So, as I said yesterday, I was off to the Dcotor's this morning to get blood test results and scan results.
I'll deal with the scan results first as they're slightly less complicated. Basically, 3 weeks before Christmas I started bleeding and, up until 2 weeks ago, I bled every single day…and I'm still alive (which freaks Matt out no end lol). The scan results showed no abnormalities and no cysts on the ovaries (which we thought may have been a problem again, having previously been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome as a teenager). The only thing it showed is that my womb is slightly misshapen, in that the top of it comes down a bit, so it looks like I have 2 "holes" - nice! But, apparently, this shouldn't cause any problems should I ever manage to get pregnant again (and hold on to it for longer than 16 weeks that is).
Now, the blood test results. There were a few abnormalities; specifically my Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate or, ESR as it's called for short. I have no idea what that means, except that I am being sent to have more blood sucked out of me tomorrow too…
The Doctor I saw today though was a locum at the Surgery but he was fantastic. He asked me what the problem was and went through all my issues regarding Fibro, ME, etc. He asked me loads of questions too and said, in his opinion, based on what I'd said, I also have Polymyalgia Rheumatica. He said that it is commonly treated with Steroids but, that said, "normal" Fibro doesn't tend to react too well with steroids so he left the choice up to me: do I want steroids now or do I want to carry on with the medication I have currently and see how I get on with a view to possibly having a course of steroids at a later date? I went for the second option which seemed to please him.
He kept looking at me very intently and then he said to me "Gemma, what are you worried about?" I was gobsmacked. I looked at him and answered quite honestly "I don't know….silly things….every thing" and ended up in tears. (Trying to blink back the tears as I type this too). He went on to say to me that I get stressed a lot and worry myself over silly things, which is true, and also explained about comfort eating, stressing again and retaining tension and how that won't be helping my shoulder (or the bleeding issue either).
He then took my right hand (which is the arm with the bad shoulder) and pressed his finger firmly into an area next to my little finger, then looked me square in the eyes and pulled my arm up! I waited for the inevitable bolt of pain that was about to rip through my body and, sure enough, nothing happened. Sorry, what? Nothing happened. He then smiled and said "that didn't hurt did it?" He then went on to ask me if I had ever tried "alternative" therapies. I said I'd had massage before and had considered, but never had, acupuncture - this made his eyes light up then, before I knew what was happening, he'd turned to his bag and whipped out a packet of acupuncture needles. Now, I'd never seen these needles in real life and, have to admit, I did go a little light headed at how long they are - especially when he pulled one out of the packet and pushed it into my hand where he had previously had his finger.
He said that, when it's in the right place, I'll feel a dull ache. At this point I was starting to think that the needle was going to come out the other side of my hand!, but then there it was, the dull ache. He then told me to move my arm around, which I did and, surprisingly, no pain...at all?!
Turns out, perhaps now obviously, that he actually specialises in acupuncture and runs a clinic about half an hour away from me. As he said, unfortunately the NHS don't fund acupuncture, but he said he felt it is definitely something I would benefit from and that I should look into and, before any of you think, "of course he did so he can get money out of you", he actually recommended me to an acupuncturist who is only about 10 minutes away from me. He also said I should phone the local Counselling Service "just to talk things through", rather than bottle them up and that I should look into the local meditation group that runs meetings at the weekend. I think I may just do that.
Turns out, perhaps now obviously, that he actually specialises in acupuncture and runs a clinic about half an hour away from me. As he said, unfortunately the NHS don't fund acupuncture, but he said he felt it is definitely something I would benefit from and that I should look into and, before any of you think, "of course he did so he can get money out of you", he actually recommended me to an acupuncturist who is only about 10 minutes away from me. He also said I should phone the local Counselling Service "just to talk things through", rather than bottle them up and that I should look into the local meditation group that runs meetings at the weekend. I think I may just do that.
Upon leaving, he shook my hand and then, while still holding my hand, told me to stop worrying and, having picked up on my saying that my appearance/weight was something that stresses me out, said "I mean look at you, you look fantastic and you are beautiful; if anyone thinks otherwise punch them out". (I laughed at this point). Is it possible to fall a bit in love with your Doctor?, because I did. But seriously though, the man is a genius; not only did he take away the pain in my shoulder (and show me how to use the pressure point at home to help with the pain), he actually made me feel good about myself.
I will be looking into acupuncture at some point though, at £45 a session, it will have to be as a treat. As for the meditation and counselling, I'll be making the necessary calls and enquiries later this week.
If anyone wants the link to his website, he is based in Kent (UK) and can be found here.
Until next time,
Gem xx
