Right Diagnosis Will Make You One of 329,000 Cases Each Year
Sometimes, feeling better starts with a diagnosis.
It started August 1. He shivered under two blankets. Later, he threw off the covers and directed his partner to turn the air conditioner up high.
At the end of week one,
he went to the emergency room. He hadn’t improved. They pumped him full of rehydration fluid, noted his potassium was abnormally low, and dismissed him with, “some strange virus.”
A cough replaced the fever. “Viruses come and go and coughs linger for a few weeks.” his own physician noted.
- He complained of pain in his finger joints. He watched his diet and sipped apple-cider vinegar.
- He woke every 45 minutes to pee. He attributed it to the hour he took his blood pressure medicines.
- He slept til noon, got up for a few hours, and went back to bed. He wondered if the house sale was stressing hm.
- He had no appetite. He lost weight; happily, he thought his wish had come true.
- He felt feverish again.
At week five,
he still coughed. His testosterone level was abnormally low.
At week six,
he couldn’t completely close the eye that he’d had surgery on two years before. His partner said cynically, “Add that to the list of problems.” His brothers said, “Possible stroke.” He went to the emergency clinic again and doctors diagnosed him with Bell’s Palsy. The follow-up notes showed fifty percent of these palsy cases were caused by varicella-zoster, the same virus that brought on Shingles.
“Stay put; don’t travel; make sure the palsy subsides,” his second physician directed.
Then, friends emailed an article noting Lyme Disease’s peculiar lack of diagnosis within the medical community. In separate conversations, other friends mentioned Lyme Disease and their own odd symptoms before diagnosis.
Week seven,
His fingers again swelled — too painful to drive. He went to the emergency room where he received painkillers and a test for Lyme Disease.
The results of the tests were delayed six days.
Week eight,
His partner, who had left for Europe in hopes that he would follow soon, dined with his extended family at a small brewery in Germany. Over salads and schnitzel and potatoes they told stories of travel and culture. They talked about him, how they wished he was there and how he could join them once he had a clear medical diagnosis.
After dinner, as they scattered to their cars, his name popped up on his partner’s mobile. She answered and he blurted to her, “The first tests just came back — they’re ….”
She yelled out across the lot, “He has Lyme Disease!” And from the corners of the parking platz, a cheer went up: “Congratulations!” “Woohoo!” “That’s great!”
A peculiar yet appropriate response to a possible diagnosis, a long-time coming.
Stories about Lyme Disease? Everyone knows somebody with it — or will.
See also Mayo Clinic website and Lyme Disease stories
Your thoughts and opinion are always welcome by scrolling down or emailing johaselhoef@gmail.com.
Judy O Haselhoef, a social artist, story-teller, and author of “GIVE & TAKE: Doing Our Damnedest NOT to be Another Charity in Haiti,” blogs regularly at her website, www.JOHaselhoef.com.
Copyright @2016: If you’d like to use any part of it (up to 200 words), please give full attribution and this website, www.JOHaselhoef.com.
