Hi! I'm married with 2 boys, 22 & 11. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis years ago, have every symptom, but no lesions on my brain. One Neurologist says I don't have M.S., another says I do, but a rare case. Fast forward to last year..Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia...fast forward to a week before Valentines Day this year...Went to see doc about severe edema (swelling, water weight), & he put me on an additional diuretic on top of the one I was currently using. Had blood drawn, sent me home. WOW! Lost 22 lbs. in ONE week! Followed up with same doc..had blood drawn again, & sent me home. A couple of hours later, he called me himself, at home, & told me to get to the E.R. IMMEDIATELY! My Potassium levels were very LOW, & not to wait until morning to go. Admitted he'd never seen levels so low...SO, hubby takes me to the ER, & they were waiting for me, as doc had called ahead. This was on Valentine's Day just passed. See, he didn't give me a Potassium Supplement to go along with my diuretics, so my level had dropped to 2.2. Boy, they did an EKG stat, & other heart tests, & kept me on a heart monitor for my entire stay (3 days). Also, they gave me 12-16 IV bags of Potassium during my jaunt there...I lost count. ER doc took me off of Cymbalta too..cold turkey..LUCKILY, I've noticed no side effects of this. While IN the hospital, they diagnosed me with Diabetes Type 2. I'm on Metformin 1000 mg once a day. As far as diet, I'm doing all I possibly can to eat right..no salt, no sugar, Organic..(as we can afford, which isn't much!). My point is, the swelling is coming back like it was. I don't know what to do!! My doc set me up with a Rheumatologist who is 5-6 hours away within my state. He said neighboring states wouldn't accept my Medicaid/Medicare. Funny. I called ONE provider next state over & MUCH closer. They can get me in. No problem! And SOON! I'm getting very frustrated here. If it's not one thing, it's another. OHH, get THIS!!! He never bothered to call & check on me..come visit while in hospital..NOTHING! Don't know what to do. ALL the Dr.s where I live practice in the same Group. Feel kind of hopeless & stuck. He could have KILLED me! I see him in 3 days, as I missed an appt. last week (forgot..plumbing gone bad in kitchen). I'll have to hold my tongue, yet convey to him (as nicely as possible..won't be easy!), how I feel. Lack of that ONE vitamin, could have done severe damage or even death, he NEVER checked up on me at all, & he LIED about Rheumatologist locations! He said HE had called THREE states. Busted. I'm normally a "3 strikes & you're out" kind of person, but like I said, they all are in the same Medical Group..oh, & I only live 5 mins. away from them & the hospital. Losing faith as my health continues to deteriorate.
So my question is, is there anyone out there that could help us with funds to get to one of the Mayo Clinics, & funds for eats/lodging/transportation while there? I'm very desperate here, or I wouldn't have seeked out your site. Just came from Mayo's page, but so no Financial Assistance there. Can anyone help?
~peace out~
Tomboy Rox
