So, I had an appointment today with the Gastroenterologist and I was really looking forward to it. First, I’ve been feeling pretty crappy and while some of you on Facebook have heard me chat a bit about my random ongoing medical problems, the overall issue is that I have one really bad kidney and one not-so-spectacular kidney. This, in addition to my rather extreme anemia, which I go and get regular infusions for. Basically, what this appointment boiled down to was that my regular Dr. did some blood work, ordered some tests and decided that my issue was beyond the scope of her abilities, so she sent me off (nice waste of 2 weeks, in the interim, however).
Anyway, as I was saying, today was the appointment and I was looking forward to finally maybe getting closer to finding out what the problem is. My first impression of the clinic? Wow. It was clean, modern, staffed with people who didn’t have an attitude problem and the chairs. I can’t say enough about the chairs. I mean, if you’re going to make a person wait an hour to see you, at least give them a decent chair to do it. To be honest, I wasn’t nearly as irritated about being called back 15 minutes after my appointment time as I usually am. I think I’ll write a note to my regular Dr. considering I usually spend more than an hour sitting in hers.
At any rate. Nice digs. Seriously.
So they take me back, with a smile and stuff. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought I was dreaming (It was seriously that amazing). The CNA, beaming with a smile took my weight, blood pressure and history then told me the Dr. would be right in.
I settled back for some light reading, knowing that I’d likely be waiting a bit and was shocked, when just minutes later, he walked in, shook my hand and sat down and had a chat with me. Like a chat. The guy, he spent a good 45 minutes talking with me about my issues, what could be causing them, going over my labs, talking about my need for a colonoscopy and just generally being the most fantastic Dr. ever in the history of the free world.
He decided that our next steps would be (his words, not mine) “the mother of all blood work” and an MRI, this time, of the organ that seems to be creating this mess I’m in.
So, here’s the deal:
My liver enzymes are elevated, like ten times the normal rate and my Bilirubin is also elevated, which has turned me this nifty neat-o shade of yellow. The cause of this can be any number of things, so hopefully this mother of all blood work will shed some light on the situation.
In addition to the blood work – I’m going to go have an MRI in a few days (not sure when exactly) to see just what the situation might be with the liver and spleen (which is enlarged as well).
The answer, at this point, is there is no answer. However, I finally feel like I am working with a Dr. who really wants to find out what the answer is. I’m stoked.
Now, I’ve got to go and get ready for the kids Open House at the high school tonight. I think I’m still in denial about being the mother of a child in high school. I’m much much to young for this to be my reality. Seriously.
(I forgot to mention, “the mother of all blood work” included 12 vials of blood. 12. When we were done, the nurse made me sit there for 15 minutes just to make sure I wasn’t going to pass out! LOL)
No related posts.
Reading your twitter posts but didn’t want to pry. (delete this if I say too much – want to respect privacy of course). I wish I had a magic wand to fix all the kidney issues for the people I love (and the people THEY love). My gosh.
Awww Dawn, you’re fine
It’s hard to get it all out in 140 Chars or less, you know? I’m going to be ok and I appreciate your thoughts for me and my family 
Getting some support from my online family was one of the key reasons why I decided to start blogging again. You guys are so awesome!
TWELVE?
Twelve.
I was just pleased she did it in one shot, using a butterfly needle – that’s some talent if you ask me. She was worried at first when I told her she wouldn’t be able to stick me with anything larger than the butterfly – said she’d have to stick me several times to get all the blood – but in the end, I managed to make it happen (with her help) with just the one stick. I was literally hanging off the front of the chair with my arm almost on the floor by the last one…but she was a trooper and just sat down right on the floor and kept going!
Fun was had by all.