Test Results and General Update

Neuropsychiatric Evaluation: I didn't particularly present with anxiety, and my scores, according to the doctor, were very good. My overall IQ was in the high average range, and my verbal IQ was in the gifted range. My weaknesses were mathematics and spatial relationships. I had excellent recall. The recall result (99th percentile) just floored me; I was sure I had tanked that part of the test.

Unlike the doctor, I do not think my scores were very good. I think they were disastrous and completely prove my point that something cognitive is happening. Years ago, my IQ tested in the gifted range overall, and the number was much higher than the verbal score I just received. People shouldn't lose IQ points; it's possible to get a score that's a few points off (15 at most, from what I've read) under normal circumstances, but a score shouldn't be this drastically different. A score that is high average looks great to a tester who doesn't know what my cognitive abilities used to be. But it depresses the hell out of me. I didn't even bother arguing with the doctor when he gave me my results. I don't have proof of my former score, and I don't want to be seen as an obstinate patient. But when I get this all figured out and my thinking has become more clear, I will be taking another test, even if I have to do it at my own expense.

Latest Blood Tests: They came back negative.

Muscle Biopsy: The surgeon insists on a consultation before he'll schedule the surgery. I have that initial appointment scheduled for early next month.

Physical Therapist: Not a total waste of time. I think the exercises will be, because my issue is not one of strength but of endurance, but I'll be cooperative and do them.

The real boon, though, is that I'm being prescribed a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) machine. It's an electrical muscle stimulation machine. The therapist said point blank that it doesn't change whatever process in the body is causing pain, but it "covers up" the pain with other sensations. An acupuncturist I once saw used this on me. It has no lasting effect, but it feels wonderful when it's being used. I'll be able to wear my portable machine (which I'm picking up tomorrow) during most routine activities, so I'll be able to get more done. Thankfully.

Epidurals: Still not working. The doctor said if this last shot didn't work, we'd have to look at other options. At this point, I'm not willing to bother. I just don't have the time or energy to chase more than one treatment at a time, and I know that I'll at least get some relief with the device I'm getting from the physical therapist.

My sleep is awful. My primary care physician has wanted to put me on sleeping pills, and I've resisted. I think I'm going to call and ask for that prescription after all [author's note: I changed my mind about this and never asked for sleeping pills]. My sleeping patterns are almost completely backward. Completely backward, I could adjust to and work with. Almost completely backward is something else entirely and leave me unable to even guess at what my energy levels will be.

That's it. I guess this all sounds pretty dismal, but I'm actually feeling optimistic. With the TENS machine, I'll be able to get more work done. And I still suspect that severe sleep deprivation/the wrong kind of sleep is causing a lot of my cognitive problems. With the sleeping pills, I'll be able to get on a schedule and, hopefully, get some of my energy and brain function back.

Epidurals and Psych Testing, Oh Boy!

My primary care physician still thinks it's possible that pinched nerves in my cervical spine are causing some (but definitely not all) of the symptoms in my arms. To that end, he sent me to a pain specialist for an epidural of cortisone. The idea is that the cortisone, one injected into the spine, will disperse through the canals coming off of the spine and shrink any tissue that happens to be inflamed and is pinching the nerves. Sometimes the effect lasts for months, and sometimes it is a permanent fix.

There is a little guesswork involved in finding the very spot to inject the medicine, however, and sometimes it's necessary to get more than one shot. The first shot, which I had more than a week ago, has not helped. I will get another in a few days.

I also had some psychological testing the other day. There were two reasons for this. The first reason is that I want to swiftly and surely shut down any "it's all in her head" arguments by having evidence that I'm completely mentally healthy. I was pretty laid back and kept my sense of humor about me when taking the tests, so I really don't think they're going to show any abnormal stress or anxiety.

The second reason is that I want to have a baseline, a record documenting my mental acuity right now so that it will be easy to see if that acuity changes in the future.

My gut feeling about the testing is that I scored well verbally, was weak with spatial relationships (never a strong suit), showed mathematical proficiency but not much else (what would I expect after being out of school for so long?), and demonstrated some severe weaknesses where memory is concerned. But those are just my guesses; I won't know the results for possibly as long as two months.

I have a followup appointment with my new neurologist the day before the second epidural. She told me at my last visit that if the bloodwork she ordered all came back negative, she'd be ordering a muscle biopsy. I know from my primary care physician that all of my bloodwork was negative, so I'm guessing a muscle biopsy is in my future. I'd love the idea if muscle biopsies generally solved such medical mysteries as mine. From what I've read, though, it seems they're like all the blood tests I've had - they may or may not show something that a person may or may not have.

I'll update the blog when I know more. Or when I know only exactly what I know now but have another test result.