As a wee little tot I didn’t seem to be growing very much. So I became a patient of The Childrens Hospital in Buffalo, New York. They put me on thrice-weekly injections and medication to remedy things. During my childhood years I spent a lot of time in hospitals; if it wasn’t to do with the whole endocrinology business, it was one of three hospital stays brought on by my asthma.
From 1998 (which is when I moved out to Nebraska and seems as good a line in the sand as any) to about 6 or 7 weeks ago, I had a pretty easy go of things healthwise. Sure, I spent a couple of scary days in the ER when my asthma acted up..and I had to tend to some bumps and bruises brought on by my championship-level clumsiness. But nothing too alarming.
My first day back at work after Christmas was a very taxing one. Tensions among coworkers were high for reasons too boring to dredge up; I had to do some major make-up work because technology failed me. Oh, and I worked from 6am to 1am the next day because it was New Years Eve and we do a radio show each New Years Eve. While we were doing that show I noticed I was having facial tremors intermittently. They were like the eye twitch people get when they’re really stressed…but these involved more real estate.
The tremors went away after New Year’s…but three weeks later, they came back, and haven’t left since. I get them at work, I get them at home. They do not seem to discriminate as to whether I’m relaxed, nervous, or what-have-you. The thing that really scares me is when I try to record something, or do a mic break on the air, the tremors flair up. They affect my ability to enunciate. It’s about as disconcerting as can be.
My physician, after ordering and reviewing some blood tests, sent me to have an ultrasound on my abdomen. Then he sent me to do a CT scan of my brain, plus a bone density scan. Results: I have osteoperosis. And something called a Chiari Malformation…which means the base of my brain is pushing down into my spinal cord. The next step is an MRI. Depending on the results of the MRI there may be surgery in my future.
Considering that the Chiari Malformation affects the area of the brain that regulates balance, surgery might do me some good. But on the other hand, I would be paying for said surgery for the rest of my adult life. I’m already stressed out about the $2,000 “patient responsibility” of the MRI. I spent about an hour Friday printing out every financial document imaginable to send along to the hospital in hopes of getting some leniency.
Obviously, between the Chiari and the brittle bones I’ve got some things that need to be addressed. And my doctor is on the job. But the greatest anxiety for me (and not a big deal to my doc) is still the facial tremors. The way they affect my performance at work, the awkwardness I feel dealing with them in social situations…my friend Kalin says they are not noticeable but I find that hard to believe. When they happen I feel the left side of my face contort.
Updates to come.