I rarely blog about my health, simply because I am of the firm belief that using health issues as a crutch and/or free pass to act like a schmuck is seriously f'd up. I know that my readers, like myself, are of the antiquated view that health issues do not define you as a person nor do they run your life. So most of the time, when I mention a particular health issue, it's usually in passing reference to something else. Basically, I have it, it's something that doesn't run my life 24/7, and I deal with it on my own terms as I go about my business.
Most of my regular readers know that I have muscular dystrophy (yay, I's Jerry's Kids!). Specifically, I was given a working diagnosis of C.M.T. back in 2008. For the past 8 years (and a few years prior) it has made living my life an ongoing adventure of non-stop fun and merriment. Lately, it has made me state quite succinctly to everyone within earshot that walking/standing is highly overrated.
How did I come about this? Well, it seems when you turn the magic number of 50 you start to question certain aspects of your health. In regards to my C.M.T., I decided that it was high time to get a more definitive diagnosis of what I got, as opposed to the working diagnosis that I was given those many years ago. So, with slight trepidation, we went in for an EMG test. About an hour later, the doctor utters a phrase that as a patient, no matter what the procedure being undertaken, you never want to hear.
"Well, that was interesting."
Yes, Interesting. Interesting, as in: what you thought was and thus diagnosed as such, is now not and in fact the results are pointing into a completely different direction that you hadn't considered before.
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that I had this done, 'cause I'm already an interesting case study. Doctor has never seen what I have where I have it before. But, to be hones, it's a bitch to be unique.
So, in order to narrow it down even further, we had a vampire drain another 5 tubes of blood for a little DNA testing to see what it is exactly I do have. I should mention that unlike four years ago when this $5K test wasn't covered by the insurance, this time, this now $4K test is covered by the insurance. And no co-payment is being charged.
So while wait for the test results, I stagger along through life with leg weakness below the knees, a now even more screwed up gait, and a determination not to let this rue my life (yes, I still force myself to go bike riding on Saturdays to run my morning errands. Roughly 5.8 miles roundtrip).
Yes, life can throw you a knuckle ball/hail mary/bicycle kick/bouncing hockey puck to an empty net, but it's up to you on how you're gonna deal with it. Do you rule it and hit it out of the park/bat it away/finger touch it over the goal/belly flop, or do you let it rule you and become a goat?
(c) 2015 BOOKS BY G.B. MILLER. All Rights Reserved.
I try not to dwell on health issues but I don't generally keep them secret either. They just are, a part of life really. I've usually had more problems dealing with the health issues of loved ones than my own
ReplyDeleteSame here. I have issues and my family has issues. We still live our lives to the fullest (and then some) and pshaw! to the health issues.
DeleteIt's always good to know exactly what you're dealing with, so you are wise to have the new testing.
ReplyDeleteMost definitely. I actually started going back to this particular doctor after a 2 year hiatus because I thought I was misdiagnosed and had MS. Fortunately, knock on wood, that isn't the case.
DeleteNo one wants to hear interesting, especially if you're visiting Dr. House.
ReplyDeleteHope the new tests reveal something that they can help you with.
That did open my eyes. To have a respected doctor utter that phrase really made me sit up and take notice. I'm not a fan of having lots of tests done, but since this has the potential of affecting other members of the immediate and distant family, it was the prudent thing to do.
Deletegood for you...i struggle with things that happen to me and some times they get the better of me (okay, a lot of times), but i do try to do more than i probably should and keep a good attitude...you keep going, it is more than half the battle
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteA good attitude is definitely more than half the battle fought and won.
I like your philosophy about this. Some folks live to bask in their disabilities and setbacks while others just live and figure a way to cope and work around their disadvantages. I'm all for the latter. I don't want to hear a person whining about how they can't get past a life obstacle and it's holding them back, but I'd rather hear a heroic story about how a person dealt with and got over an obstacle to keep moving on in life.
ReplyDeleteYou've told your inspiring story and we're cheering you rather than getting depressed commiserating with you. Keep up the attitude.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Thanks.
DeleteI've taught myself a long time ago a boatload of workarounds in regards to my MD and most people seem to know when to back off and when to ask. I have no qualms in asking for help. Life goes on, and I would rather be here enjoying it until I'm kissing 100 as opposed to being a sad sack and phoning it in the rest of the time.
When we meet someone and s/he asks "How are you?" they are usually just being polite. Nobody really wants to hear your list of medical mishaps and problems so I just say "Fine, thanks, and you?"
ReplyDeleteMost of us are lucky enough to get through the first thirty years of life with very few health problems. As old Father Time catches up on us he has a habit of slowing us down and sometimes giving us a nasty injury with he scythe.
Expect it. When it happens remember FAFL (I pronounce it Faffle). It helps ME, but no guarantees to everyone:
F Face it
A Accept it
F Float above it in your mind
L Let time pass.
I wish you as much good health as possible
Love your comment and your little thing of FAFL aka Faffle. I agree, no one want to hear how you really are these days, except maybe family, friends and close co-workers.
DeleteI do all of the above and above all, I do not let it run my life.
I wish you the same with your health too.
Ruling them is my goal as well - and I'm "unique" too! My dr. thinks I now have the mutant gene. I want a better superpower than the inability to eat cheesecake...
ReplyDeleteKeep me posted. And hang in.
Oh, and you will appreciate this - I get a text on my birthday from a friend who I have known since before the mutation almost killed me. "Can you eat sugar? I just made some brownies..."
ReplyDeleteThis same friend has high blood sugar and diabetes runs in her family.
I shall keep you posted. I'll be sharing the final diagnosis with only family and very close friends. Once I can fully wrap my head around it and accept whatever it may be, then I'll probably let loose on the blog with it.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have a mutant gene, something better than the power not to grow hair on the top of my head.
Gotta love your friend for ignoring reality, family history and not giving in to the inevitable.
Oh boy. Waiting on test results is never fun. It's amazing to me how little I knew about the travails of aging when I was younger. I'm sure that plenty of people around me had significant health issues, but no one talked about them with me because I was a kid. It's only now that I appreciate how many brave people soldier on through life despite merciless obstacles. (I also appreciate my own, generally excellent health much more.)
ReplyDeleteGot that right. I got a couple of letters from the testing lab that gave detail instructions on how they need to be paid and that they couldn't release the results to me (duh!). Aging isn't so bad, but it's the insidiousness of the various maladies that one can get/has that makes it so frustrating.
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