So Many Doctors!

So, you know how we thought we had an answer? Well, we don't. Poop. I went to the ENT specialist at the U and they tried to duplicate the findings of the bronchoscopy with an in-office scope that only went down to the vocal chords. After injecting my throat with local anesthetic and inhaling a numbing something, they did one pass of the camera and told me everything looked normal. The dr, who was awesome by the way, then left the room to set up a treadmill test, and that's when I lost it. I just started crying, because I was expecting a quick fix, an easy answer to months of not feeling well, and I was being told that I probably wouldn't get that yet. My Nana was my angel again, and held my hand, gave me hugs, and reassured me again. She's been an amazing support during all of this, and I don't know what I would do without her! But, those poor doctors received a shock when they walked back in to find a patient falling apart over something not being wrong...I bet that was first :)

Next, they put me on a treadmill with an oxygen monitor on, and as I started exerting myself, my blood oxygen levels dropped pretty low, pretty quickly. They then brought me back to the exam room and did the scope again to see if anything changes structurally when I am symptomatic. It doesn't. So, at least we have recorded what happens when I get swollen, dizzy, and feel like I'm going to black out. We still don't know why this is happening though. Generally, this drop in oxygen means that there is some miscommunication between the heart and lungs, but there are hundreds of things that can cause that. So, now I get to go to a new doctor, a world renowned exercise kinesthesiologist, who is hopefully going to be able to pinpoint where the disconnect is happening, and back to the pulmonology department at the U where they will probably do another type of echocardiogram and a longer Holter monitor test. So, we're not back at square one, because we know what's happening, just not why.

Also, I'm going to have to have a sleep test done, because my oxygen levels fall at night too, so there's probably some sort of apnea something going on. I'll update when I have that done too, because treating that would probably at the least help me not feel so tired all the time, which would be awesome! So, right now, I'm just in a holding pattern, waiting for more tests, which will hopefully lead to answers. I'm keeping busy with work and my sweet boys, and trying to stay positive, which works most of the time. Thanks so much for all the continued support and kind thoughts, it makes a world of difference!