I Got Some News...

Went to see the neurologist (Dr L) Friday morning. Got some answers. One was not surprising, one was kinda discouraging, the other was very upsetting. Here they are, in said order:

1. Complex seizures, which I suspected anyway and my family doctor (Dr R) had already called me into his office last week to deliver this news. Back on seizure meds...so be it. Been there, done that. (got no t-shirt)

2. Poly-neuropathy, which I also knew from that visit with Dr R, so no surprise. Dr R told me it was not something that would go away but that I'd get used to it. He said running will not make it worse, but the pain was here to stay. Sucks, but I liked that he didn't say no running. Being an endurance runner, overcoming pain is what it's all about. NNNNext!!

3. Muscle cramping. This was the biggie. This is very painful and together with the imbalance was stopping me from running. Dr L told me he was still testing to figure this one out, but that he didn't think any of the 3 were related.

Here's the upsetting part. He told me to go to the track and instead of running on the line, to have my feet land on either side of the line. Yeah. Like a gorilla. SEXY!!!! But that's not even the insulting part. When I started to cry (both from fear and anger) he looked me in the eye and asked me if I got paid to run. I said no. Then he shrugged his shoulders. He dismissed all my goals in that instant. Like they didn't matter.

He doesn't know me very well, does he???

Anyway, he gave me anti-seizure meds that have a pretty cool side effect: helps neuropathy while it's controlling the seizures. Nice. Seems that the type of seizures I have make me forgetful, confused and tired. Like Alzheimer's. Seriously. Many times I thought I was going crazy, so I'm happy with this getting fixed/controlled.

He gave me meds to help me sleep which also contain a muscle relaxer. He hoped that would help with the cramping. He also told me to take potassium once a day and to drink quinine water. I couldn't find that anywhere. I saw Jim at the gym and he told me it's in tonic water. I went and got that. Diet tonic with quinine. Oh yumminess. It tastes like I chewed an aspirin. BOGUS. Oh, Dr L also told me to forget the bananas and drink tomato juice. It has way more potassium in it! YAY!! I don't really like bananas anyway, but I L-O-V-E tomato juice. I mix the tonic with the juice and I have a virgin bloody mary. Which is good, because I cannot have beer while I'm on seizure meds! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll move on.

Now here's some miraculous news:

I took all the pills/juice/quinine/(oh, and I took it upon myself to get some B-12) throughout the day. Went to bed at 11pm. Woke up, and here's where the miracle comes in. *giggling*

I woke up at 8:15am, not 5am. I woke up naturally, not because my feet and legs were cramping. At first I thought I must be paralyzed so I woke my husband. I got out of bed and walked and my legs felt like they were a part of me again. Yes, my feet were tender, tingly and numb...but my legs felt wonderful! I couldn't believe it! I still can't. So I called my friend Mike, knower-of-lotsa-stuff. I told him all of this and asked him if potassium worked that quickly and he said YES! It's fast acting. Also, the fact that the meds I'm on have muscle relaxers and side effects that help neuropathy probably are a plus! OH YAY!!! We promptly set up a time to meet at the gym this afternoon for a little run. *Running report tomorrow*

Sooo...tonight, I feel like myself again. Which ever thing is helping me, I don't know...probably a mix of all of it together. I feel so good! My eyes feel better, clearer. My crampy legs are 85% better. Feels like a gauzy veil has been lifted from my body. Bobby said I'm back to my old self.

And I'll give y'all one guess as to what I'll be doing February 15th......first correct guess gets a custom made lil something from Kim's In Stitches. Ooooohhhh....lucky...LOL