Having focused so long on my headaches without finding a successful treatment, I decided to visit a general neurologist and start from scratch. I brainstormed everything in my body that could possibly be a symptom, even ones I’ve had so long that they seem normal. I also took a list of all the medications and treatments I’ve tried for migraine and chronic daily headache.
I liked the neurologist off the bat. She went over my list symptom by symptom, asking lots of questions and making many notes. A comprehensive neurological exam, with toothpicks pokes, followed. We closed the 75-minute appointment going over the possibilities and planning follow-up steps.
I had blood drawn to test for adrenal problems and lupus or related disorders. Since I haven’t had an MRI since 2002, I had one yesterday. I also had an MRA, which lights up the blood vessels, to check for aneurysms. This afternoon I’m meeting with the neurologist to go over the results.
No one has mentioned adrenal or autoimmune disorders (like lupus) to me before. I’m intrigued. I could probably find symptoms to coincide with any disease, but my do mesh well with autoimmune illnesses. If the test for lupus is positive, I may have lupus. Or I may have one of a long list of other autoimmune disorders (also referred to as collagen vascular disorders). A positive lupus test will mean another level of testing.
I’ll let you know what I learn at my appointment. I really feel like we’re getting somewhere, but I’m trying to not set my expectations too high.