Got back from the ENT doctor

[giza]

Well, the part of my ear that he can see is just fine. I'm being sent for an MRI to take a look at my inner ear so as to rule out accoustic neuromas. I'll also be returning to his office at some point to have my balance tested.

There is presently no current explanation for the speech/cognitive issues that I had last week. I may be seeing a neurologist in the future about this.

Between the ER trip and the MRI, the total cost of the medical procedures done on me will likely be more than I paid in premiums to keep my health insurance active through COBRA. The moral of the story is: keep your health insurance, no matter the cost!

Comments

[kellic.livejournal.com]

"keep your health insurance, no matter the cost!"

Ain't that the truth.


Good luck. If worse comes to worse I have a plunger that we could try on your ear. Just hold still THHHHHWAAK! Ewww...earwax.

[taral.livejournal.com]

+1 on the keep health insurance.

[zorinlynx.livejournal.com]

Hey Giza!

Get well soon. Kitties should never be sick!

-Zorin the Lynx

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

Stress and Migrane can do that. Heck, I've had something like that from nothing more than the kids yelling around me.

[giza.livejournal.com]

Don't ever bring your children near me, then. ;-)

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

heh. We have a deal :)

[furahi.livejournal.com]

I told my mom what I remembered of your posts, she offered nothing that you hadn't already considered or ruled out

She hasn't had the time to come here for me to actually read everything (I mean, I must've forgotten a lot of things =P)

But since you're seing specialists already I don't think her opinion will be very relevant anyway =P

::hugs:: Just hope you get well soon

[pyesetz]

The American health-insurance system seems deliberately designed to screw the poor.  If you don't have insurance, a doctor's visit will cost you $150.  If you're insured, the doctor will get $30 from your insurance company.  If he's willing to take $30 from a company with lots of money, how come he wants $150 from someone who obviously can't afford it?

[giza.livejournal.com]

If I understand the situation correctly, the doctor isn't "willing" to accept the $30. Rather, the insurance company determines how much they should be paid, if they should be paid at all.

Sometimes it's even necessary for the doctor to bitchslap the insurance company to get them to pay. See also:

• http://giza.livejournal.com/8513.html
  
• http://giza.livejournal.com/10306.html
  

[rustitobuck.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was gonna say, if they can't find anything physical, maybe look into the biochemical end, because it's sounding a lot like migraine to me.

Sad to say...

[amelitatwinstar.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it has been discussed or if anyone has mentioned it yet, but I think you should talk to your doctor about the possibility of multiple sclerosis. (They can look for lesions when you have the MRI; I don't think your CAT scan would have shown them but I could be wrong.) MS would account for all your symptoms, unfortunately. I do hope, of course, that it's something less serious.

Re: Sad to say...

[giza.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure that's not the case. Looking at the symptoms (http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms.asp):

- Bladder Dysfunction: No problems there. I still pee normally AND in approved containers!

- Bowel Dysfunction: I still poop normally. Also in approved containers

- Changes in Cognitive Function, including problems with memory, attention, and problem-solving: I had this for about 36 hours, then returned to normal. I put in an 8 hour workday today. That included walking about a mile, half of which was me carrying two large picture frames home from the office.

- Dizziness and Vertigo: Neither. I have balance issues. The room is NOT spinning.

- Depression: Nope

- Fatigue: Nope

- Difficulty in Walking and/or Balance or Coordination Problems: Yes, but these are from balance problems, not from weakness or fatigue.

- Numbness: Nope

- Pain: Nope

- Sexual Dysfunction: Recently got equipment lubed. It works properly.

- Spasticity: Other than one particular part of me being stiff from time to time (as it should be!), the rest of me is not very stiff at all.

- Vision Problems: Nope. I can still see my pr0n just fine.

So, thanks for looking out for me *grin*, but I really don't think it's MS based on my pattern of symptoms at this point in time. If my doctor thinks otherwise, I'm sure he'll bring it to my attention.

Re: Sad to say...

[music4fun.livejournal.com]

Glad most things seem to working all right for you. I had an MRI done some years ago and one the things they also did look for was MS. Didn't find anything, thank goodness.