Medical Information Is Yours To View
Its been up in the air for a few months whether I have psoriatic arthritis or not, due to never having an elevated sed rate. I do understand that you do not have to have an elevated sed rate to have it.
More S/S of something going on has surfaced. At least it got worse, so I went to the doctor. My family doctor has no idea what to say or do. I go to an office where the local docs are interns there. Not a good scenario for me. I need consistency.
Painful symptoms
Interventional Pain Clinic sent me over to the neurosurgeon to be evaluated for possible surgery on C6 and 7. I waited for this appointment for several months, of course. In the meantime, my body did some really strange things. I felt like my muscles were tearing away from the bone. I had cramps and spasms of the feet and inner thighs, as well as around my torso. It felt like a tight band was around me, making it harder to breathe at times. I had very weak spells when I tried to do anything strenuous. Just shutting our sliding glass door caused my forearm to cramp up so that I had to pull my fingers/hand out one by one. I get so tight at times I feel burning pain at the muscle/tendon level, and I am so stiff at times. I am exhausted, tired, and feel like any kind of overextension of my muscles will cramp up. It only happens sometimes, but this time it was bad and it's getting more frequent. I was confused by it and wondered what else comes with this disease of psoriatic arthritis. I was kind of panicky over it and I don't panic much at all.
My visit to the neurosurgeon
I saw the neurosurgeon and told him of my symptoms and that I was there for what we can do about my neck pain, numbness, and tingling. He looked through my chart and then said, "Let's take a walk." We went over to a woman who set me up with a neurologist to rule out MS (multiple sclerosis). I saw this after the appointment on my referral. Oh my Gosh...I said and I just sat there and then I told my husband. This doctor also charted that he did an exam on me, checked my heart and physical strength and such. NO he DID NOT. He never touched me. This I also saw on my report online with my medical facility. He sat on his chair, challenged me with my S/S, and next thing I know my appointment is over. I was stunned. I reported this properly to the medical authorities but have heard nothing.
Moving on to seeing a neurologist
Now I wait for the neurologist but as I look up the S/S of MS, I have them all. I am not one to sit and think yes I now have this to deal with. I just want information for the next visit and be informed of what we are talking about. I would not have known if I did not have access to my medical records online. I will repeat this several times. It is imperative that you make an account with your medical facility, get help if you need it. The information there needs to be monitored by YOU. It's your health. Now I have several battles to go to instead of just taking care of myself in my own state. Now also it questions what I really do have or not have.
Knowing your own medical information
It's a weird place this in between diagnosis' stuff. It this time, we are not comfortable waiting. It's a place where we don't want to be because we need to know what is going on asap. I will make changes and leave this entity and go to another one. I won't tolerate a well-known specialist who says he did an exam and did not. I will not go to a PCP where I get inconsistent care and people without experience. This would be ok if I had nothing going on. BUT PLEASE, make your medical information available to you online. Read it and make sure it's right. Many times it is not and a misunderstanding occurs. Then you can make it right. It could affect your outcome. Time is wasting away when you are sent place to place and told this and that. I hope this information on my dilemma will help you avoid one. Get an online account for your medical records!
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