It’s been 3 years since I’ve posted here. I had actually forgotten about it for a while to be honest. Unfortunately I was correct about something concerning my health.. things I’d been considering since 2019.
In a previous post here.. I mentioned that I’d been having a lot of medical tests, as I had developed multiple conditions. I kept saying to anyone that would listen “all of these seemingly random conditions are not random at all. They are part of an actual condition that has yet to be identified. Once it is found, all of these seemingly random issues will be acknowledged as part of that condition.”
In March of 2022 I learned that I was correct. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I was prepared for it. I’d already been dealing with multiple chronic issues for decades. I had a pharmacist that I trusted. A GP that had been following me for decades, a good psychiatrist and a combination of psych meds that was keeping me very stable in term of bipolar disorder.
A life long chronic illness can cause depression. I already had a lot of “tools” (that’s some therapy talk having tools in your toolbox.. you need tools to build a house, and tools to build your life. Some don’t like that terminology, but I like it) to deal with depression and a safety plan. One of the medications can cause all of the symptoms of bipolar and schizophrenia. I was very concerned about this. The idea of having a manic episode was very concerning. It can be destructive and sometimes it can take 2 years to recover. My pharmacist was very gently trying to say that I was already on all of the medications. So I said it for her. We both laughed.
I’m glad when people can read the room. she basically told me I’m already on the medications to counter any psychiatric side effects. Also, that the dosages were so low those type of side effects shouldnt happen with anyone. She also stressed that if my MS neurologist wants me to take certain medications, there is definitely a reason for it.
I have since learned I’m actually on the highest dosage of medication that exists. They said they have to use an “aggressive approach.” This was because the MS had progressed so much. I think I’d probably had it for 8-10 years prior to the diagnosis. This is common. The only thing other than my meds are clinical trials with chemotherapy medications. I cannot be a part of clinical trials because of my many issues and psychiatric medications.
One of the interesting things that I learned was, it was a very good thing that I was getting intravenous medications. Often oral medications interact with my psychiatric medication. Apparently, when something comes through the intravenous route, it bypasses a lot of the things that happen when you take oral medication. I didn’t have to worry about interactions with my psychiatric medication.
It’s been an interesting journey. The diagnosis could have happened a few years earlier. Different doctors had been requesting MRIs for years. I have a Harrington rod in my back. Spinal fusion for scoliosis. I was told to let doctors know that I have metal if they request any imaging like X-rays, CT scans.. even ultrasounds. The doctors would just hear the word metal, then tell me they would do a CT scan instead.
**Something important to note**.. only an MRI can detect certain MS related features. Many doctors did not know that I actually can have an MRI even though I have metal. The proper thing to do it to ask the radiologist! They will ask the type of metal implant, the year it was done and where the procedure was performed. They may possible need to contact the surgeon that performed the procedure. As simple as that. Likely my MS would not have progressed so severely. What’s done is done. Please help me spread the word.
Please do consult with your radiologist if you are in need of an MRI and you have a metal implant.
More to come on my experience with MS. Wow. If I only had chronic pain and bipolar things would be so much more simply relatively speaking.
Have a wonderful weekend my lovelies. Sorry it’s been so long.
N.A.Z. (not anybody’s zero.)
Just Mai 2 Cents 