Wednesday, November 29, 2006

The Human Body

We know so little about ourselves don't we. And I don't mean emotionally (that's a whole other post for another day). I mean doctor's and medical specialists still know relatively little about why our body reacts to certain things. While in a stats class in grad school my prof illustrated risk analysis by discussing how doctor's have to assess conditions of their patients and make decisions about what might be the potential issue and hence a course of action. Because we are such complex beings, our prof said that often times the doctor is really looking at 5 different things and trying to determine which is the best course of action. And then, take into consideration that many human beings have a hard time describing what the ailment looks/feels like.

This has all come back to me as I have been battling a 'breathing issue' for the last year and a half. I often yawn excessively and can't take a deep breath. I know I have experienced this two other times in my life but in both instances the issue didn't last more than 2 weeks. I finally went to see a doctor in June of 2005. After chest xrays, a TB test (family members are carriers), a pulmonary test and a quick lesson in diaphragmatic breathing they told me they didn't know what was wrong. So I dealt with it, spent the last 12+ months trying to work on my breathing and finally went in to see a new doctor in September. She sent me to a lung specialist (who is actually my insomnia doctor too). This is where it gets interesting. All preliminary tests come back normal, oxygen in blood is fine. I even ran the TC 10 Mile and didn't have a problem. Some of this I attribute to the fact that I have been learning how to live like this for nearly 2 years... Anyway, my doctor decided to do an asthma test since that and allergies are the two things left to check of the list - before they decide it is psychosomatic. I did the asthma test the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and got the call yesterday on results. Turns out I have asthma but it is non-specific. And they want to see me again in six months.

Non-specific, eh? Can't tell what causes it, could it be the environment?, food?, stress? Who knows?!?! My hubby isn't too happy with them waiting for another six months to see me again. He's concerned because he sees how this affects me when it gets really bad (I do tend to get lethargic and very, very edgy). I don't know how I feel about it. Yes, I would like some answers but I also realize how little we know about how our body works. And sometimes I feel that western medicine does stop short when they don't take into consideration how the mind is such a powerful force.

I guess I will just continue to try and find the balance in my life and hope for the best!

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