Hands, Toes, and Specialists

Last night my hands fell asleep several times. It happened on both sides. That has never happened before and it concerns me.

I sleep on my sides. I cannot sleep on my back or front.

Thankfully the weather got warm recently. The thermostat says it was 77 degrees inside without the heater. Yet my toes were cold.

I wear many layers of clothes plus 2 pairs of socks and a stocking cap to bed.

I pay for my electricity as I use it so the bottom line is that I do my best to keep my energy bill low. That means that when it is cold outside I set the thermostat at about 70 and in the summer I set it at 81. I like it when it is warmer.

I have been in Ennis for 20 months. So I have experienced cold winters and hot summers.

Last winter my toes did not get cold.

Weeks ago I requested support and God made a way for me to receive an electric blanket and instant heat blanket and insulated socks. Yet my toes were cold. There are a pair of compression socks on their way to me and hopefully, they will help.

I had set an appointment at my primary care doctor long ago and it is for this Wednesday, March 13. I have used the portal to keep her up to date about my condition. Surely she will run tests.

It is probable that she will refer me to one or more specialists. It might be a foot doctor and or a heart doctor. This is where my concerns and prayer requests come up.

From the time I was 12 until 60 years old, I was healthy. I would visit a doctor every 5 or more years with a minor complaint.

Then when I lived in the homeless shelter for 3 years I had various respiration and skin rashes. I was sharing close quarters with more than 100 men. The medicines from Parkland knocked out the minor symptoms.

Most of my neighbors these days are in their 70s and 80s. Lots of them go to heart doctors and other specialists. It is likely they would not be alive today if they did not. But the stories of the side effects of some of those strong medicines concerns me. It can impact their thinking, appetite, and sleeping.

Every day I take various nutritional supplements.

I do not want to take prescription drugs unless absolutely necessary. I do not want those artificial chemical compounds interacting with the wise ways God made my body.

Now I was OK to take some antibiotics to knock out an infection. But those who get into heart medicines can last for the rest of their life.

Plus if a drug will change a major function of the body then I have witnessed where other organs get out of balance. So a different specialist is needed who prescribes other powerful medicines. These can interact in ways that lead to complications. Maybe this is an overreaction and a fear of the worst case.

Thankfully I have good health insurance. My cost to visit my primary care doctor is zero for me. The co-pay for specialists is reasonable.

But here is the kicker. Every doctor is not covered by my insurance company and that is normal. I want to work with doctors that are more holistic. They will recommend nutrition, exercise, physical therapy, and other options.

I am not against prescription drugs but I want that to be the last option and not the first option.


PRAYER
Pray for my doctor and me to locate the best specialists for me.

There will be tests taken. May God make a way for me to afford those tests.

May God grant wisdom and insights to the doctor and me based on the test results as to how to keep moving forward.

A  few months ago I had minor foot pains that came and went. Then I requested prayers and the pains have not returned.

I had felt pains and stiffness in my neck and right shoulder. I requested prayers and that is 90 percent better.

Over the decades I have experienced a great many healings in my body just due to answered prayers.

God can hear and answer prayers to address these symptoms and their causes.


NEXT
By the grace of God my retirement income plus food stamps plus section 8 housing allow me to live a modest lifestyle without needing to have a job.

This has granted me much freedom to conduct much online research as well as plan and prepare for online ministry possibilities. I was able to take time to go deeply into my grief work related to the death of my dad.

None of those online ministries became a reality for the public. I have shifted gears so that now I am preparing got make and market an online for-profit business that I will share more about later. 

It is my hope that in the coming months there will be increased income streams. Then I can afford to visit doctors that my insurance does not cover.

May I trust in the Lord with ALL my heart during the coming weeks.

May Jesus Christ guide my path to wellness.

THANKS again for all your prayers.

Shalom

John