The squeaky wheel

ElTito

Hi All:

There is a saying "the squeaky wheel gets the oil." Do you have same across the pond? I am finding fast that I got to be squeaky.

I had to email, phone and smoke-signal my worsening symptoms before the glacial medical establishment moved an inch. That's not to criticize my docs, but the huge monolith establishment with its impossible phone labyrinth, appointments months out in the ozone and sometimes rude people (I forgive them because this COVID malarky has probably crushed their souls).

My original rhummy appt. was for April 7, until I called my doctor repeatedly to have it moved up within my lifetime (lol). It's now scheduled for Feb. 28. As my conditions worsened and a good night's sleep became elusive, I contacted them to find out how many times a day I can take naproxen so I can minimize pain and get some sleep. I have read all kinds of things on the internet about dosage. The bottle says one 220 mgs every 12 hours. The response from a nurse was "take it if it works."

Finally, today the response from my GP to numerous emails about my alarming state was "come in tomorrow to discuss prednisone" (please, no responses telling me it's quite useless. I am trying to stay positive). So, I will be there as scheduled at 9 a.m. (that would be 14:00 GMT).

And on the "stay positive" note, this whole experience is making me really appreciate and admire my mother. For years she has had painful arthritis of the hip and I think a touch of ra, but that does not stop her. She's 90 years old, lives in a third-floor walkup apartment, which she owns. She tries to walk every day to the shops, using a shopping trolley as a walker (her vanity does not allow her to use a walker). She knows Facebook better than I do. She talks to our family in South America almost every day and talks directly to God because she lives alone and has no one else to talk to all the time.

I think she might be a source of inspiration.

Oh, and by-the-way, I am still undiagnosed.

Cheers,

Tito

Ellen

Good Morning Eltito

Yes the 'squeaky wheel' I get it. Or 'he who shouts loudest' Your squeaking is paying off. Your consultant's appointment is very soon now and maybe today your GP will be able to help you more while you wait to see him or her.

Persistence is paying off for you I wish you all the best for today.

Your mother sounds an inspiration an incredible role model. I am sure you have plenty of her spirit in you and will get there.

Keep squeaking!

Best wishes

Ellen.

frogmorton

Love it @ElTito

Keep on squeaking it's working.

I hope your appointment went well and your GP was able to offer at least a sticking plaster of some sort until you see the consultant at the end of the month.

Your Mum sounds absolutely wonderful and you should definitely take a leaf out of her book. I am! I expect she is quite worried that her son is suffering like her now too.

Take care

Cimca

Hi Tito

I love your positive attitude, I shall borrow some! Your mum sounds wonderful and I do believe vanity can take you the extra mile. Nothing wrong with that!

Hope things went well all good wishes.

ElTito

Hi All:

Thank you for your many supportive responses. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.

My mother is awesome. I am trying to give her a break from worry, but she can read my voice over the phone. She IS after all my mother. BTW: She just texted me see if I am okay. She wanted to do that before she WALKED to physical therapy. Wow! What a mum.

My GP visit was great. My wife was so kind and generous to accompany me to be supportive and to listen to the doctor because sometimes I don't listen too well. I am such a chucklehead and can only think "I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die" (which when you think about it, it's true, but not necessarily in the time frame I am thinking of - end of this month).

My doctor was very thorough. My vitals are awesome. The first time in years that I've had normal blood pressure.

I gave her my symptoms, she checked out my fingers, asked about fever, and went over the blood tests, again. She believes there is no RA there. I just had tests done two weeks ago, but she ordered more bloodwork. I asked her about stress and my symptoms, and she said that could very well be the influencer. I've had quite a bit lately so maybe that's some sort of a trigger, but who knows about any of this for certain.

Okay, this is going on longer than I thought.

My doc gave me meloxicam and told me to resume trazadone at .50 mg and can go to 100mg. This is all to help me get a good night's sleep, which it did last night. If I don't get at least eight, I am a wreck (for some reason I was ordering donuts in Grand Central Terminal during one of my dreams last night. Does anybody here read dreams? Input sought.)

Next stop neurologist tomorrow and rheumatologist on Feb. 28.

This is probably the time to buy stock in my medical group. I predict their income is about to soar.

I hope that was not too long of a response.

I do welcome your responses and, please, just call me Tito. We are all friends here.

Cheers,

Tito

P.S. Today is my "metaversary", 33 years since I met my lovely wife. Yay!