Old People Diseases

When I say I’m only 26, but my body acts like it’s 86, I’m not fucking kidding! I was diagnosed with osteoporosis when I was 23, I started menopause when I was 21 (that was surgically-induced, although that wasn’t the original plan), and I had my first joint replacement when I was 20.

Now, I have another one to add to my list: high cholesterol.

On Wednesday, I paid a visit to my doctor to check up on some bloodwork I had done way back in December. I also had to get my osteoporosis medicine refilled, and I took the opportunity to complain about the difficulty I’ve had with breathing properly.

In addition to my osteoporosis medicine and a referral to a (very generous, I’ll get to it in a minute) pulmonologist, I left my doctor’s office with a shiny new prescription for cholesterol-lowering medicine. My total cholesterol was 291, but he said that my good cholesterol was high, which is, well, good! He also said that based on my age, diet (ha! I barely eat!), and malabsorption issues, the cause of the high cholesterol is genetic.

Ah, how my genes love me.

So, on to the pulmonologist! My difficulty breathing has been going on for a very long time. Most doctors that I mention it to just blame it either on dysautonomia (which we know I do have), or psychosis (which we know I do don’t sometimes maybe almost have). It got to the point where I was more scared of living with it in silence than I was of bringing it up with the doctor. Thankfully, he was concerned enough (or just wanted to shut me up enough) to refer me to a specialist.

The doctor told me about this awesome pulmonologist. He said that this doctor was young, but cautioned me not to let myself be fooled by this doctor’s youth. He went on to say that this doctor will search and ask other doctors until he figures out what’s wrong.

Unfortunately, TennCare won’t pay for me to see this doctor. Of course! That’s because this doctor is probably good. TennCare doesn’t pay for anything good.

But wait! There’s more! As soon as this pulmonologist heard that I have Ehlers-Danlos, he decided he wanted to see me anyway, insurance be damned.

Take THAT, TennCare! You can kiss the fattest part of my ass!

I’m excited and terrified about this appointment at the same time. I’m excited that I may finally get an answer as to why I have such a hard time breathing, but I’m terrified that the only answer will be that it’s something there is no treatment for, or that it’s because I’m crazy.

I’m just thankful that my family doctor took me seriously enough to send me to a specialist. Now, let’s hope that the specialist takes me just as seriously.