Tornwaldt cyst update

I saw the ENT this morning and we can leave my Tornwaldt alone! He ended up scoping my nose and throat while I was there. Boy that is one funky-feeling test that I never want to repeat! So he got a much better look at it with the scope on the screen than on the MRI's. It actually looks to him more like a cluster of adenoid tissue that has grown back and for whatever reason is retaining fluid right now. It should be ok.

I had a hearing test immediately at his request and it went fairly well, nothing big enough to do anything about. I knew my hearing was different since the meningitis but that's a really common side effect.

I'm being scheduled for an ENG, where they'll put fluid in my ears and intentionally make me dizzy. I don't know yet when it is as they said they are booked out for a month for this test. That's fine with me since they said I'm required to have someone drive me as I'll likely be extremely dizzy and nauseated the rest of the day, and Sterling will need some warning to take the day off.

My grandma and my aunt Debbie flew to AZ due to my aunt Cyntitha's death on Monday. They came to spend the day with me today, which was wonderful. I love them dearly.

Off for now.

Pain Man appointment

Pain Man walked into the exam room and just went, "What the heck happened?"

I sighed and just said I had no idea. He went ahead and did what Urgent Care and the hospital never thought to--he actually did an exam. I leaned against the wall in a push-up stance, back and forth a couple times as he watched my shoulder blades and spine.

After he had me turn back around, he raised a finger to say something, then stopped and said, "You have a lot of WEIRD stuff."

I gave an exasperated laugh and asked what else was new?

He said he knew what the problem was, and touched the exact spot near my shoulder blade that feels like it has the knife stuck in it. That verified that!

I damaged my left Long Thoracic Nerve. Typically those who do this are young healthy people who join the military and end up frequently wearing heavy packs on their back. The few others who get this injury are those with Ehlers-Danlos or other connective tissue disease.

Pain Man also said there is still the possibility that there is damage from the artery surgery (arterial Thoracic Outlet). Internal scar tissue complications apparently begin after any surgery at the 2 1/2 to 3 month mark; I just reached 2 1/2 months. It can be verified with EMG but not until at least 4 months post-op, so there is no use having it now since it would be inaccurate, not to mention it's a painful test having needles jammed in a couple dozen areas around the body.

He prescribed a medication that has been recommended the last few years. I have refused it consistently, as many people have an issue with the common side effect of weight gain. As a recovering anorexic this is a huge deal for me. But with so many complications going on, I know there is simply no way to avoid it any more. I need the med. I will slowly titrate up because of the multitude of side effects commonly experienced, and will end up at 1800 mg a day after a couple weeks, a rather hefty dosage.

I took 1/2 of a pill (300 mg for the night) and in the first hour I experienced 4 or 5 heavy-duty waves of dizziness.

It may help me sleep more than 2-3 hours a night, as is my average.

Fingers crossed.