aaaaarrrghhhhhh

[buggery]

Boring post about me and my stupid body. Feel free to skip.

Yeah, so my nervous system is just really not normal.

Most of the effects of this I've gotten used to, if not comfortable with -- perennial muscle weakness, random days when I can't process written English, frequent failure to understand or remember things I hear, having parts of my arms or legs go numb for days or weeks at a time. At the moment two different places on my left arm feel sunburned -- over-warm and not-quite-itchy, skin-deep, though there's no actual sunburn there, just some confused nerves.

What's new, though? My tongue. It's faintly swollen, and feels hot and thick and dry (though it's not -- my salivary glands are working fine), and no amount of hydrating -- either drinking or just holding water in my mouth -- brings any relief. This has been going on two days now. I get periodic urges to let it hang out of my mouth, and I've tried going with that, but it just gets dry without cooling down any, or at least not feeling like it does; I trust that the laws of physics regarding evaporation have not in fact changed.

Mainly I just want to bitch about this. But if anybody has any bright ideas for what might make me feel better? Please, please share.

Comments

[derryderrydown.livejournal.com]

Lots of vitamin B. I have no idea why but it's always worked for me.

[sage]

Have you tried acupuncture? You would want to find an OMD (doctor of oriental medicine) -- it's a degree that requires *much* more training than just an Acupuncture license. In your situation, I would call around to try to find someone who's dealt with something like your situation before. Or at least sounds like they know their stuff.

Traditional Chinese Medicine sees the body as a network of interweaving lines of energy affecting both physical and emotional health. With your symptoms, the flow is blocked and you're getting jangly feedback in different (and randomly changing) parts of your body. Acupuncture realigns the flow.

I've also got a whole host of chronic health problems, and used to be bedridden. Pretty much everything is now in remission, and my OMD gets the lion's share of the credit. I mean, seriously. I can *run* now after having walked with a cane for three years.

If you've never had acupuncture, the most important thing is that it *doesn't* feel like needles. They're so thin, you don't even register them being in your skin. For me it feels like a weird electrical tingling that starts out intense and then dissipates during the time on the table.

If you wanna pick my brain about this, you're welcome to find me on AIM (usernick: thesageness) at any time. :)

Hope you feel better very soon.

[nos4a2no9.livejournal.com]

Jack, damn, this sounds pretty serious. Have you been to see a doctor? Not to freak you out or anything, but you should get the problems you've been having checked out. I hope you feel better soon, but make sure you see someone ASAP.

[buggery.livejournal.com]

Oh, of course I've been to the doctor. Legions of them, in fact. I have multiple sclerosis. There's just even less (western) medical science can do to ameliorate the minor symptoms than the major ones. But thanks for the nudge -- too many people really don't seek medical attention without being badgered into it, even when their bodies stop functioning to the degree mine has.

[buggery.livejournal.com]

This is a fine suggestion, and I will look for you on AIM. I've had tremendous improvement with cranio-sacral work my (Indian) physical therapist did with me -- I went from being bedridden to being able to walk, as well, though I still use a cane for medium distances because I tire quickly, and also my balance sometimes shorts out; and a wheelchair for longer distances and when I want to actually carry anything larger or heavier than a cat.

I do, actually, have an intense needle-phobia, but I have a feeling acupuncture needles wouldn't bother me. In much the way that elevators don't trigger my claustrophobia, but being stuck in stop-and-go highway traffic does.

[buggery.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I will have to give that a try, though I take B-50 already.

[nos4a2no9.livejournal.com]

Oh, sorry I misunderstood. Silly of me - of course you'd see a doctor. Hope you find some answers not provided by traditional Western medicine - that MS is a shitty deal, man. I know at least ten people who have it, but it's important to remain optimistic.