Ok.
So I went to see a neurologist today to confirm/deny that I have Tourette’s. The visit went well and wasn’t really anything like I expected. Of course, having never been to a neurologist before, I really wasn’t sure what to expect.
The doctor asked a LOT of questions and seemed like he was attempting to document every word I said, which was rather nice actually. To me, it seemed like a lot of the questions he asked were mostly in trying to determine if I have just garden-variety tics, or just full-blown Tourette’s. After a bit of investigation, we did at least manage to determine that at least one of my tics, the constant attempts to pop my neck, were related to a muscle group that basically always stays tensed. Some of that is, of course, due to my currently unmanaged anxiety disorder. The doctor also said that I should consider putting a warm compress on my right shoulder as it was a trigger point for some of the muscle problems I have been having, so I’ll see if I can find some way to do that each evening. Which, interestingly, I’ll be doing as I begin taking Klonopin (generic Clonazepam). Should be interesting.
On the one hand, I do feel a bit of relief knowing that -at least for now- I don’t have full-blown Tourette’s. I’m also happy that it seems like there’s a pill that I can take for a brief period of time that will help me out. Eventually I’m wanting to get off the medication and be able to manage my conditions without them… but it’s a necessity for now.
The next step is to visit my internist tomorrow and discuss my blood sugar (consistently high in the morning, even with Metformin at night). While I’m not thrilled at the prospect, I’m reasonably sure he will ask that I go back onto the Lantus pen that I was on in the past. I won’t very much like sticking myself every night, but what else can I do if I want to ensure that my health gets back on track as quickly as possible? I’m also hoping that either my internist can prescribe me some Lamictal, or else quickly get me in touch with a psychiatrist to help get me onto the meds so we can get a handle on my Cyclothymia.
Overall, I think I’m doing slightly better. I’m still very overwhelmed because it seems like there’s so much chaos in my life. My anxiety and depression still seem out of control, I’m still dealing with some small fears surrounding my wife’s recent layoff (despite our having a plan and, to a degree, hoping for said layoff), plus I have no clue if a friendship that I have with someone is pretty much done and over with, plus some assorted other problems that have arisen due to my trying to get everything under control. Of course, I’m not wanting to sit here and do a “oh woe is me” post since I know that there’s real suffering going on in the world and, comparatively speaking, mine really isn’t all that bad. The thing is, to me at least, it does feel that bad.
At the very least, I’m happy that I have a tiny bit of extra time off tomorrow so that I can attend the OurPDX honorary Beer-and-Blog celebration tomorrow and then make my way to the Strange Love Live studios to appear on an episode of SLL (I might even let myself get on camera, who knows… what with my tics and all). I’m also happy because I’ve been keeping somewhat current on my posts for both OurPDX, as well as Deviant Advice.
I guess that’s it for now. I’ll keep y’all updated as things do.. well.. whatever they decide to do. Y’all take care!
