Monday, February 22, 2010

My Secret Full Time Job

February is a short month. And we're only 22 days in. But I have already had SEVEN medical appointments this month alone.

(1) Physical therapy for my paterllar sublexation.
(2) More physical therapy.
(3) General doctor for blood pressure.
(4) Rhuematologist.
(5) Physical therapy again.
(6) My first appointment with the nutritionist. (Did you know that there is sodium in everything?? So turns out I've been doing a crummy job at being low-sodium. So, hopefully with the nutritionist's help I'll be doing better at that soon.)
(7) Even more physical therapy.

And I'll rack up at least three more by the end of February:

(8) General doctor for blood pressure tomorrow.
(9) Orthopedist follow up for paterllar sublexation on Wednesday.
(10) Physical therapy again on Thursday.

March doesn't look to be much calmer.

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) For the time being, I'm still going to physical therapy every week. Between my knee and other RA issues, will I have to keep going? Probably.
(6) For the past nine months I've been seeing my general doctor every couple of weeks for the blood pressure, so she'll probably have me book at least one follow-up for March
(7) (8) I'm supposed to book a follow-up with the nutritionist. Maybe I'll be seeing her more than once in March?
(9) Perhaps TMI, but it's time for my annual at the women's center. (Bleh.)
(10) After the advice of two doctors and the unsolicited advice of multiple friends, I'm going to try going to see a therapist again. Starting next week.

On the one hand, I'm really proud of myself for staying on top of all my medical stuff and trying to get the help I need. And it's kind of nice to have a whole team of doctors and specialists who are working to help me feel better.

But...at the same time....multiple doctors appointments every week is completely exhausting. Even without the fatigue from RA and law school I think it would be totally exhausting. As is, sometimes I just feel totally overwhelmed at the thought of just one more doctor's appointment. Going to the doctor has become a damn full time job. And this job doesn't seem to come with any vacation. And that sucks.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Gawd, that is an awful lot of appointments - good thing you're already the most organized person I know (and I know approximately 600 law students). I can't even keep track of where I parked my car.

Well, I hope you're trekking out to all those appointments for something - hope they help somehow. Wish I could help you set up some sort of Pavlovian reward system so that you get a treat every time you go to an appointment. Chai latte? Does that have sodium in it?

I know what FOR SURE doesn't have sodium in it - Hot Broccoli Water. Actually, maybe I should send Nolan over to cook for you; he makes stuff from scratch (pretty much exclusively farmer's market veggies) and never uses salt.

Miss you and super happy that you're visiting soon!

P.S. my word verification this time is "guttes," a seeming combination of glutes and butt. This can't be random.

A said...

Feb is almost over!! Thank goodness!

Re:Sodium. You are correct, dear one. Anything jarred or canned is particularly loaded (ie, pasta sauce, black beans, and almost all soups). Going for "low sodium" on the label helps. In reality, I've found the best thing to do is ditch the jars/cans and go homemade. We've got a great recipe for easy pasta sauce if you want it! If you're too pooped to cook, just rinse the veggies that come in cans. It's a good start!

If your nutrition guy has any tips, please share! We all need help with sodium!

Helen said...

Doctors' appointments ARE exhausting - and you've certainly had more than your fair share.

And yes, sodium is in everything. Even with two blood pressure medications, I need to keep my sodium intake to a bare minimum. I make most things from scratch now, but even ingredients I'd have previously thought safe - like canned tomatoes - are full of the stuff. It takes a lot of work and a lot of close attention to keep your intake down. Good luck!

Sarah Z said...

lauren- what the HELL is hot broccoli water?!?!

Laurie Grassi said...

Yikes! That is a lot of appointments! May you have less in future! :)

In the meantime, what is it with these word verifications? This time, mine was "pooecise". Trés bizarre, no?

~Mariah~ said...

EVERYONE: Thanks so much for the comments and support! It means a lot to me!!

LAUREN: Please do send Nolan over to cook for me. He sounds like an excellent cook. I mean, he uses the Hot Broccoli Water (capitals necessary!) so he HAS to know what he's doing!! P.S. I miss the fruits and veggies in California. I can't tell you how often I buy myself fruit for a treat here in CO and end up disappointed by it. If you grow up in CA, you grow up fresh food spoiled.

A: Yes, sodium is EVERYWHERE. I couldn't BELIEVE how much sodium was in a damn can of tomatoes!! I'm sorry - why isn't it just tomatoes in there?!?! But where is this secret low sodium section in the grocery store?!?!? The nutritionist gave me the same advice - low sodium labels - and I only managed to find a COUPLE of products labeled that way. I gave up on lunchmeat all together. Grrr.... I will do a sodium post, I think, after my next appointment with the nutritionist. (P.S. I've missed your comments!)

HELEN: WHAT'S WITH SODIUM IN THE CANNED TOMATOES?!?!?! ~;o)

SARAH: See the novel about it on Lauren's FB page.

LAURIE: Wish I could take credit for those word verifications. ~;o)

Mandy said...

TOTALLY FEEL YOU ON THE APPOINTMENTS!! If it makes you feel any better... I have had 9 this month, and have two more on thursday.. It IS a full time job!!! Way to keep trucking along!

~Mariah~ said...

MANDY: We should get a prize. No, really. ~;o)