From Sarah Lex: My SF/EMG Take a look at Expertise

 TW: Needles

I assumed it was about time I gave you a bit of replace on my well being. Nothing has modified however I wished to share my expertise with the assessments I had every week in the past.

I had an appointment with my new neurologist on the finish of Might. I needed she listened and was superior, and he or she was. She despatched me for blood assessments, eleven vials – which wasn't enjoyable, my arm was numb for ages afterwards. And he or she additionally talked about EMG testing. On the time I did not know what that was however I instructed her that I'd allow them to do any testing on me they wished as I wanted solutions.

My well being has solely received worse since I final up to date. I'm sleeping much more than I used to be, final week I used to be awake for less than half a day. My respiration is severely affected, I'm now utilizing an inhaler as I used to be taken into A&E at 11pm two weeks in the past attributable to aspirating on meals. Typically once I'm speaking I discover it arduous to breathe. I'm additionally very weak; my muscular tissues do not appear to wish to work and after they do, they do not for lengthy. 

Anyway, I used to be despatched for electromyography (EMG) assessments final week – they assess the nerve and muscle operate by sending electrical shocks to the nerves and analysing how the muscular tissues react. They're generally often called nerve conduction assessments, and I've had that earlier than. The physician put small sensors on varied elements of my hand after which despatched shocks of varied intensities. He then eliminated the sensors and put them on my face, once more sending small shocks. This was effective, it did not harm in any respect. I've my TENS machine shock me at a better depth!

Then the physician began the SFEMG (small fibre electromyography) the place small needles the place inserted into the muscular tissues in my arms, and varied locations up my arms. The primary needle he inserted into the fleshy a part of my hand underneath my thumb and he did it so rapidly, it was like he was throwing a dart. The preliminary insertion was no worse than a scratch. Then tiny shocks got to make my thumb contract. This did not harm, it simply felt unusual. The physician then requested me to make a fist, and push towards his hand.

Then the needle was moved just below my elbow and that was painful however bearable. Once more, the shocks had been despatched. Lastly the needle was moved into my bicep. The needle stepping into there harm however as soon as it was in place, it wasn't too unhealthy. 

The take a look at took 45 minutes to carry out and the physician instructed me I must return that weekend for extra. He knowledgeable me that there was not sufficient time for him to do anymore assessments and he wanted to do the SFEMG take a look at to my face.

Needles to the face. My face.

I wasn't completely happy about it however I knew it would not be occurring if it wasn't essential.

I acquired a telephone name as I received dwelling to tell me that my follow-up could be in three days time, on the Sunday.

I went to my preliminary appointment within the outfit above. I do not exit usually so thought I might gown up for that appointment. I even stored my hat on through the assessments. 

However Sunday morning arrived and I used to be flaring, I could not elevate my head up, I could not transfer with out the help of my Mum and Pops (who arrived for a go to the day earlier than), I could not converse – Mum instructed me later that day that she could not perceive a phrase I might stated to her and was nodding alongside to make me really feel heard. 

Mum dressed me and took me to the automotive in my transit wheelchair that I had received the week earlier than from Wheelchair Providers. Once I'm having one in every of these neurologist flares, I'm unable to make use of my energy chair as I can not focus sufficient, I can not hold my eyes open, and it is simply not protected.

We received to the hospital and was knowledgeable mum must keep within the ready room because the testing room was actually small, and it was, it was tiny.

I used to be helped out of my wheelchair by two nurses and onto a mattress. The physician defined every part that was about to occur and stated the take a look at ought to take round half an hour. 

After cleansing my face, she inserted a needle into my cheek and caught tape round it as that was staying in for the entire take a look at. That one did not harm but it surely was uncomfortable. I rapidly forgot about it although as she positioned one subsequent to my eyebrow which triggered a ache I might by no means felt earlier than. Then got here the shocks of varied intensities. Then one other needle was positioned above my eyebrow. This one she moved round, dug in additional and so on. It was horrendous. I instructed her it was actually painful so it was eliminated for a second, and changed to a unique spot that also harm however not fairly as a lot. 

The needles had been pushed in and round my face muscular tissues, with terrible shocks that had my face and eyelids twitching, and muscle biopsies had been taken. I lay there feeling like she was etching one thing into my cranium, I had by no means felt ache prefer it.

After 35 minutes of my face being stabbed, the needles had been eliminated, lastly! The needle in my face had triggered me to bleed quite a bit and the physician gave me a brand new face masks as mine was lined in blood.

I used to be helped again into my wheelchair and brought out to my mum. The nurse stored telling me how amazingly properly I had carried out however I felt like I might been in a hoop with Mike Tyson and I used to be simply glad it was over.

My face was swollen and the bruising got here out instantly. My hEDS pores and skin bruises so simply so I knew I used to be going to look a little bit of a large number. I could not actually converse, transfer my face or elevate my eyebrows as my face was so tender. The swelling went down after a day and my operate, or somewhat, what crappy operate I had beforehand, restored.

I've had lots of procedures and surgical procedures however that, in my face, was the worst. I hope I by no means want it once more and I hope it offers us some solutions as to what's improper with me.

I've booked to see my neurologist privately because the NHS wait time was ridiculous, so I see her for my outcomes on 2nd September. Not lengthy now!

Want me luck.