ST Alpha - "My brother has been having some health problems for a while now, that have gotten progressively worse." (Reading a Post)

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My brother has been having some health problems for a while now, that have gotten progressively worse.

Posted by ty97 Mar 4 '20, 12:36

What is causing it? No one knows yet.

A while ago (a year, maybe longer?) he started having some pain/issues around his wrist (carpal tunnel was quickly ruled out), then his fingers, then whole hand including the palm. He has had trouble gripping anything such as a pen for a few months now.

The pain spread to his legs more recently and he even has had trouble walking sometimes without feeling like he will fall down unless he is holding onto to someone or has his hand against the wall.

In the past several months, he has been to I can't count how many doctors, and had numerous tests to try to diagnose things and try to rule out other things. He's been in the ER at least twice this year, at least once at the instruction of his doctor.

He's even seen a hand specialist doctor at Yale. That's a thing apparently.

They've ruled out growths/legions on his brain and blockages on his brain at least.

In the meantime, one doctor puts him on steroids, another doctors want him off steroids, another says steroids will affect a certain test. He was on one painkiller, now he's on a different one because his doctor didn't want him on the first one. It feels like a three ring circus at times.

They've been suspecting it could rheumatoid arthritis or MS. He finally had a neurologist appointment today after yet another test yesterday. The neurologist agrees that it could be MS though the scan doesn't show evidence to confirm it (but the scan was 'fuzzy' and low quality .... like what?)

Anyway, the neurologist ordered another type of test and a follow-up after the test.

The test is May 12
The follow-up is May 20.

In a group text with my mother I commented on our great health system and how it's silly that we are afraid of the 'long waits' of 'socialized medicine'. Like he's waiting two months, what's the difference, this is how long he'd wait in Canada! For free!

My mother said "more like two years"

I told my mother I'm giving her phone number to my Canadian friends.

I was only half joking. Andrea, I might give you my mother's phone number.

Responses:

Sounds like one of those medical cases in the NYT's Sunday magazine. And I mean I think it sounds a lot like one case they had. -- nm - . Mar 4, 14:10
The neurologist also told him today that she wants him to stop working. Like...what, does he go on disability? - ty97 Mar 4, 13:11 2
- Well, with doctor's orders, most places will just go ahead and send them to short-term disability. - Dark Callisto Mar 4, 13:15 1
  - (P.S. Good thoughts for your brother. It has to be frustrating not to know.) -- nm - Dark Callisto Mar 4, 13:20
Hopefully they’ll figure it out. No answers is more frustrating than even bad answers -- nm - spamlet Mar 4, 13:03
I hate to hear this. Just so I know, is this private so my wife and I shouldn't say anything to him? - pmb Mar 4, 13:03 3
- No, not at all. Feel free. -- nm - ty97 Mar 4, 13:10 2
  - (I'm sure he'd love to hear from the two of you) - ty97 Mar 4, 13:12 1
    - Will do. He's also probably better off googling the puppies. -- nm - pmb Mar 4, 13:21
best wishes -- nm - mud Mar 4, 12:58
So scary. I had to have an brain MRI. I waited 3 weeks. -- nm* - Andie Mar 4, 12:54 1
- And I would gladly talk to your mon! -- nm - Andie Mar 4, 12:56
I'm so sorry he's going through this and I hope they can figure out a diagnosis -- nm - Krusty Mar 4, 12:52
I didn't know all of this, this sucks -- nm - JackDawson Mar 4, 12:47 1
- And on top of it I'm scared to visit him in case I'm carrying the stupid virus -- nm - ty97 Mar 4, 12:59
Wellllllll - Reagen Mar 4, 12:45 5
- Also you probably know this but there is not "a" Canadian health system - Reagen Mar 4, 12:46 4
  - I did not know this. Are some provinces better than others? -- nm - decline Mar 4, 12:47 3
    - Definitely. Just because of available resources/staff in more rural places. -- nm - Andie Mar 4, 12:55
    - BC and Ontario are often considered to have the best, Territories and NL usually ranked at the bottom. -- nm - Reagen Mar 4, 12:51 1
      - And provinces will send people to where they can get the care they need, if deemed necessary. -- nm - Beryllium Mar 4, 13:33
best wishes for your brother sir. -- nm - Remlik Mar 4, 12:43
I'm sure it's been tested for, but have they ruled out Guillain-Barré? - decline Mar 4, 12:40 3
- Just to be controversial, I'll suggest mad cow disease -- nm - zeitgeist Mar 4, 15:46
- I honestly don't even know at this point. I'll ask him. Is that an autoimmune thing? - ty97 Mar 4, 12:41 1
  - yup "a rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves" -- nm - decline Mar 4, 12:44
I hope for the best for your brother - that sounds awful. - Pippy -Queen Consort of Westeros Mar 4, 12:40

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My brother has been having some health problems for a while now, that have gotten progressively worse.

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