Author Topic: My friends deserve an update (Read 9053 times)

nic968 · « **Reply #50 on:** October 27, 2010, 11:02 AM »

Dennis...

Have they looked into tropical diseases? Did you tell them you spent a lot of your youth riding with monkeys? Is 'sidehackatosis' even curable?

Seriously..Sending healing vibes and hope you get well soon..

Mattdub · « **Reply #51 on:** October 27, 2010, 11:47 AM »

Any news Dennis ? , healing vibes being sent

Dennis Dain · « **Reply #52 on:** October 28, 2010, 05:43 AM »

Thanks for the kind words, vibes and prayers guys. I truely do appreciate it.

The update is; yesterday I went to a new doctor (new to me), he is a rheumatologist. My wife choose him because he is also a sports doctor. Rheumatology deals mainly with problems involving joints, soft tissue and certain autoimmune diseases and conditions of connective tissues. At some point during this 'medical condition' I have had issues with each one of those.

The doctor took X-rays of my ankles to go along with the X-rays I already had done of my hips, chest and shoulders. He also sent me to the labratory (again) to draw more blood for further tests. He took down all my info on what I have been dealing with these past 7 weeks and now plans to go over all my info and see what he can come up with before I see him again in 2 weeks.

I really like this guy. True, I have been dealing with 'something' these past 7 weeks, and I still have a daily fever of between 99 and 100 with continued night sweeats, but like this doctor said, if you saw me walking down the street you would think I was as healthy as anybody. He says there is no need to hurry a diagnosis and just through meds or steriods at this. He plans on thoroughly studying and researching my situation and dealing with it accordingly.

I like the idea of not rushing into anything and I like his course of action.

I also have another meeting with the infectious disease doctor on Friday to go over the results of bloodwork from a week ago.

Thanks again to all.

RATTY · « **Reply #53 on:** October 29, 2010, 09:35 AM »

Sounds like good progress Dennis. Hope its resolved soon

keiththompson · « **Reply #54 on:** November 09, 2010, 10:56 PM »

I keep having a look on here hoping to read that everything is sorted. Saying that "no news is good news".

Good vibes sent.

Dennis Dain · « **Reply #55 on:** November 10, 2010, 03:49 AM »

Sorry guys, it looks like I have dropped the ball. Sorry for not keeping you in the loop.

Since my last update I did see the infectious disease doctor. He was the guy who came up with the actual diagnosis of what I am dealing with,' sarcoidosis'. That is the medical term for for my overactive auto-immune system. Although we still don't know what I am overacting to.

He also set me up with the other specialists who did their part in trying to figure this situation out.
The blood work he did the last time I saw him came back negative. So he told me that he has done all he can for me and I won't be seeing him anymore.

I still have a slight temperature every evening, usually between 99 and 100.5, not bad and not bad enough to make me uncomfortable. I have always been a warm person and I do still have a high matabolism, so maybe that is normal for me. Some good news is that I have not had any night sweats in a while.

It is good to be back to work. I am feeling stronger every day. In case you don't know I am a delivery driver for UPS with a very busy residential route. With christmas coming I need to be at my best to make it through.

My next doctor appointment with the Rheumatologist is next Thursday, the 18th. I will give you an update then.

Thanks again for all you concern. Dennis

Bob_Acid · « **Reply #56 on:** November 10, 2010, 04:44 AM »

My father suffers from sarcoidosis, Dennis, he has done since he was in his late 30's.

All the best mate.

xGoose · « **Reply #57 on:** November 10, 2010, 06:44 AM »

All the best Dennis, glad you finally found out what it was.

OrgasmDonor · « **Reply #58 on:** November 10, 2010, 09:53 AM »

good for you to know what you are dealing with Dennis rather than speculating, great to hear your feeling better, hope this continiues for ya dude

Jon The Bassist · « **Reply #59 on:** November 10, 2010, 10:02 AM »

Glad to hear that you're in reasonable health at the moment Dennis

MartyC · « **Reply #60 on:** November 10, 2010, 03:18 PM »

Hey Dennis, good news that you have a diagnosis which means that you will hopefully be able to manage the symptoms and carry on leading a "normal" life

.

All the best

Marty

fischflo · « **Reply #61 on:** November 10, 2010, 04:07 PM »

Phew, that's a relief!.. not the C....

hm.. what you have got diagnosed with at least sounds as if it could be dealt with to a great degree of success. I hope the holiday shifts won't be too demanding just yet, but I'm sure you're very cautious about that.

monkian · « **Reply #62 on:** November 12, 2010, 06:40 PM »

Good to hear that you're getting some answers at last Dennis.
Wishing you all the best mate.

Stay strong

Dennis Dain · « **Reply #63 on:** November 21, 2010, 06:44 AM »

Here is the newest update I have for you. On this past Thursday I saw the Rhumatologist again. I like this guy, he does not mix words and he gives it to me straight. On our last visit he sent me to the lab (again) for another round of blood tests, and again they came back negative. As for the science of medicine I am proving to be a most difficult case.

So the doctor tells me he sees it one of three ways; 1) I have Sarcoidosis and it is in a state of rest. 2) I had some thing else and my body fought it off and I am fine (we doubt that is the case) 3) I have something else that we don't about and I am a timebomb waiting to go off.

His major concern is what is going on inside my chest. He would like me to get another CAT scan so as to compare it to another I had a few weeks ago to see if the swelling has gone down in my lymph glands. Our concern is having another round of radiation in so short of a time. It is kind of scary that part of a medical proceedure to find out if one has cancer can actually cause cancer. He told me the CAT scan is up to me, if I am satisfied with my condition and my health, it is my choice. Who's to say that if I get the scan it will tell me anything? We are going to hold off on that till after the first of the year and consider it then.

He also wants me to see a pulmonologist, they deal with the respitory system. He said that since I have the swollen lymph glands around the lungs that he might see my condition from a different amgle. So now we have an appointment with another 'specialist' next Monday. Wohoo...
But I feel great, my temperature seems to have returned to normal, no more night sweats, my strength is coming back more and more every day. It is tough for me to put weight back on at this time of year with my job getting busier every day. All my doctors and my wife are concerned with my health and overall strength and how I am going to hold up through the Christmas rush season at UPS. I hate using a helper, I enjoy the challenge of doing more work than any other driver and my ego says I can do it all by myself. I may have to suck it up and admit that I am not up to full strength and use a helper. I'll just play it by ear and see how things play out.

Jon The Bassist · « **Reply #64 on:** November 21, 2010, 09:21 AM »

Hey Dennis, thanks for the update, glad you're generally okay even thought not sorted. It sounds like your medical team is doing a good job. Fingers crossed for a more accurate diagnosis at some point

OrgasmDonor · « **Reply #65 on:** November 21, 2010, 11:26 AM »

as above, wishing ya well Dennis

monkian · « **Reply #66 on:** November 21, 2010, 12:10 PM »

Ever the competitor Dennis, wanting to beat the guys around you

Maybe your UPS truck could be seen as a temporary Sidehack! After all, you know how to work and win as part of a successful team

Good to hear you're feeling better in yourself. That has to speak volumes.
I can't possibly imagine how your feeling and I hope I'm not speaking out of turn here but for what it's worth, I might be thinking more radiation would only happen if absolutely nessassary and maybe move on the next 'specialist' $:-\$

As ever, wishing you the best

MartyC · « **Reply #67 on:** November 21, 2010, 12:24 PM »

Good to hear you are on the mend Dennis and getting back to normal, wishing you all the best for a speedy and full recovery

Dingobmxer · « **Reply #68 on:** November 25, 2010, 06:43 AM »

Glad to hear positive things are happening Dennis, fingers crtossed your road to recovery is a quick one

all the best Mark and Emma

Dennis Dain · « **Reply #69 on:** December 02, 2010, 07:28 AM »

Ok guys, here we go, hopefully this will be the last update I will have to post on this situation I am dealing with. (it's good news, so read on...)

As I told you in my last update, the rhumatologist could not come up with anything new or definite as to what I was dealing with, but he thought it would be a good idea to see a pulmonologist. So as I am heading to this new doctor today all I could think of was... here I am feeling healthy, taking (another) day off from work, going to another 'specialist' to tell him the same story I have been telling all the other 'specialist'...where will this lead me? PLease don't get me wrong. I have a great deal of respect for these doctors and all they did for me. Each one I saw was a stepping stone to the one I saw today. As the rhumatologist told me, "all doctors (specialists) see things differently, they all have different boxes they check off. That was so true today.

So my wife and I sit in the the little examination room telling this new doctor my 'story'. Then he pulls up all my X Rays, CAT and PET scans. We all look at them as he explains exactly what we are seeing. Then he tells me he knows what I have... WHAT? You know what I have?... He leaves for a few minutes to print out an article from a medical online journal. This article, written 5 or so years ago, explains this medical condition that ALL my symptoms fit into.

I have a 'type' of Sarcoidosis. Where most forms are chronic and can be difficult to deal with, the type I have came and went. There is a good chance I will not have reaccurance of this. WOW!!! What a relief. Finally someone knows what I am dealing with and that it is not such a bad thing after all. The iceing in the cake was when he pulled up that Xray I had done a few weeks ago and compared it to one I had done back when this all started and you could definitely see that the swelling of the lymph glands in my upper chest has gone down significantly.

So for now I am feeling real good that we have a handle on this thing. I will do a follow up visit with doctor in 6 months. But for now it is back to life in general and concentrating on getting through December at UPS.
Thanks again to all that have expressed concern. Now I need to get back to my history thread. Keep your eyes peeled...

Dingobmxer · « **Reply #70 on:** December 02, 2010, 07:31 AM »

Awesome news Dennis, so happy for you and your wife

You can look forward to Christmas now

All the best, Mark

Dennis Dain · « **Reply #71 on:** December 02, 2010, 07:33 AM »

Thanks Mark.

Jon The Bassist · « **Reply #72 on:** December 02, 2010, 08:29 AM »

Reading that update has been a great start to the day Dennis

All the best, Jon

Mattdub · « **Reply #73 on:** December 02, 2010, 09:00 AM »

Great news Dennis , for you & your family

.

Have a great christmas

MartyC · « **Reply #74 on:** December 02, 2010, 02:45 PM »

Fantastic new Dennis, so pleased for you both

.

Have a great Xmas

Author Topic: My friends deserve an update (Read 9053 times)

nic968

Dennis Dain

keiththompson

Dennis Dain

xGoose

monkian

Dennis Dain

monkian

Dennis Dain

Dennis Dain