unexplainable

So....I had the EMG test on both legs and feet last week - but mainly to test the nerves and muscle function of my right foot and figure out what is causing the persistent parenthesis/neuropathy (numbness).  After the initial appointment with the neurologist and his repeated questioning of my sanity, I was admittedly nervous going into this appointment.  I didn't want to hear anything from him on that subject again and I determined to stand up for myself a bit more this time if he pushed it.

At first he didn't; I thought he did, but he didn't.  He asked sort of out of the blue, "How is your anxiety?" and I think I snapped back a little too harshly, "I DON'T have anxiety!  That's NOT something I deal with!" - if you know me, you know I'm pretty even-keeled, but this was just too much and I was so frustrated and nervous (short-term...different than long-term anxiety) - he looked up and said, "Oh, well, I know.  The reason I ask is because you updated your medication list and said that you have recently been going off of some of your meds and this one in particular...it can make some people have anxiety issues when they come off of it."  I apologized and then told him, no, I've been fine and thought how thankful I was that it's been a very smooth transition coming off of a lot of the medications that have "held my Lyme riddled body together".

He then asked if I'd ever had an EMG test done to which I replied, "NO" and then briefly described it - electrodes and shocks which are moderately painful and he kept saying I could stop whenever I wanted - but no way!  I wasn't there to NOT finish a test, no matter how painful it was - I wanted answers.  Then the second half involved multiple insertions of needles into different muscles to "listen" to them and "hear" their functionality. This part was painful too, and again he kept giving me an "out" by saying I could stop whenever I wanted to.  I don't know why he did that, but I kept with it because like I said, I was there to get answers and I can handle pain.  My right foot and leg for sure felt so much different as far as the intensity of the sensation of the shocks and needle pricks. So I was sure there would be some sort of abnormal result.

But then he read the results right then and there and said, "Well, you're normal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your nerves...which is good!"  Yes, praise God nothing is wrong with my nerve.  He believes there will be no lasting damage because he can't find anything wrong.  Machines don't lie....right?  Anyway, I expected him to dig deeper since I am still experiencing numbness.  But I got a surprise.  The next words out of his mouth were, "You know how I feel about Lyme - I don't believe in it - so this ankle thing - it has NOTHING to do with Lyme...NOTHING."  Pretty lofty words for someone who admittedly didn't even test for Lyme in all the blood work he ordered.  I'm not saying that would have shown him anything, but I think it was pretty wrong of him to make a blanket statement like that.  He then showed me to the exit.  I stopped in the hall and he turned around to see why I wasn't walking with him anymore.

I said, "So, if everything is normal, how do you explain the numbness?"  He just matter of fact said, "Well, some things are unexplainable.  Unfortunately, this is just unexplainable.  But at least you know your nerve is fine.  So I guess I'll sign off on 4 more week of physical therapy, but then you should stop and I guess we could see how your foot responds then."  Then he showed me the door.


So in a way, yes, I'm relieved because, according the the machine, my nerve is apparently functioning just fine!  Yay!  But, I'm still symptomatic and we have no idea why.  I just remember thinking afterward - "Story of my life -- unexplainable symptoms."  Could it be related to Lyme?  Maybe.  I am going to see my Lyme doctor this week and we'll see what they make of all the blood work and test results and an in person physical exam.

It may just end up remaining filed under - "mysterious" - and it may leave just as mysteriously as it arrived.  We'll see.

Keep us in prayer.  Thanks.