Thank you GAJ and LG. Yes, as I was fuming on my walk home from GP, I kept thinking about her words and like you said GAJ, why can’t she do my blood work and if anything is ‘abnormal’ send me to the hospital clinic. Every day GP’s get someone with symptoms they want tests done and of course something comes back abnormal then if they don’t know the reason they ‘refer’ them to a Specialist! What is the difference here?

I had a fantastic GP for 8 yrs, he moved away last August and hence I’ve had to find another. He monitored all my ‘conditions’ and because the Hospital Clinic never sent him letters or copies of my tests he never knew what was going on re the Hepatology, so he always ran his own thorough tests, regular Ultrasounds etc. He was awesome, I think I may travel to his new clinic as I can drive there and take my son with me, it’s still a hike but not like the trip on the mini-bus to Brisbane! Otherwise, GP2U I suppose, it’s just that it will cost min. $90 p/m for consult and I’m on a pension and savings are running low.
Nevertheless, I feel completely unsupported by this GP and think I should change.

Yes, LG I wish we could get together for a cuppa and a cry.
I agree, the crying is part of the grieving process and therefore essential to healing. So, I let those floodgates open

It’s Day 12 for me now and after around a week + of solid nights’ sleep I have been suffering from a migraine the past 2 nights. Back to my typical, tossing and turning, burning and numbness of my hands and feet keeping me awake as well as a killer headache and nausea. I’ve had migraines for decades, so I’m no stranger, I was experiencing an intermittent stabbing headache for the past week but it didn’t wake me.

I also had 1 night last week where I forgot to take my AD – Mirtazepine – before bed, as usual. I had a really bad night, the nerve pain, numbness etc, waking and dozing, wild, lucid dreams (not unusual). So, it appears that the reason I’ve been experiencing such ‘solid’ sleeping for around 6 hrs a night is more to do with the combination of the AD’s and my new MP’s (Magic Pills).

Otherwise, appetite normal, sweats decreased, increased thirst – water all day & night, herbal tea after dinner, 1 coffee 1st thing am; still suffering my usual nerve pain, numbness, burning & joint pain. Still having periods of energy, not as hyper, after taking my MP’s and then crashing in the arvo, couch potato at night with extreme fatigue.

I have noticed a clarity and lucidity creeping in like the car windscreen slowly demisting. This is good! My moods have levelled out but I still feel ‘teary’ at times.

Anyway, that’s me updating, wishing everyone else well on their journey.
to all!

Yes, Splitdog. along as I find a Dr to do them

Hi Ariel, yes, the weather is all over the place here too. Stinking hot, burning summer days that suddenly switched to cooler, overcast and rainy days to spoil the extra long Oz Day weekend!

Well, I’ve entered my 3rd week on Tx, like you, the migraine finally subsided Monday but I’m not feeling ‘better’. I feel really trashed and struggling to get up in the morning, my nights became restless and painful again and the wild dreams hmy:
Not exactly Matthew M – I have a ‘thing’ for him, so I wouldn’t want him in any nightmares, nice lucid dreams perhaps

Emotionally, I’m still all over the place, I haven’t watched any news because I do ‘take it on’, so I’m actually protecting myself. Avoiding people and social interactions really because I’m either getting really pissed off with them or I’m the usual sympathetic ear offering support and having the life sucked out of me. My mother finally called a couple of days ago, after a couple of weeks of Tx and no contact from family, wanting to pour out her troubles like usual. I very firmly pointed out how both her and my brother hadn’t bothered to check how I was doing, knowing I’m alone here. They call me and lay out all their burdens, usually bitching about each other, I give them compassion, empathy and support but what about me -who can I call? Certainly not them! She managed to blame my brother ahhhhhhhh.
My poor darling son has to listen to his mother wandering around the house ranting – hang on wait for it –

I just can’t help myself

Ok, I’ll stop now.
Anyway, I’d be doing a lot worse if I didn’t have this forum to come to. I feel better when I read how others are doing and I feel supported and not judged – which I am not used to at all. I’ve always been an open and blatantly honest person and that often incurs judgement and/or people running away

I read so much on here and then I can’t remember most of it. This week I’ve been feeling the same as before Tx, constant fatigue, restless nights, sweats again, burning nerve pain etc. I don’t know if it was having the migraine and I’m still recovering – they always take a lot out of me. I think I have read some people saying after the 1st 2 weeks they settle down and don’t feel much different – can’t remember where???
I’d like the energy and good sleep I was having to come back
Ok, I’m going to look up ‘Gunna’ to see what you were referring to…I’m back, cannot find anything for Gunna. Is it the actual name of a town? Google doesn’t know it, so what happened?

Anyway, hope you’re well today and anyone else reading this, wishing you well on your Tx

Well, I’m half way through Week 4 and since my new GP won’t do any blood tests for me, I’ve contacted the Clinic where my previous GP moved to, he’s on leave until end of the month but doing some weekend work at another clinic. I’ve managed to get in on Sunday, 14th Feb. I know he will support me, as he has monitored me for 8 years already. But won’t have any results until week 6, probably.

My sx have remained consistent in the last couple of weeks.
* I have a bit more energy than pre-tx during the day but very tired and lethargic in arvo/evenings.
* I am sleeping very soundly, although I ‘snap’ awake around 5 am, to take my dog out, then go back to sleep easily and ‘snap’ awake after about 2-3 hours. Very wild, lucid dreams – I’m remembering and ‘feeling’ all the details, which is unusual because I often only remember bits and pieces and forget as the day goes on.
* Some nights, e.g. very hot ones, I can’t get to sleep and my mind is wired and my body is in pain.
* I still have the burning, prickling and numbness in hands and feet 24/7.
* Intermittent sharp, stabbing headaches from base of skull upwards – occurring less frequently.
* Severe sweats and dehydration, I always drink lots of water but this needs electrolytes to improve, otherwise I’m very dry, skin and mouth, dizzy and weak.
* I still feel very emotional and teary at times, sometimes over a song, a memory, a news topic or just generalised and no associated thoughts.
* I have been having short-fused outbursts but resolve quickly; not feeling sociable at all.
* I’ve improved regarding anxiety – no more persistent low grade anxiety and agitation; but still have acute episodes that are resolving quicker than usual. Depression still present and having my typical highs and lows – some very low.
* Persistent bloated abdomen, no pain, just discomfort; GI problems and restricted diet as before.
* Kidney pain comes and goes.
* Blurry vision, sometimes so bad I can’t drive.
* Severe fatigue and going on ‘the nod’ -again, very scary when driving.
* Appetite normal to low and craving sweets at times which is not normal for me.
* Some days clear-headed and others still very brain foggy and have speech problems – can’t find my words and things come out all jumbled up.

I do feel reassured reading other people’s posts regarding their physical and psychological symptoms, knowing I’m not alone in this experience.
All the best to you all