Are you a shopper?
Some people love to shop. Others do everything to avoid it. I have to admit, I can go either way. Don’t get me wrong: I can browse just about any kind of store with the best of them. It doesn’t hurt if there are books, video games, or kids’ clothes either.
It’s just some people seem to take forever to find what they are looking for so it makes me wonder: do they really know what they are looking for in the first place? Despite my own browsing behavior, one thing I know for certain: when I go looking for something I know immediately what I want when I see it.
So certain am I in my ability to know myself that I was thrown off guard recently. I felt like something wasn’t quite right, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was … until a good friend asked me how I would know when I usually feel pretty “yucky”. The question gave me pause. I admitted I wasn’t quite sure, but I felt like I would know the difference.
It makes you wonder: When do you know it’s time to see a doctor?
There are the obvious ones: profuse bleeding, broken bone, high fever … I’m sure you have your own list.
However, if you have RA you often have a number of issues at any given time: fatigue that doesn’t seem to go away, low-grade fever, nausea, pains and cramping in various parts of your body … and the list goes on.
If any one of these gets significantly worse … or … if any of these continue for some period of time it’s probably a good idea to mention it to your doctor. Problem is, what’s the doctor going to do with “vague” symptoms?
Case in point: I went to see my doctor over a month ago with excruciating migraines, sore throat, loss of voice, difficulty swallowing, upset stomach, low-grade fever, aches, chills, and various body pains. We thought it might be strep throat, so sent a sample for analysis.
Turns out I had nothing. Or, at least that particular test was negative.
But all those symptoms persisted.
I waited another week before my symptoms had grown to such an extent, I had to go to the hospital. I was told I had a bladder and kidney infection.
For anyone, these are painful and unpleasant, but often easily treated.
I’m not just anyone.
In my case, I went through several rounds of antibiotics and over a month before I could even walk without pain.
Which brings me back to my original assertion which was I would know when there was something wrong with me … turns out I was right but even knowing that didn’t do me any good whatsoever because the healthcare system still had to figure out what it was in order to treat it. And, it’s not easy when your symptoms are rather vague or could be so many things.
Is it something new? Is it related to my RA?
However, I put it to you that in the case of someone that has a chronic disease when so much more is at stake … and I’m not just talking more pain … you’d think we could run a few more tests, be a little more thorough, or … perish the thought … proactive or aggressive with regards to getting to the bottom of these symptoms.
As for me, I’m chalking this one up to a lesson learned.
Push for answers.
Don’t just wait and see.
Be your own advocate.