Meeting Dr. Rowe
Today's appointment felt like two lifetimes in the making. If I had to choose one word to sum up Jayde's appointment, it would be—validating. Growing up, my joint pains were written off as growing pains. My migraines were dismissed as mere headaches. I stopped seeking medical treatment because I could not bear to hear yet again, "We cannot figure out what is wrong," or "It's all in your head." Though medicine has advanced since my childhood, some doctors practice medicine, while other doctors specialize in medicine. When I realized Jayde was sick, I was determined my fate would not be hers. I refused to give up on her or allow any doctor to make her feel insignificant by dismissing her.
During Jayde's comprehensive exam with Dr. Rowe, lasting 4 hours and 15 minutes, he unearthed more of the iceberg while discovering there are several ABC illnesses that need to be added to her already long list. Regardless, the picture of her health is more in focus than it has ever been. To her list, we add CFS-chronic Fatigue Syndrome, TOH-Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, MCAS-Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, TMJ, and PCS-Pelvic Compression Syndrome. He is setting up Jayde with a specialist at Hopkins, to treat her hyperhidrosis. He is also running a ton of bloodwork, and scheduling full neck and brain scans to look for suspected Chiari Malformation. As disheartening as it is to hear a new diagnosis, there is a comfort in knowing something Jayde-Rhiannon has been enduring and fighting finally has a name.
Towards the end of the appointment, Dr. Rowe asked me if there was anything else he should know or how I would describe Jayde, I told him, "The one word I would use to describe her is fierce." He smiles and nods before he looks at Jayde, making his final statement, "This is all very real. This is not in your head."
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