My day started earlier than usual on Tuesday.
I had organised mobile mechanic to check my car at my place. The mechanic was nice and thorough. He fixed can-be-problems and tyre problems with my understandings and permission.
I gave him back the tool he left in my car last time. He was overly appreciative about it. It could be a very special tool for him.
In the end, it costed me more than I prepared. But it was a relief that tyres were okay and I didn’t need to take them to tyre workshop. He quoted me the treatments need to be done and I agreed. But he charged less.
As I drove to the medical appointment, I noticed the improved performance.
~ * ~
The medical appointment with Dr TL was interesting and we suffered a bit of communication challenge.
With less sleep, I felt extra fatigue and consistent sleepiness. My brain wasn’t functioning as I hoped. Dr TL was sick last week. Although he said he was better, I noticed he was still having the effect. Usually we could understand each other without saying words. Today, we struggled to understand spoken words…
Since I see him often, I guess we would have meeting like this every now and then…
He asked what symptoms I have these days. The major ones are fatigue and pain, although severity is changing. Then, there are bits of come-and-go ones, such as tight chest, dyspnoea, lightheadedness, balance problems, sleep problems (this should be one of the major ones), tummy/gastro upsets, skin irritations, and etc…
He asked if I have chest pain. I said yes. He asked detail about it. Well, it comes-and-goes and not really serious. I mainly feel dull pain or pressure especially at night, and I feel other pains in deeper tissue. They are not sharp enough to make me worry. I assumed it’s just one of ME/CFS things.
He asked about asthma medication. I used it often during the night last week. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t or it makes lung function worse. I don’t know why.
He explained that my dyspnoea is not coming from lung problem when asthma medicine doesn’t work. I thought dysautonomia could cause breathing problem, too.
Dr TL suggested to do ECG. At this moment, there was a confusion between us. He meant on-the-spot ECG at the surgery. And I was thinking about Echocardiogram I had done at hospital. So, our conversation got really weird.
He tried to understand what I was telling. And my exhausted brain didn’t have power to see where the confusion was coming from. Neither did his…
I kept explaining that I had ECG before and there was no abnormality. Knowing cunning nature of ME/CFS, the next one would be the same. I would be wasting Dr TL’s efforts again…
Dr TL asked the receptionist to hook me on ECG machine. I finally realised he was going to do ECG on me now.
When finished, he told me that the image was different from the last time and he was referring me to a test with cardiologist.
I was surprised. Last time when I collapsed, there was no abnormality on the ECG. Today I was feeling rather okay, yet there was abnormality.
I was not surprised that I have heart problem as it is said to be common with ME/CFS. But I was surprised that it showed up on ECG. Then slowly another realisation of “how amazing Dr TL is” started sinking in.
Most doctors don’t want to do test on us. I hear stories over stories of how patients request tests and how they are ignored.
Dr TL didn’t hesitate to do repeat test when he picks up something is wrong despite of past negative histories. He impressed me again. And I was overwhelmed how lucky I am to have him.
He gave me the print out of ECG. It says “Abnormal repolarisation, possible coronary ischemia”
Then he printed out the radiology test request, highlighted the place I need to contact to make an appointment. He faxed the form to the place, so that they have my detail when I phone them. That would save me from possible crash on the phone.
The radiology request says “Nuclear medicine – Cardiac perfusion persantin thallium scan”. I had no idea what it is.
According to internet search, it is a scan using special chemical to see clearer picture of heart muscle.
A kind “Nuclear medicine” receptionist explained what would be happening. I have ECG first. Then have the scan with special chemical injected. Then, the patient has to participate in exercise. Since I cannot exercise, they will inject another medicine to make my heart goes faster, and this is what Dr TL requested. I would be safe because I will be lying on a table and there will be a doctor and a nurse monitoring me. I will have another scan. Then, I will have another ECG afterward.
I made an appointment in two weeks time. I have to be there at 7 am! The whole test goes over 4 hours. This test will cost me, but I’m curious to know what it could tell me.
As usual, Dr TL had assured me that he would organise hospital transport for me.
My day started earlier than usual on Tuesday.
I had organised mobile mechanic to check my car at my place. The mechanic was nice and thorough. He fixed can-be-problems and tyre problems with my understandings and permission.
I gave him back the tool he left in my car last time. He was overly appreciative about it. It could be a very special tool for him.
In the end, it costed me more than I prepared. But it was a relief that tyres were okay and I didn’t need to take them to tyre workshop. He quoted me the treatments need to be done and I agreed. But he charged less.
As I drove to the medical appointment, I noticed the improved performance.
~ * ~
The medical appointment with Dr TL was interesting and we suffered a bit of communication challenge.
With less sleep, I felt extra fatigue and consistent sleepiness. My brain wasn’t functioning as I hoped. Dr TL was sick last week. Although he said he was better, I noticed he was still having the effect. Usually we could understand each other without saying words. Today, we struggled to understand spoken words…
Since I see him often, I guess we would have meeting like this every now and then…
He asked what symptoms I have these days. The major ones are fatigue and pain, although severity is changing. Then, there are bits of come-and-go ones, such as tight chest, dyspnoea, lightheadedness, balance problems, sleep problems (this should be one of the major ones), tummy/gastro upsets, skin irritations, and etc…
He asked if I have chest pain. I said yes. He asked detail about it. Well, it comes-and-goes and not really serious. I mainly feel dull pain or pressure especially at night, and I feel other pains in deeper tissue. They are not sharp enough to make me worry. I assumed it’s just one of ME/CFS things.
He asked about asthma medication. I used it often during the night last week. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t or it makes lung function worse. I don’t know why.
He explained that my dyspnoea is not coming from lung problem when asthma medicine doesn’t work. I thought dysautonomia could cause breathing problem, too.
Dr TL suggested to do ECG. At this moment, there was a confusion between us. He meant on-the-spot ECG at the surgery. And I was thinking about Echocardiogram I had done at hospital. So, our conversation got really weird.
He tried to understand what I was telling. And my exhausted brain didn’t have power to see where the confusion was coming from. Neither did his…
I kept explaining that I had ECG before and there was no abnormality. Knowing cunning nature of ME/CFS, the next one would be the same. I would be wasting Dr TL’s efforts again…
Dr TL asked the receptionist to hook me on ECG machine. I finally realised he was going to do ECG on me now.
When finished, he told me that the image was different from the last time and he was referring me to a test with cardiologist.
I was surprised. Last time when I collapsed, there was no abnormality on the ECG. Today I was feeling rather okay, yet there was abnormality.
I was not surprised that I have heart problem as it is said to be common with ME/CFS. But I was surprised that it showed up on ECG. Then slowly another realisation of “how amazing Dr TL is” started sinking in.
Most doctors don’t want to do test on us. I hear stories over stories of how patients request tests and how they are ignored.
Dr TL didn’t hesitate to do repeat test when he picks up something is wrong despite of past negative histories. He impressed me again. And I was overwhelmed how lucky I am to have him.
He gave me the print out of ECG. It says “Abnormal repolarisation, possible coronary ischemia”
Then he printed out the radiology test request, highlighted the place I need to contact to make an appointment. He faxed the form to the place, so that they have my detail when I phone them. That would save me from possible crash on the phone.
The radiology request says “Nuclear medicine – Cardiac perfusion persantin thallium scan”. I had no idea what it is.
According to internet search, it is a scan using special chemical to see clearer picture of heart muscle.
A kind “Nuclear medicine” receptionist explained what would be happening. I have ECG first. Then have the scan with special chemical injected. Then, the patient has to participate in exercise. Since I cannot exercise, they will inject another medicine to make my heart goes faster, and this is what Dr TL requested. I would be safe because I will be lying on a table and there will be a doctor and a nurse monitoring me. I will have another scan. Then, I will have another ECG afterward.
I made an appointment in two weeks time. I have to be there at 7 am! The whole test goes over 4 hours. This test will cost me, but I’m curious to know what it could tell me.
As usual, Dr TL had assured me that he would organise hospital transport for me.