This morning Susan and I are back in familiar territory. We are sitting in the cafeteria of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, looking out at Florida sunshine, sago palms and pittosporum hedges, much like the landscaping at our house in Lake Mary. We decided to make the trip to Mayo earlier this week after talking with several friends and doctors about Susan’s progress and what would be best for her.
Susan is receiving excellent care from a psychiatric clinic in Athens. They have helped her cope with the anxiety and physical symptoms and begun adjusting her medications. Still, the anxiety and weakness persist. The psych people are not trained to answer questions about the possible physical sources of the problem. It’s clear that anxiety is a problem, but why is it there? Why did it suddenly present itself when it did? Conversion disorder is a diagnosis of exclusion, which means that all other possible causes must be ruled out first. That hasn’t happened yet, and is why we are now at Mayo this morning.
Mayo has a worldwide reputation for diagnosis. Unlike most clinics, they will consult among specialties to find the underlying cause. We hope to leave Mayo with either a physical diagnosis or with the knowledge that no such diagnosis is possible.
Susan will visit with an internal medicine doctor today. We expect to be back next week for more tests and evaluation.
The University of Georgia has been incredibly supportive. Susan has been helped by her colleagues so she can take the time to be here, and our UGA medical insurance covers our visits to Mayo. North Georgia Bank is allowing me to work remotely while here. Many, many friends and co-workers are praying for us. We are truly blessed.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Turning the Corner
The past week has been a roller coaster of emotions for Susan and me. What I did not mention in my last blog is that the neurologists at MCG suggested that Susan might be suffering from conversion disorder. It’s a diagnosis that neurologists give when a person has neurologic symptoms that cannot be explained. It was the suggestion that this might be Susan’s problem, rather than a straightforward physical problem, that sent us into a tailspin last week. Was the problem, as some say, "all in her head"? Was she somehow to blame for it?
I could run down the detail, but suffice it to say that we spent last week processing what we’d heard at MCG. I had a bout with a stomach virus and Susan continued to have weakness and lack of stamina. We both struggled to do some shopping Saturday (her with weakness and me with the virus), and went home at half time from the Super Bowl party Sunday at our friends the Tanner’s.
By Monday it was clear that Susan was not just going to get better on her own. The inability to live life was very exasperating and disappointing. However, we had appointments with an OB/GYN and the family practice doctor Tuesday. They both spent a lot of time with us, discussing what we’d learned at MCG and what options we had. They both suggested seeing a psychiatrist as well as getting some additional blood tests to address any factors that might have contributed to the onset of conversion.
Susan spent yesterday afternoon at a local psychiatrist’s office. They were able to actually begin treatment for conversion disorder. Susan came home tired but having turned a corner and feeling very encouraged. She went today for more blood tests and is still tired, but things are much different around the house tonight. We have hope.
It’s not clear how quickly Susan will recover or when she’ll be able to return to work. For now she will just push it as much as she can and stay in touch weekly with her doctors to assess her progress. We’re taking it one day at a time, thankful that she can make a full recovery and that we are getting very good care.
I could run down the detail, but suffice it to say that we spent last week processing what we’d heard at MCG. I had a bout with a stomach virus and Susan continued to have weakness and lack of stamina. We both struggled to do some shopping Saturday (her with weakness and me with the virus), and went home at half time from the Super Bowl party Sunday at our friends the Tanner’s.
By Monday it was clear that Susan was not just going to get better on her own. The inability to live life was very exasperating and disappointing. However, we had appointments with an OB/GYN and the family practice doctor Tuesday. They both spent a lot of time with us, discussing what we’d learned at MCG and what options we had. They both suggested seeing a psychiatrist as well as getting some additional blood tests to address any factors that might have contributed to the onset of conversion.
Susan spent yesterday afternoon at a local psychiatrist’s office. They were able to actually begin treatment for conversion disorder. Susan came home tired but having turned a corner and feeling very encouraged. She went today for more blood tests and is still tired, but things are much different around the house tonight. We have hope.
It’s not clear how quickly Susan will recover or when she’ll be able to return to work. For now she will just push it as much as she can and stay in touch weekly with her doctors to assess her progress. We’re taking it one day at a time, thankful that she can make a full recovery and that we are getting very good care.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Disappointment & New Direction
It’s Wednesday morning, the sun is out after a dreary Tuesday and things are looking up at the Bush household. Yesterday was rough for both Susan and me, but we have some new direction and hope this morning.
The trip to Augusta essentially told us that it's unlikely the problem is neuromuscular and did not give us a lot of other options to pursue. The neurologists at MCG said in so many words that it was unlikely they’d find a neuromuscular problem and suggested it might be stress related. That took us so aback that we didn’t ask any more questions. We took the news very hard. There were a lot of raw emotions, confusion, fear and guilt. We alternately talked, rested and worked yesterday as we let the news sink in and considered our options.
Many people have suggested a long list of other options to pursue, and as the day went on we began to think about them. We also talked with our friends the Cooke’s (Paul is our pastor) this morning. At this point it seems unlikely that stress alone is the sole cause of Susan’s symptoms. It is more likely that there are hormonal problems at work. Susan’s next steps will be to see her OB/GYN in Athens and to work with a doctor in Orlando who has expertise in women’s health.
We are also more aware than ever of the spiritual dimension of health. We continue to pray and see the Lord’s hand in what we are going through. Susan and I both have to face fears and see how the attitudes of our hearts affect her health.
There are still blood tests pending at MCG that may shed some light, but most likely it will be the end of next week before we have more information. There’s no reason to believe that anything will change until then, so it may be awhile until I blog again.
Thanks again for your prayers and support.
The trip to Augusta essentially told us that it's unlikely the problem is neuromuscular and did not give us a lot of other options to pursue. The neurologists at MCG said in so many words that it was unlikely they’d find a neuromuscular problem and suggested it might be stress related. That took us so aback that we didn’t ask any more questions. We took the news very hard. There were a lot of raw emotions, confusion, fear and guilt. We alternately talked, rested and worked yesterday as we let the news sink in and considered our options.
Many people have suggested a long list of other options to pursue, and as the day went on we began to think about them. We also talked with our friends the Cooke’s (Paul is our pastor) this morning. At this point it seems unlikely that stress alone is the sole cause of Susan’s symptoms. It is more likely that there are hormonal problems at work. Susan’s next steps will be to see her OB/GYN in Athens and to work with a doctor in Orlando who has expertise in women’s health.
We are also more aware than ever of the spiritual dimension of health. We continue to pray and see the Lord’s hand in what we are going through. Susan and I both have to face fears and see how the attitudes of our hearts affect her health.
There are still blood tests pending at MCG that may shed some light, but most likely it will be the end of next week before we have more information. There’s no reason to believe that anything will change until then, so it may be awhile until I blog again.
Thanks again for your prayers and support.
Monday, February 1, 2010
No Silver Bullet
We are back in Athens tonight after a very long and tiring day. We spent the whole afternoon at The Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. After a thorough checkup and visit with Drs. Rivner and Shepard at the neuroscience unit we felt no need to continue on to Mayo.
The big question – what’s causing this? – is still unanswered. The visit to MCG confirmed the work done at St. Mary’s in Athens. We have more to share, but at this point there’s no “silver bullet” and there is unlikely to be one in the coming weeks.
We are both emotionally and physically spent. I’ll write more tomorrow.
Jack
The big question – what’s causing this? – is still unanswered. The visit to MCG confirmed the work done at St. Mary’s in Athens. We have more to share, but at this point there’s no “silver bullet” and there is unlikely to be one in the coming weeks.
We are both emotionally and physically spent. I’ll write more tomorrow.
Jack
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