prayer requests

[anlptgtsg]

Praying

[Sheenar]

I'm feeling better! I actually feel somewhat like myself again!

New vitamins that my body actually absorb plus following my regimen of supplements and diet have helped a lot. Thank you for the prayers!

Some snags with insurance/referrals/ adaptive equipment, but they're being worked out.

I am really excited about some things going on right now. Some really cool stuff is going to happen --I know it!

[DaughterOfZion]

Yeah! Congratulations. :3

[Atria35]

That's fabulous to hear!

[Sheenar]

Decided to post here to try to keep health stuff contained to one thread.

After much persistence, I finally got to talk with someone at my HMO about seeing the genetic/metabolic disease specialist downtown. I thought (and was told before) that this doctor is out-of-network --so I've been going through the process of getting my doctor to write a letter, get a referral, get documentation, etc.
The lady I spoke with today from my HMO told me that this specialist also sees patients at an in-network hospital/clinic. So I could see him in-network with only a referral! There's still a few details to iron out, but I pray that this works out for me! My whole life has been doctors not knowing what is causing what is going on with my body. 3 years ago, my life changed when I had a huge progression and had to totally re-learn and re-adapt ways to do everyday things. 3 years ago, I was told that it is highly likely I have mitochondrial disease. I have been through many tests (a few quite painful), some not-nice experiences, and been passed around like a hot potato from one specialist to another.

Prayerfully, this specialist will be able to pin down what the cause is of my health issues. He is held in high respect in the local mito community --one of the best in the country.

Please pray that this will come through for me. Even though I am already accepted as a patient by this particular hospital (I have an appointment with Neurology in March), there is some issue with me living in a different county. Pray that this leads to answers and better tailored treatment for my disease.

Other good news: being persistent pays off! After almost 2 months of round-and-round, I finally got Health and Human Services to count my medical expenses for my SNAP benefits! Yay! Praise God that went through finally!

[anlptgtsg]

Praying. Thankful about the medical expenses covered.

[Sheenar]

So, ever since I had that bad virus, I've been having more food issues. Hence the GI doc looking into if it is a gall bladder issue (that checked out okay) or possibly gastroparesis (haven't had that testing yet).

I can no longer tolerate any raw nuts at all. I get pretty bad pain in my stomach if I try to eat them. I also have started getting pain if I eat raw fruit or raw veggies --everything has to be cooked or I do not tolerate it well.

It is frustrating how my body keeps changing and I keep having to readjust. I see my GI doc tomorrow. Will talk to her about this. Am going to be starting cooking all fruit and vegetables and eating smaller, softer/easier to digest meals and see if that helps my symptoms.

Please pray. I am getting weary of so much of my life being controlled by food and what I cannot eat. I have to plan out everything and pack a meal or snack to take with me if I go out somewhere. I'm trying to develop easy-prep techniques to make it easier to prepare snacks and meals for each week.

Good news, though: I am finally caught up on rest and am feeling pretty good today.

[ClaecElric4God]

Praise the Lord! Glad to hear you're having good day. I'll be praying for you. This must be really hard for you to deal with, and it's encouraging to see you still trusting God with your problems.

[Sheenar]

So, this past Saturday, a friend needed me to take her to the mall so she could return something. She needed to take her scooter and I offered to put it on my lift on the back of my car.
I need to remember that I am not Super Woman. I hurt myself pretty badly tightening the straps on the lift (I haven't used my lift in at least 8 months because the straps are difficult to use). I didn't expect to hurt myself like this, so I thought, "Oh, I'll be a little sore, but it won't be a big deal."
I was wrong. I hurt a good bit. Dr. said I have pretty badly sprained the muscles in my arms, legs, and back. My left arm and leg are the worst. My muscles burn like they are on fire. Some are contracted and won't relax --some spasm. I'm having trouble using my left hand. Dr. said there's nothing to do but see the DO (who does adjustments and crick-cracking stuff to get things aligned again)--I see him in 10 days, which was the soonest available appointment.

I am upset with myself. And frustrated about the stupid straps the company sold me when there were options available at the time that don't involve me hurting myself trying to use them.

Please pray. I don't want to seem like I just come on here to complain. I am just hurting a lot and not having much use of one of my arms is making things difficult as I keep using that arm out of instinct and cause it to hurt more.

I also have a test at the hospital on Monday morning. It involves fasting, which tends to be rough. Please pray that it will give us clues as to why I'm having my stomach/eating problems.

Thank you, friends!

Good news, though, is my HMO let me know that the geneticist/metabolic specialist my dr. wants to refer me to is also at a hospital/clinic that is in-network. Dr.'s office got that referral in --now I am just waiting to hear back from the specialist's office as to whether they will see me as a patient or not.

[Sheenar]

I've been having a rough patch, but am doing alright --still able to work in the garden some, go to church, and do things I enjoy. So life is good overall.

I have an MRI of my brain scheduled for next week on Wednesday. Please pray. I am nervous. I have had many MRIs--the test itself is not what I am nervous about. I am nervous about the results. I've been having more stuttering, slurring of words, word-finding difficulties, and episodes of staring into space. Cognitive issues. More hearing loss. More sensory processing issues. I am praying that everything comes back normal --but at the same time, I wish they'd find something to show that I'm not making this stuff up, I'm not a hypochondriac, and I'm not crazy. Validation. There is a real disease process going on and we need to find out what it is.

Please pray, friends. Also, I have an appointment with Genetics in June. I have been gathering research articles to make my case to have my muscle biopsy sample sent off for genetic testing. I'm praying something comes through soon. I'm ready to get off this rollercoaster of being dismissed by doctors (I have had several who essentially treated me like I was crazy) and being misdiagnosed. Even though there is no cure for mitochondrial disease, I still want to know what disease I have so I can put a name to it (and so my supplements can be tailored to a specific disorder to help with quality of life).

[ClaecElric4God]

Praying, Sheenar. I really hope you get some of this figured out. Praying that God will introduce you to a doctor who can and is willing to help you.

[Sheenar]

My MRI is tomorrow morning at a hospital downtown. I will be at the hospital most of the day (have lab work after the MRI). I go back downtown on Thurs. for my follow-up visit with neurology. Going to be a long couple of days...

Some good news: After waiting since January (long story), I will finally be starting occupational therapy soon. Just have to get medical transport ironed out.

[anlptgtsg]

praying you find out what is wrong.

[Sheenar]

Please pray, friends. I am really anxious about today's appointment. Trying to focus my mind on God and that He is in control --and that He will walk with me through whatever may happen.

Also, please pray about a situation with medical transportation. I've been told that, according to a protocol set by the State of Texas, medical transportation cannot take me to my OT appointments because I am over the age of 21. They will transport me to PT (physical therapy), but not to OT. They also will not transport to dental appointments. Medicaid pays for OT visits and an annual dental visit --but won't pay for or provide transportation to get to these appointments.
I am going to be contacting my State representative as well as the Medicaid ombudsman. Please pray for favor with them and that change will take place.

[Sheenar]

Follow-up appointment went well. MRI is normal. Neuro ordered an EEG (is scheduled for July) to see if I am having seizure activity --I will have to stay awake the entire night before so that they can flash lights at me like I'm in a private dance club for one. haha
Will then follow-up with a neuromuscular specialist they are sending me to in their clinic.
Grateful for doctors who take the time to listen, who show they care, and who want to get to the bottom of what is going on.

[ClaecElric4God]

Praying.

[Sheenar]

I saw an orthopedic specialist on Friday for my shoulder injury. He's ordered a MRI of my shoulder to see what's going on --he said that I should be able to regain the functionality of my left hand that I lost when I injured my shoulder pulling the lift straps.
He wants me to go see a spine specialist --I'm experiencing a great deal of pain in my spine that's been worsening since my car wreck. I have to go to my PCP and ask her to order a MRI of my spine so I can go see the specialist. I cannot sit or lie comfortably in any position. I haven't been resting well. Sitting in a chair (at a doctor's office, at church, anywhere) is very difficult. I was given some pain medication, but still am not resting well.
I have some other upcoming specialist appointments. I am hoping that these acute issues get taken care of/resolved soon so I can have a nice, long break from seeing doctors. I just want to coast for a while --no more tests, no more appointments --just want to use the time and energy I have doing things I enjoy (like finishing all those partially-completed projects I have, working in the garden, reading, etc.)

One cool thing: I will be helping on the Advocacy and Education/Awareness committee for my local UMDF chapter (UMDF is an international organization that offers support for patients with mitochondrial disease and their families --as well as doing advocacy to get more research funding and bring awareness of this disease). Our first committee teleconference call is this Tuesday. Such a cool opportunity God has given me to help.

Thank you for praying, friends.

[Sheenar]

Having a pretty rough day pain-wise. Was doing a bit better in that area --but a medical transportation issue yesterday resulted in a long walk for me and a lot of pain today.
I find out my MRI results next week on Wed. I pray that my shoulder is something fixable and not a "new normal" for me. Still haven't heard back from my primary care doc's office about sending me to a spinal specialist for my back injury (from the car accident). It's still very painful to sit and lie down. PT is helping some with the pain, but I'm still hurting. Had to stop taking the pain medication weeks ago because it triggered GI issues. Trying 100% ginger root tea to see if it helps with the pain and inflammation.
Something's got to give. And soon. I am burned out with all the medical stuff going on. All I want is to be able to live--volunteer, make jewelry, even work part-time --not spend so much time and energy on medical appointments/related things. I need a break from medical stuff --very badly!

[ClaecElric4God]

Always praying for you Sheenar. I hope God shows you the light at the end of the tunnel soon.

[Sheenar]

Just returned from 4 days at camp. It is a camp called Camp Blessing --I attended the week for adults with disabilities. Was a VERY needed break from doctor's appointments, phone calls, etc.

This week is a marathon week of appointments (except for Wednesday when I have nothing scheduled). I see the spine specialist and start PT for my shoulder on Tuesday. Have PT and OT again on Thurs. Then I have a medical test (EEG) early Friday morning (have to be at the hospital in Houston at 7:00 am) --have to stay awake the entire night before. Going to be rough.

I woke up this morning with my stomach hurting and feeling very nauseated. Started running a fever this evening. Have hardly been able to eat anything today. My caretaker will not be able to come tomorrow as she cannot risk bringing home anything to her immuno-compromised husband. So I will be fending for myself.

Please pray. This is not a good time at all for me to get sick (not that any time is a good time --but now is especially not a good time). Please also pray for the medical appointments this week --that answers will be found so that treatments can begin. I start my new job next week on Wednesday and I want to start off on a strong note --I pray that I will be able to sustain the job long-term --it has been what I've been working toward for the past 2 years.

[ClaecElric4God]

Praying.

[Sheenar]

I forgot to update this.

In brief, MRI of my shoulder showed a tear in the labrum (soft tissue). Am doing PT to try to strengthen the muscles around it so that the tear can (hopefully) heal on its own. My goal and hope is to avoid surgery.

MRI of my spine came back clear other than a minor slipped disc in my neck. Am being referred to a fibro specialist to hopefully find better pain management.

My insurance company (HMO) sent me a letter on Monday stating that they are pulling all dental coverage effective Sept. 1st. So I went and got my exam/cleaning on Wednesday to get that in before the change. Found out I need 3 fillings --which aren't covered, so I am researching to locate sliding-scale dental clinics in my area.

Job is going well --the shifts just fly by --coworkers and supervisor are wonderful, the work itself is engaging. The main issues are pain and fatigue. In the past few weeks, my muscles have started spasming more severely than normal and I've started getting Charlie Horse -type muscle contractions all over my body. Very painful. Working in PT on techniques to hopefully get muscles to relax and to get the pain more under control. I cried during PT yesterday because my muscles started contracting during exercises and it HURT.
Going to make a more concerted effort to keep up with my home PT exercises and continue to work hard in PT. Not going to give up.

Had a really good (and hopeful) meeting with my job coach this week. We're going to be coming up with ways to make things more ergonomic and efficient at work to reduce pain and fatigue.

[Sheenar]

Trying to keep this short and not overwhelming.

Rush of specialist appointments in the past few weeks. Lots of testing ordered. Lots of bloodwork drawn (16 vials total between Monday and yesterday).

Having a nerve conduction study done on Monday and Tuesday (broken up because of insurance). The last time I had one, I cried like a little girl because it hurt so much. Definitely not looking forward to it. But it's the way to test for nerve damage, so I have to just get through it.

Other tests are pending.

I am concerned because I am losing weight. I am below 150 pounds now and that scares me a bit. I haven't been at this weight since junior high. I eat, but am still losing. Wonder if maybe nutrients aren't getting absorbed properly.

Please pray, friends. Pray that the nerve conduction test will go well and that my pain from it won't be high. Pray that all this testing will give some answers and provide groundwork for courses of treatment.

[ClaecElric4God]

I'm praying, Sheenar. I'll keep these things in mind as I pray for you.

[Sheenar]

Just have to report that I experienced today (well, yesterday now) one of the most compassionate acts a doctor has ever done for me.

SO grateful for this new neuro --such a kind and compassionate man --and skilled doctor. He sat beside me during the EMG (where he put the needle into different muscles) and talked with me about different subjects --to help get my mind focused on other things (I was super anxious due to a past traumatic event that happened the last time I had this test done) --and the test actually wasn't bad at all (the nerve conduction study was rougher). He is a brother in Christ --I was wearing my VBS shirt and the topic came up --and I am praising God to finally have someone who cares this much on my medical team --especially after the nightmare I went through at the one neuro clinic last year. He didn't belittle me because I was anxious --he responded with so much grace and understanding.
Being shown kindness and compassion --and being taken seriously --that is a huge blessing! It means SO much!


Now on to EMG/Nerve Conduction Study Part Two at 11:30 today. Arms yesterday --legs today.

[Okami]

Just have to report that I experienced today (well, yesterday now) one of the most compassionate acts a doctor has ever done for me.

SO grateful for this new neuro --such a kind and compassionate man --and skilled doctor. He sat beside me during the EMG (where he put the needle into different muscles) and talked with me about different subjects --to help get my mind focused on other things (I was super anxious due to a past traumatic event that happened the last time I had this test done) --and the test actually wasn't bad at all (the nerve conduction study was rougher). He is a brother in Christ --I was wearing my VBS shirt and the topic came up --and I am praising God to finally have someone who cares this much on my medical team --especially after the nightmare I went through at the one neuro clinic last year. He didn't belittle me because I was anxious --he responded with so much grace and understanding.
Being shown kindness and compassion --and being taken seriously --that is a huge blessing! It means SO much!


Now on to EMG/Nerve Conduction Study Part Two at 11:30 today. Arms yesterday --legs today.

Aw! I'm smiling so much right now... God is so good. <3 He always knows what we need when we need it... I am SO so glad to hear that this doctor is willing to get right down on your level with grace! What a blessing, indeed.

[Sheenar]

It means a LOT when a doctor shows caring on that level --I definitely am blessed!

I feel pretty rough still today (legs still hurt a good bit from the tests), but it has been a good day --work went well and now I have the evening to rest and prepare for tomorrow's shift.

[ClaecElric4God]

Aw, that's so awesome, Sheenar! Praise the Lord! So glad to hear He blessed you with such an awesome doctor, and that things went so smoothly. It's so cool to see God work like that!
You rest up, and have a great day at work!

[Sheenar]

Been struggling a LOT with pain levels --but cannot take any pain meds. So have been trying other methods to cope. I have been referred to aquatherapy and another course of PT --now just trying to find a facility in my area that is willing to take an out-of-network referral.

Also, I am currently sick with a 102 degree fever. I feel soooo miserable. Really sucks to be sick like this so close to Christmas. I pray I recover before my family get-together. I have not seen most of my family since Christmas last year.

Speaking of family, please pray also for my aunt. Just found out this past week that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. She's really struggling health-wise and with some events going on in our family.

Thank you, everyone for the prayers! <3

[anlptgtsg]

Prayer lifted.