Here we are! I made it to Casper! Minus a few delays out of SFO and a connecting flight later, it has been a smooth first day.
I’ve never been to Wyoming before, and I have to say that the views are beautiful. It’s that vastness that is difficult to capture with the only way to take it all in is to just enjoy the moment.
Snapping back to reality, though, tomorrow is the big day, and I’m experiencing all sorts of feelings and anxiety about Dr. McGinley’s Vascular Pressure Treatment. In order to combat the nerves, I think it’ll be helpful to list the reasons behind why I decided to move forward with the procedure in the first place.
1. Positive patient feedback
Although there aren’t any referrals and patient feedback listed on McGinley’s website, there were a number of news articles I could refer to along with some GoFundMe pages sharing positive stories and results. Also, I just found out today that there’s a Facebook group with people who have had the procedure! I’ll find the link and post it here.
Either way, my goal is to avoid surgery when I can, and if other patients are experiencing relief, then hopefully there’s a chance that I will too.
2. The group in Casper has been incredibly accommodating
Every conversation I had with different members from Dr. McGinley’s team was a positive, informational and genuine experience. I’ve met with dozens of doctors and negotiated my way through their sometimes not so nice medical assistants only to be met with roadblock after roadblock. It was extremely refreshing that the Casper group was:
- Listening to my struggle and giving me positive encouragement that they can help
- Never pressured me to make the decision to use their services
- Were always extremely patient and available
We’re all human, and I was relieved that I was finally being treated like one instead of a pet science project.
3. Taking a different approach
The tests for compartment syndrome aren’t fun nor are they easy. Injecting saline into an inflamed muscle compartment with a thick needle multiple times is painful and exhausting. I’ve had the procedure done twice with the second time leaving me bruised and limping in pain for two weeks.
With Dr. McGinley’s team, they mentioned that those compartment tests can vary depending on the doctor’s methods (i.e. how much saline they pump into the compartment, how long the patient is active, how many minutes go by before they retest the pressures, etc.). Instead of the invasive pressure test, McGinley looks at the difference in your muscles at rest and after activity using a MRI.
No needles? I’m in.
4. A reason to keep positive and stay hopeful
Throughout this process of diagnosing and treating my condition, it has honestly been a physical and mental drain. Although I’ve gotten pretty good at hiding my struggle from colleagues and friends, the daily pain, lack of mobility, and unsuccessful procedures has become a huge weight mentally.
With my doctors in SF perplexed and unable to help, I really needed something to look forward to. Even if tomorrow’s procedure doesn’t work, the relief that I got from the past few months knowing that there was another chance at a cure kept me hopeful.
I’m still hopeful, and will share an update when I can.
go alexia 