Sunday, October 21, 2007
To make matters more confusing, I present only one symptom of low HGF: hypoglycemia. Other symptoms that I do not possess include weakness, low stamina (yes now, but no earlier considering a triathlon and three Century bike races as well as weight lifting), extreme depression, and unexplained weight gain. Also the usual cause of low HGF is tumors on the pituitary gland. No tumors were seen in my CAT scan or MRI (although I am not sure of the resolution of the scans. These tumors traditionally are very small, about the size of the period at the end of this sentence.) While this possible diagnosis does explain some symptoms, it may not be all encompassing.
My endocrinologist wants me to check into a well-known research hospital. University of New Mexico hospital in Albuquerque is a possibility. However, I am looking closely at other options out of state. I conferred with my primary care doctor and we will be discussing options this week. I also need to work with my insurance company.
So, I am entering my ninth week of this crap. I have no definitive answer for my neurological and vertigo attacks (we suspect Basilary Migraine but it has not been specifically diagnosed that way.) We do not know what is causing the hypoglycemia (although we are suspecting low HGF).
I wanted to close by saying thank you to all of you that have been sending me love and support. And prayers. We are all a little scared but no one said life was easy. You know me; I do not turn away from a challenge. I am grateful to my wife and wonderful daughters for helping me. I am not used to receiving help and being weak.
Much love to all and stay tuned to the station. The soap opera is not quite over, yet!
Dale.
I know how you feel. I curse the unknown cause of my headaches frequently. They sre very immasculating and I am constantly being told by other men (particularly coworkers on construction sites) that migraines are a "women's disease." Sometimes knowing that I am probably going to be fired sooner or later for abscences tempts me to punch these people in the mouth and get the firing over with. I used to get into fights with other kids when I was growing up because my eyes would water for 1 or 2 days before I would get a headache and they thought I was crying and tease me. ("Crybaby" etc.)
I had no idea what a migraine OR a prodrome was back then, I thought that my headaches were the same kind of headaches that everyone else gets. My self esteem was lowered since I tohought I was "weak" for not being able to tough them out like everyone else. I felt unmanly. I did not know any other men who were dealing with migraines that I could turn to for advice/inspiration. Growing up with this disease has wreaked havoc in every aspect of my life.