Yesterday was a day I gave in to western meds. And that is very difficult for me! But the night before last, the skin rash became exacerbated and I barely slept all night even taking two benadryl in one night due to itching. I woke up freaked out that the rash was going to get as bad as my underarm had been the last week. I called my primary care physician asking for assistance thinking i might actually go to the emergency room for this.
I almost canceled the foot doctor due to the skin rash but instead, I had my third visit with the Podiatrist. I have not been overjoyed with this doctor, Dr. Mah. He has distinctly mis-diagnosed me, not listened to what I have said my symptoms were and has forgotten from visit to visit why I am there (actually noting the bone spur in my heel which is NOT why I am in there at all)
When he walked in, I asked him, “Do you remember why I am here?” He did, He was serious and attentive. Otherwise, I was going to fire his ass! I started in a matter of fact manner, ‘this is what I have been doing, this is what has been happening, no the steroid shot didn’t work at all, yes I have been in an inordinate amount of pain…’ yadda yadda yadda. Then I started to cry. I have been in so much pain and discomfort it is really unfair!
So he gave me an alcohol shot. I have read up on these treatments, here is a link http://www.podiatrychannel.com/mortonneuroma/treatment.shtml. We discussed orthotics and he seems to think that my health plan, Chinese Community Health Plan, will not cover that. So he gave me thicker foot pads and told me where to properly put them on my foot. He also showed me some cheaper orthotics that I can get at Sports Basement or the like in case my insurance does not cover it. He was a better doc today. And I have some old orthotics I think I will pull out and see if they help when I can actually wear shoes again.
Oh and to embrace my current situation, I went to DSW and bought a pair of fancy silver flip flops and some green ones too.
Next the doc called, the primary care physician, Dr. Eric Lim. Well his secretary anyway. I kind of demanded that they just let me go to the dermatologist who was also located down at 450 Sutter, which is where the podiatrist was. With some cajoling, and threatening to go to an Emergency Room, Dr. Lim okay’ed me going directly to the dermatologist. Thank god because I was starting to think that I was the freak of the universe. Dr. Ng looked at my rash, asked me if I had started using any new products. i explained about my St. John’s Wort theory. She seemed to know about that herb and was not convinced. I am still not unconvinced. She put me on a 5-4-3-2-1 regiment of internal steroids. Gave me two topical steroid creams, one for whole body, one for behind ears and underarms. She mentioned that my excema behind my ears might flare up due to the steroids. She also gave me a stronger prescription of benadryl for sleeping. So now I am the Steroidal Woman!
I am feeling better with everything. Sometimes a dose of the western meds is exactly what a body needs. I will likely still try everything herbal first. But I do know when I need to see a doctor. And the aggravated skin was not helping anything I tell you. Today is a new day!
