Physical Visit

I met with my primary care physician today.

I have not seen him in a very long time.

I've done quite a bit of reading lately on Rheumatoid Disease.

I've learned that auto-immune disorders form and live in the gut.

The immune system is in your gut. That was new to me but it makes sense.

I wanted a physical but mostly to talk to him.

He's known me a long time and has been there from the beginning.

I trust him.

I wanted to see if I have any vitamin deficiencies or food intolerances.

There are certain foods that cause inflammation (like dairy).

I also learned that if you're lacking certain vitamins you can feel "achey".

Those things will certainly not cure me but if eliminating certain ingredients 

help take a bit of the edge off it's worth it to me.

I'm being tested for Celiac Disease and a diary allergy.

My oldest son has a severe dairy allergy.

He is also looking for low vitamin D and B12 in my system.

Of course, there is the routine check up tests too.... thyroid, cholesterol, sugars, and such.

Besides all of that, my doctor told me I wasn't a complainer.

I do feel like I complain a lot.

However, he also validated that I DO have a good reason to complain.

He made me feel very secure in all my feelings.

He actually gave me the strength to start sharing my feelings.

I explained to him how I am losing function in my every day life.

(I vowed to be nothing but honest.)

I can't scrub countertops, dishes, or toilets.

I can no longer wipe myself or apply lotion to my body.

I struggle with car seats, clasps, buttons, putting socks on myself or my kids, and shoes.

I am right handed and using my left hand feels very unnatural.

I am doing my best to incorporate it more in to my every day use but it's tough.

But seriously, think about all you do with your dominant hand and imagine you didn't have it.

Not easy.

He brought up a few options to me that hopefully will be in the works soon.

I'll explain in a further post once some progress has been made.

I may be getting a second opinion on treatment from a different Rheumatologist.

A new daily routine might be taking place.

I might be getting support from outside sources.

This disease is not letting up.

It never will.

However, it can be controlled.

That's all I am looking for.

That is all I am praying for.