Greetings Village,
Recently I have been having some health “surprises.”
In September, I was diagnosed with vertigo, and just this month received a PT referral to help mitigate my daily episodes.
In November, during my yearly well-check, I was told I have a baseball-size uterine fibroid (that we are now “watching” with routine ultrasounds).
And this month, after visiting a genetic counselor at the referral of my primary care doctor, I am headed to the Jane Brattain Breast Cancer Center for not only a yearly mammogram, but also a clinic visit to determine my risk for future cancers.
Whoa!
It’s a lot to share with you all.
So how did all of these symptoms and diagnosis come about?
Well, the later two came from my yearly well-checks with my DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) and OB-GYN. Without those yearly appointments, I would not have thought about visiting a genetic counselor regarding all the cancer in my family. = PREVENTION
That was at the advice of my DO.
And I would’ve not known about the uterine fibroid, because currently I am not having any symptoms . . . I’ll spare you the details.
Now the vertigo is a different story. I came down with severe vertigo on Wednesday, September 6th (you know it’s bad when you remember the date, time, and place). I was able to get a virtual doctor's visit and was prescribed a PT maneuver that I performed, and it alleviated my vertigo within a week or two.
Fast forward to December 25th… and it came back. Less severe, but it came back. And now every time I lay down flat or tip my head a certain way I get the spins, and it takes a while for my body to adjust to being back upright again. This is every day…
So after the holidays and the kids were back in school, I called the nurse’s line to try to get in with my primary care doctor as soon as possible. They couldn’t get me in because my symptoms weren’t debilitating enough, so I just went online and made the first appointment she had. = Self-Advocacy
(This was after many phone calls explaining all of my symptoms to the nurses… “No, I AM drinking enough water. Yes, I eat enough food, so it’s not my blood sugar. No, I am not nauseous.”)
I finally got in this week, and after googling my symptoms prior, I demanded a more thorough blood work-up to cover my bases. My DO obliged to check my hemoglobin, and she also referred me to physical therapy.
Will this work? I honestly hope so. I feel too young to be dealing with vertigo everyday, as it affects my ability to teach Pilates, take Yoga, and fully enjoy my ladies dance class on Thursday nights (I can’t do too many turn-like moves in a row without feeling off).
So here I am, hoping for the best. But also sharing this with all of you, to remind you to get your yearly well-checks (PREVENTION). When something is off, talk with your doctor, or another trusted health professional (SELF-ADVOCACY). And trust your inner wisdom - your gut - your instinct.
It is funny how much we rely on the medical field for our symptoms and diagnosis, but we often forget to check-in with our own “gut” on what it is we might need (INNER WISDOM).
Honestly, with all that’s going on with me medically (there are some other random symptoms I’m noticing now as I try to figure my vertigo out) I am going to keep trusting my inner wisdom to guide me, so that I can get my health back on track.
Prior to the vertigo, I have never felt so STRONG and HEALTHY in my body. So hopefully this is just a blip, and the PT will help, my blood work will give any answers that are needed, and I’ll be able to continue to have my yearly well-checks for PREVENTION.
Warmly,
Lesley
P.S.
Movement is Medicine…
Prevention is Key…
Self-Advocacy is a Skill… (so work it!)
Trust your GUT…