These past three days are the best I've felt since the end of September. I'm grateful to be on the mend. Even more grateful that I don't have a dreaded blood disease, as I thought was the case.
My frazzled answer seeking self thought I'd search Google with my symptoms, prior to a week out doctors appointment. Google can be so helpful, but when it comes to researching medical issues, it is down right frightening! Any number of maladies could be wrong with an individual researching on WebMD or other sites. Hypochondriacs must be having a field day with Internet medical help!
On the flip side, Doctors tell us very little. One of the three I saw told me I was "overweight with a short neck". I wanted to say to him "Thank you for letting me pay you to tell me what I already know- I feel so confident you went to school for all that knowledge and that I'm sitting on your table!" He does get credit for searching his knowledge bank since he was puzzled by my conditions. But still, if you don't know, say you don't know.
Luckily my Gynecologist's Nurse Practitioner was on the ball. In my opinion, female medical professionals tend to know and understand female anatomy at such a better level of understanding than male medical professionals. I would almost wager my right arm that Nurse Practitioners are so much more thorough then Doctors, but that's a whole other argument. Any how, my GNP (not to be confused with Gross National Product) looked me over, in entirety- outside and in (lucky me!) taking one blood test after another.
Turns out I was a very healthy sick person. After what seemed like every test known to medicine, only a huge Vitamin D deficiency and an enlarged spleen were noticed. I was shocked to learn that extremely low levels of Vitamin D cause: hair loss, skin problems, nail breakage (wait it gets better), extreme exhaustion and fatigue, head aches, dizziness, lack of focus and concentration, joint and bone pain, and in my case, spleen enlargement.
I count my blessings for an emergency 8 week plan of 10,000 units of Vitamin D each day, and for a great NP who sat for a while listening to me complain about every ailment under the sun. I'm feeling much better. Slightly over dosed and tired still, and not one hundred percent, but better. Thanks for all your well wishes and concern.
Are you getting your recommended dose of Vitamin D each day? Especially all you Utahans who live under winter inversion. Only 10 minutes each day under the suns UV rays on your hands, arms and face-- without sunscreen-- will do you good; or 2000 units a day. It makes a world of difference!
Oh my goodness! I am so glad you are feeling better and that you finally received some diagnosis and treatment. I would also have to agree about the the women in medicine theory. In addition, I get so irritated when my usual doctors are unavailable and I am seen by a PA because I have found their skills to be so inferior. Really guys, if you don't know, you can't fool me cause it's obvious you don't know. Next, super interesting because I have read so much about Vit D the last year or so and started supplementing my daily supply after reading some interesting findings in my favorite magazine, "Runner's World," of course.
ReplyDeleteLiza, I want to know what you know. Who knew Vitamin D could be so fascinating.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-242-301--13364-0,00.html
ReplyDeleteHere's one of the articles or go to runnersworld.com and search for Vit. D
Thanks Liza!
ReplyDeleteGlad you are feeling better! I just laughed about what the Dr. told you. I remember when we lived in Japan and I was 7 months pregnant and at a Japanese hospital with TINY women. The nurse took my weight, looked up at me and said "ooooh, you eat too much!"
ReplyDelete