If you know me you may know that I do not like doctors and I especially do not like hospitals. So for me to go in and see a doctor is one of those things that I dread. But I compromised and went to see a doctor, but at his office and not at a full blown hospital. I can live with that.

The visit was for the most part to get my prescriptions renewed. I have to admit I let the meds run out and did not bother to refill them, and now that I am feeling really shitty, I figured it was time to take care of the matter.

My new doctor is nice guy. Mike came in and talked to me as an adult without the patronizing attitude that sometimes comes with the over inflated egos of medical practitioners. He allowed me to explain what was wrong, what I had done in the past, and what I wanted to do for the future. He also listened to the new stuff that had popped up since my last doctors appointment and we actually talked about it. No lectures were forthcoming thank god.

So after some bloodletting and prescriptions I was out of the office and on my way, the visit as painless as I had hoped for. Off to the pharmacy and started my regimen up again as I had successfully done before.

You see, as I child I had an over protective mother and with every sniffle and cough I was back in the doctors office just to have him tell my mother to get me some Robitussin. After that it was doses at precisely four hour intervals. Then there were all the test and procedures that this “sick child” needed to be well again. Tell you what… the doctors got rich off me.

Finally, the hospital holds the “death” association for me that many of us have. A hospital is a place to die and to a teen it is even worse when your one father figure does die in a hospital. My grandfather died in a hospital and from that point on I resisted the urge or desire to go to a hospital unless absolutely necessary.

So yeah, an admission, I sometimes overlook my health or self diagnose when medical attention is needed. Oddly enough I am usually more accurate than the doctors when I do this. I know my symptomology, I can look up what it means, I can read a PDR for proper dosing levels and side effects, so yeah, I am usually right. I was correct when I told my doctor I had a left inguinal hernia. I was right when I diagnosed my diabetes and recommended Glyburide (now Glipizide) as opposed to Glucophage. Granted these are simple cases to diagnose, but I find that it is certainly more pleasant than being poked and prodded endlessly to figure out every little thing.

So last night I woke with two sets of leg cramps. The first was of the Extensor Digitorum Longus, the muscle that controls lateral movements of the foot and leg and very unusual for me to get a cramp in. Trust me it was painful and deep and took a while sooth out. But that was just the start.

The next cramp (maybe triggered by the first, we still do not know what triggers these painful attacks) was of the more common Gastrocnemius (Calf) muscle (the big one behind your shin) in which I have had many cramps in the past. The only ting was this was more severe and faster an attack then I have previously experienced. In the past I get the twinge of the oncoming Charley Horse and can stretch the muscle as it is coming on to relieve the severity and pain of the attack. This one last night came on lightning fast and since I could not catch it I was screaming in pain for about ten minutes until it subsided.

Now most people would say that it was the new meds entering my system again. In fact they may be right, for the Lovastatin does indeed have a side effect of muscle cramps. But then again, I do have a history of leg cramps, so instead of getting alarmist about the new meds I am going to chalk it up to the coincident that it may well be. Also, if the Lovastatin is going to cramp muscles it may cramp something other than my calf muscle. (I know, one would argue that my calf would have a higher susceptibility to cramping because of the history.) So until something cramps up other than the calf I will ignore it. After all there are times when just ignoring it is appropriate, and this may be the case.

So, now I just suffer until the meds kick in again and I start to feel better. One of the medications that was also recommended was Wellbutrin, for a couple of reasons. First off I am seeing (or experiencing) shifts in my mood. These depressions come on strong and usually put me out of sorts for at least a week and I do not like it. The other reason is smoking. Wellbutrin is also called Zyban, so I am attempting to kick a habit and get better all at once. I have not started taking this yet, I wanted to get the other meds going again first and not subject myself to a complete chemical makeover all at once. I have a feeling that just getting the Glipizide, Lovastatin and Lisinopril working together first is better for me.

But now the kicker… My blood work has come back and guess what? I have another doctors appointment. I guess the numbers were higher than I thought (though I may have honestly suspected) and a phone consultation will not do.

What could be the problem with the blood work? Let’s see… It could have detected that I had a mild heart attack. Cholesterol is through the roof. Testosterone levels are in the basement. My HbA1 is in the stratosphere. I got blood cancer. I have some other disease that I have not thought of (most likely not an STD). They screen for Hepatitis in all cases, maybe that? Herpes, doubtful. Who know. Apparently I will tomorrow. (Wish it were today.)

Whatever it is it can’t be too bad since Doc did not want to see me immediately. I guess I may have more time after all. Ah, the dread has reappeared for me.

Got health? Will find out tomorrow.