I went for my neurologist appointment recently and it both reassured and gave me reason for concern.
When I met the neurologist, I was just a teeny bit surprised at how young he looked. I looked at all his diplomas on the wall and saw that he'd gotten them only a couple of years ago. However, after consulting with him, I felt confident that he must have gotten the latest research and that he was a doctor I could rely on.
He looked at my CT scans and said there wasn't any serious abnormalities except for the cyst in my sinus. Just when I relaxed, he said that the CT scan isn't the optimum way to look at my brain. An MRI would be necessary for that. He wanted to look for tumors.
What?!?
I'd been concerned about frontal lobe dementia, but he didn't see evidence of that in the CT scan. He said that some of the things that would be warning signs of dementia would be getting lost while driving, mood swings, violent dreams, forgetting things right away, burning food during preparation, etc.
A memory test was administered. I had to remember three things told at the beginning and after other instructions had been given. I had to recite a sentence back, follow written and spoken directions, spell a word backwards, etc. My balance was tested as well as strength and reflexes. I scored 100% on the memory which was great to hear.
The doctor was surprised but still concerned about my lack of smell. He sent me for blood tests to see if there were lead, arsenic and I forget what else in my system.
I was also told to get some specific scented oils (lavender or eucalyptus, lemon, clove and rose) which I was to sniff twice a day for the next 3-4 months. He didn't think it would help but he wanted me to try anyway. I'm going to tell you now that it was miserable locating them.
Can you guess which scent was the hardest to get? I went to Longs Drugs (CVS) and Bath and Body Work and could only get the lavender. All the other scents were blends. We finally found clove and lemon at Walmart, but no rose anywhere. So yes, Amazon!
So far, I can't tell the scents apart. Art sniffed them and says they are all definitely different. Ah well... I'll keep trying.
Several days later, the doctor called to tell me that my blood test showed problems with my auto-immunity which could be a sign of lupus that has lack of smell as one of the symptoms.
Arrrghhhh....
So back I go for another blood test because it could possibly be a bad reading. However, said the good doctor, "Your liver and kidneys are fine and your thyroid numbers as well."
Sigh... I know he was trying to raise my spirits. I do like this doctor very much.
When I met the neurologist, I was just a teeny bit surprised at how young he looked. I looked at all his diplomas on the wall and saw that he'd gotten them only a couple of years ago. However, after consulting with him, I felt confident that he must have gotten the latest research and that he was a doctor I could rely on.
He looked at my CT scans and said there wasn't any serious abnormalities except for the cyst in my sinus. Just when I relaxed, he said that the CT scan isn't the optimum way to look at my brain. An MRI would be necessary for that. He wanted to look for tumors.
What?!?
I'd been concerned about frontal lobe dementia, but he didn't see evidence of that in the CT scan. He said that some of the things that would be warning signs of dementia would be getting lost while driving, mood swings, violent dreams, forgetting things right away, burning food during preparation, etc.
A memory test was administered. I had to remember three things told at the beginning and after other instructions had been given. I had to recite a sentence back, follow written and spoken directions, spell a word backwards, etc. My balance was tested as well as strength and reflexes. I scored 100% on the memory which was great to hear.
The doctor was surprised but still concerned about my lack of smell. He sent me for blood tests to see if there were lead, arsenic and I forget what else in my system.
Can you guess which scent was the hardest to get? I went to Longs Drugs (CVS) and Bath and Body Work and could only get the lavender. All the other scents were blends. We finally found clove and lemon at Walmart, but no rose anywhere. So yes, Amazon!
So far, I can't tell the scents apart. Art sniffed them and says they are all definitely different. Ah well... I'll keep trying.
Several days later, the doctor called to tell me that my blood test showed problems with my auto-immunity which could be a sign of lupus that has lack of smell as one of the symptoms.
Arrrghhhh....
So back I go for another blood test because it could possibly be a bad reading. However, said the good doctor, "Your liver and kidneys are fine and your thyroid numbers as well."
Sigh... I know he was trying to raise my spirits. I do like this doctor very much.
It's good you are staying on top of your health concerns though.
ReplyDeletePraying.
ReplyDeleteHmmm . . . this must be a bit nerve wracking.
ReplyDeleteOh Kay, I’m sorry you’re going through this, but it does sound like you have a thorough doctor who I’m sure will get to the bottom of it all!
ReplyDeleteHope your nose gets "tuned up" with the scents training. If you run out of the scents, I'd check at an GNC or health food store. Our Local Natural Grocers, and Whole Foods seems to have everything possible to help every part of a body. It smells like a hippie incense store when I walk into those natural stores.
ReplyDeleteYou have a GEM of a doc. He's really covering all bases, and getting you thoroughly checked out, and telling you lots of the good news. Nice that he's considering the MRI and blood draw recheck. Write down everything he tells you, or ask if you can record the visit, but that has it's concerns for liability....
After med school, I think they have a 7 year residency in neurology. It's grueling and it's hard to get into neuro appointments in most parts of the country. Took my patient 3 months here in the KC area! The neuros I worked with in the hospital worked long exhausting hours. They'd come in at 8 p.m. to start their hospital rounds after a full day at their office.
Keep sniffing! Linda in very hot Kansas
Getting older is scary, isn't it ... all these things that can go wrong. Hope the lupus scare is another false alarm and that all goes well!
ReplyDeleteHoping for a great prognosis and sending a hug. Waiting for the answers is so hard.
ReplyDeleteOdd that you couldn't find essential oils. I buy mine at Whole Foods and Sprouts, using them to make up bug repellants. I also use geranium oil for my sciatica. Works very well. I hope you get some results from smelling the oils. They are good for you.
ReplyDeleteYour doctor is very thorough probably because he is young and not set in his/her ways. Good luck and I hope they resolve this for you.
ReplyDeleteI am glad your doctor is being so thorough. I hate those that just assume everything is age related and go no farther. Congrats on scoring 100% on the memory. That had to be comforting. Let us know how this progresses.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that you're having health issues. It must be a worry to you! At least you're on good hands and have had some positive results.
ReplyDeleteCan they get that cyst oout of your sinus? That might help the smell too. You are in my mind often these days.
ReplyDeleteSounds like this Doc knows what he's doing and really want to get answers for you. That's a good thing. Now you just have to worry about what those answers might be. :-( No knowing is not fun.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you had a visit to a neurologist. Interesting that he looked at so much.I guess it's one of those things that if you know more you can take action to keep in good health.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same as Mage above, if you have a cyst in our sinus, wouldn't that affect your sense of smell? That is why they call it a doctor's practice, because they practice on you! (That was one of my Dad's jokes. Sure do miss him.)
ReplyDeleteMy sense of smell is all messed up from having taken lisinopril for a decade. I can still smell some things very well, and other things are altered. Chemical smells are easy, and I can still smell roses. But it's because of a blood pressure medication and nobody told me about this side effect. :-(
ReplyDeleteYour good doctor will get to the bottom of it.
ReplyDeleteTake such good care of your health...but I don't need to tell you that. I love your smile. It makes me feel like everything will be ok no matter what. That is a good thing don't you think?
ReplyDeleteb+
Modern medicine is great at finding the diagnosis. After that, there are many solutions. Best of the best for you!
ReplyDeleteI hope everything turns out well for you! Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteI guess my shopping habits are quite different from yours because i pick up essential oils at the health food store or the farm markets all the time. i use them all the time for my cleaning potions and in my diffusers.
ReplyDeleteI hope that when it is all said and done, your doctor can give a definite diagnosis and an easy treatment. Good wishes to you!
He sounds like a wonderful Dr who is leaving nothing to chance. Rather have one overconcerned than ignoring you. Like the one I fired early this year who did nothing to address several concerns. To your good health!
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