It has been a minute since I wrote a blog. Mostly because I do not feel like I have enough time or mental energy. Then I went to a naturopath for myself. She was the doctor we had originally went to for Kevin, so she knew my current situation. We were talking about my support system and ways that I deal with my stress. She asked me if I am still blogging and encouraged me to start again. I realized that I do miss it and it was a really good way to understand my thoughts and better cope with what we are going through. So under doctor’s orders I am back, only this time I am hand writing this post and hope my wonderful husband will type it up for me (he did).
I hardly know where to start, so much has been happening. I will focus this post on our new family doctor. I want to start by saying we really do like and respect him but we did not get the answers we had been hoping for.
Our first visit with him went fairly well and we felt hopeful of our future with him. He had been a doctor in the states for a number of years and actually asked to see the Lyme disease test we did with IGeneX! We went home with so much hope. We did want to be prepared for what he could say though, so we went home and looked at the test again. This is when we found a little fine print we had not noticed before.
In the one section that says positive for Lyme disease, Kevin noticed that the lab says two positive proteins in the blood means a positive according to IGeneX standards but the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention USA) says you need five, Kevin has four.
At our next appointment with the doctor we came prepared to be told Kevin does not have Lyme disease. The doctor took a lot of time reading over the report. He read every page in detail, or so it seemed. He told us that it is indeed not a positive test according to his standards.
The doctor concluded that Kevin simply has depression. I asked him why Kevin would have four proteins, what would cause that? And he simply said it could be just how Kevin‘s body is or they could be false positives. I also asked him if someone can have depression without being depressed and he more or less said yes.
He sent us home with a prescription for an anti-depressant. He gave us instructions to not look up side effects or the ingredients (this is standard practise for medication involving mental health). A headache, nausea, or dizziness was okay and should go away within a week of trying it. Cramping stomach and worst mood are not a good sign and we should call the office if that happened.
Kevin started on a Friday. He felt a slight high right away but he soon felt the side effects too. By Sunday I noticed his breath smelled bad and realized just how bad his side effects were! He still continued taking the pills until he was able to get a hold of the doctor’s office. The doctor told him to stop right away and made another appointment to see us.
At this appointment we mentioned a filler in pills that we have become suspicious of that Kevin is reacting with. He told us that it could be that ingredient that is causing all the bad side effects but there is no way to test that theory. The ingredient that we are supicious of, is also in some of the vitamin supplements that have not gone over well with Kevin in the past. The only choice we have is to keep trying different medication’s until we find the one that works. This could take multiple tries...
Soon we will start the second attempt, and see what that will bring us. This experience has not made us bitter with our healthcare system. The doctor we have is very respectful and for the most part we feel heard and feel that he is doing the best to his knowledge. He has set up an appointment with a psychiatrist and we look forward to finding out what will come of that.
Most of all I need to keep this verse in my mind and heart.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
I do not understand what is going on and I have had my fair share of questioning God and telling him I have had enough. Now he can lay off! But in the end I know this and I really try to rest in it.
Stay tuned for...
-why we are not visiting Nova Scotia right now
-the naturopathic journey for Kevin since August
-my naturopathic journey
-our suspicions about fillers and pills
-our musings after being married a year!
No promises when these blogs will all come out but I have enjoyed writing my thoughts down again so I will try to make it a priority again for my own health.
Food blog will also come at some point but until then check out my Instagram page @the7foxdiet for food inspiration!
