Urology and sick pup

I went to the urologist again today. I had an issue that couldn't wait. It was a miserable time.

Shelby is pretty sick and had to go back to the Humane Society vet first thing this morning. She's gotten up a couple times this evening for cuddles then left again to lay down in her crate (the door is open on it).

We leave tomorrow morning for our trip, finally.

Testing, testing 1, 2, 3

I have my tests tomorrow. It will be a several-hour affair, given the two MRI's, the bone scan, and the type of x-rays that are being done. I have an appointment for all of them except the x-rays. That's a take-a-number thing where the wait can be an hour to get in.

I dread the testing but I know it's just the way things are. Since I had my original craniectomy expanded, MRI's are very painful. It feels like my brain is setting directly on that hard table. A brain MRI can wipe me out for the next couple of days, let alone two in a row plus a bone scan. The x-rays, while not too painful, is more of a problem with the Ehlers-Danlos. My x-ray series always includes checking my retroflexed odontoid, which is imaged by them taking the shot with my mouth open as far as it gets so they can see the positioning of the bone better. However, having EDS, it makes my jaw dislocate on one side and is very painful to do a rapid reduction/get it back in place.

I called my urologist's office today twice but the lady at the front desk didn't return my call. I really need to get this taken care of before we leave on Friday morning. Not returning my call doesn't bode well for that.

Urology Man

I called my Urology Man's office yesterday and they overbooked the schedule to get me in today due to the issue.

Long story short, the appointment was typical. Another day, another prescription, another test at the hospital. I can't say I'm surprised, unfortunately. I'll fill the script tomorrow while S and J are here. Uro Man warned me it lowers blood pressure so I don't want to be on my own, given my BP crashes anyway.

Things just basically suck. There was however one neat thing about the appointment. Urology Man (who knows more about Ehlers-Danlos than every doctor I have ever seen with the exception of TCI/NY) had trailing him a young woman who was a family practice medical student.

Uro Man, while documenting my situation on his laptop (and there was plenty of it given it's been 2 years since he did my bladder surgery), asked me to explain to the student about Chiari and EDS, the EDS especially. He told me, "I learned about it in medical school in New York but you have taught me the most."

I am really touched by that.

So, the two of us had a talk, and I am really grateful to have had the opportunity (though I wish I didn't need to have the unexpected appointment in the first place). She listened intently about the CM, EDS, and the connection between the two, etc.

The last thing I told her was I hope she will never have an EDS patient because, well, we're a mess.