It Begins with a Step

"What brings you here?" the latest in a long line of doctors ask. It can be overwhelming to know where to begin. Usually, it is the most pressing issue. Lately, that has been his unexplained weight loss. Last week, it was the numbness in his left leg. The week before, his falling. 

But it is all of those, and more, and knowing where to begin is more than half the battle. Lately, Galen shows his legs and we watch the doctor as he/she thinks to themselves, "oh...." They can see not only how thin he is, but also that he has lost muscle mass.

They start asking questions. Some are very good at honing in on the relevant. Others need to hear at least a small explanation.

Galen's health journey, which includes mental and emotional health, is my journey, too. It is now my full-time job as I try to keep him healthy enough to stay out of any healthcare facility.

Galen's immunodeficiencies made this desirable long before COVID. Once the virus hit, the strategy discussed (albeit briefly) was that Galen would not go to the ER ever if possible, and straight into an admitted status if he needs a ventilator. Everything else, we would handle here.

We did that with pneumonia, for example. 

Why?

Galen picked up his worst infections in the ER and in the hospital. Battling those involved infusions. Then, there was the danger of insertion site infection when he gets the infusion.

He is just safer at home, so long as we can treat him.

Fortunately, most of Galen's docs know him so well, they can send him somewhere for the latest desired imaging. They read the images, and consult with me about what they see. If a vital is off, like his temp, we discuss that, too. But, his vitals are mostly very good. Go figure.

This journey will begin with a step. 

And today's tiny miracle is that Galen gained .1 of a pound. Since he usually loses weight, this is a victory. We'll take it!