Y'all, I feel like I have been all over the Southeast! I kind of have, though.
A few weeks ago, my car had a flat tire. "No big deal. I'll just go get it patched," I thought. My tires were only about three months old, there was no way I would have to replace one.
I was so wrong. After three hours, it was decided I would let the Honda dealership in Auburn replace the tire and I would have to take the tire to Birmingham to the Acura dealership when I went back to Birmingham again. I would just get a ride to Birmingham and stay there for a week and a half, probably renting a car somewhere in the mix.
I never rented a car. Priceline did me wrong, but they fixed it, kind of. I bid $20 on a car, they accepted, but charged me for $27 or $30 or whatever, just several dollars over what I bid. I called Priceline, explained what happened, they refunded me and cancelled the order, and I went back to the website to re-bid. Well, you can only make an accepted bid once every 24 hours, so since my accepted bid of $20 was messed up, I couldn't bid $20 again for 24 hours. Forget that.
So, a friend in Junior League gave me and the Gem-bot (my puppy) a ride to the 'Ham, my mother borrowed my grandmother's car, I borrowed my mother's car, and for the next week and a half I traveled all over the beautiful state.
I went to a concert (New Edition), attended the beautiful Sarah's 21st birthday party, celebrated Mother's Day with the moms in my life, did karaoke at the gay bar, attended a bachelor party (yes, bachelor, for the groom), went to Nashville with my mom, went to another concert (Jason Aldean/Luke Bryan), went to my friend Ian's commissioning ceremony at Birmingham-Southern, drove to Oakman to present a scholarship in my grandfather's memory, went to Casino Night at Nana Funks for Do Dah Eve festivities, went to a wedding in Pell City, and got taken back to Auburn by Mom, who spent two nights with me.
Yeah, I'm totally in catch-up mode.
I do have my car back, and a friend is taking the tire to Birmingham for me Tuesday, so hopefully I will be traveling back to Birmingham on Friday, in style, in my new, fabulous minivan (more on that later).
Monday, May 28, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
On Marriage (the abbreviated, soapbox, less scholarly, very rough draft version)
Marriage has been a hot topic in the United States for quite some time.
Some say allowing gays to marry would be a threat to the institution of marriage.
Some say it should be a state matter. (Which, yes, constitutionally, that's correct.)
I say it should be up to the religious institution.
I think society is a threat to the institution of marriage. People will get divorced because of "irreconcilable differences" and simply because they just don't want to be married anymore. I believe we, as humans, make mistakes and I am a forgiving person and all, but the wedding industry has become absolutely ridiculous.
There is so much bridal stuff to help celebrate the big day. Couples are encouraged to register for items to help start their new home. They are spoiled, as a couple, because they are getting married. They get sucked in. And then, one day, one or both of them is over it.
Yes, I put that very simply, and it's not the case for everyone.
I believe the thought of "if it doesn't work out, there's always divorce," is too widely used. Don't get me wrong, I think divorce can be a wonderful thing ... for abused spouses, abused kids, adultery, breaking the law ... things that endanger one person or totally shame the institution of marriage.
Just because the couple doesn't get along and isn't in love anymore? No. We're grown-ups, people, deal with it.
This is how my perfect plan goes down:
When I was with The ex-Boyfriend, we talked a lot about marriage. I wanted it, he didn't. Sometimes he would say things that indicated he would marry me eventually. After five years, I was not sticking around anymore to find out. We both had similar feelings about marriage and government and are both down with option two. However, I wanted to involve my relationship with God in it. I'm okay with saying some vows to each other and saying a little prayer and being happily ever married, but it's also kind of sad that in order to have a preacher perform my marriage ceremony, I would have to ask him/her to break the law and risk losing their privilege to be a preacher.
We also discussed just hitting up the courthouse. This is a great option to ensure your earthly possessions are properly distributed when you die. I hate the thought of him dying, but I hate the idea of his son not getting everything he deserved even more. In this situation, I am not morally opposed to divorce, since God was not involved in the ceremony.
I greatly desire a marriage, a Christian marriage, and I have utmost respect for it. That being said, I feel as if divorce, adultery, and not feeling the need for a "piece of paper" are much larger threats to the institution of marriage than allowing a couple of the same sex who loves each other and is committed to each other marry.
Some say allowing gays to marry would be a threat to the institution of marriage.
Some say it should be a state matter. (Which, yes, constitutionally, that's correct.)
I say it should be up to the religious institution.
I think society is a threat to the institution of marriage. People will get divorced because of "irreconcilable differences" and simply because they just don't want to be married anymore. I believe we, as humans, make mistakes and I am a forgiving person and all, but the wedding industry has become absolutely ridiculous.
There is so much bridal stuff to help celebrate the big day. Couples are encouraged to register for items to help start their new home. They are spoiled, as a couple, because they are getting married. They get sucked in. And then, one day, one or both of them is over it.
Yes, I put that very simply, and it's not the case for everyone.
I believe the thought of "if it doesn't work out, there's always divorce," is too widely used. Don't get me wrong, I think divorce can be a wonderful thing ... for abused spouses, abused kids, adultery, breaking the law ... things that endanger one person or totally shame the institution of marriage.
Just because the couple doesn't get along and isn't in love anymore? No. We're grown-ups, people, deal with it.
This is how my perfect plan goes down:
Federal government says the state can no longer legislate marriage and marriage is up to the religious institution, as long as both parties are over the age of 18 and consenting adults.I have a huge problem with the way things are already. Options for marriage are:
For those who do not identify with a religion, there will be this thing called civil union. It will also be for everyone who chooses to indulge in this and would like a state marriage.
If you want your spouse to have the right to visit you in the hospital, make decisions on your behalf, handle your affairs after you're gone, etc, get the legal documents to do so. (BTDubs ... people with civil unions should do this already, to ensure proper rights.
- Obtain a marriage license, have a religious leader/judge/captain/justice of the peace/etc. marry you.
- Move in together and declare yourselves husband and wife. (Check on your local statutes regarding common law marriage.)
When I was with The ex-Boyfriend, we talked a lot about marriage. I wanted it, he didn't. Sometimes he would say things that indicated he would marry me eventually. After five years, I was not sticking around anymore to find out. We both had similar feelings about marriage and government and are both down with option two. However, I wanted to involve my relationship with God in it. I'm okay with saying some vows to each other and saying a little prayer and being happily ever married, but it's also kind of sad that in order to have a preacher perform my marriage ceremony, I would have to ask him/her to break the law and risk losing their privilege to be a preacher.
We also discussed just hitting up the courthouse. This is a great option to ensure your earthly possessions are properly distributed when you die. I hate the thought of him dying, but I hate the idea of his son not getting everything he deserved even more. In this situation, I am not morally opposed to divorce, since God was not involved in the ceremony.
I greatly desire a marriage, a Christian marriage, and I have utmost respect for it. That being said, I feel as if divorce, adultery, and not feeling the need for a "piece of paper" are much larger threats to the institution of marriage than allowing a couple of the same sex who loves each other and is committed to each other marry.
Friday, May 11, 2012
The medical journey: 2010-Now
Well, y'all, my medical journey over the past several years is winding down. I'm really going to miss re-living the wasting of most of my 20's (note sarcasm, duh).
So, it was now 2010. I was physically-enough recovered from surgery. I was working on living in Auburn. I had decided to go to massage school. I had decided to pursue being a doula and I had my first birth in May 2010. Simply put, I was reclaiming my life.
In June, I went in for my annual and OBGYN decided to run some lab work on my thyroid. (Because two aunts had thyroid cancer and my mother was adopted and I don't have her medical history, I keep a close watch on my thyroid. That, and apparently my doctor, after two years of mentioning it, finally "got it" when I said I was having hot flashes.)
Of course, my thyroid levels were off, and the odd thing is they were UP. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, went to the endocrinologist (ENDO1) and was told to see a surgeon about having my thyroid removed. I. Think. Not.
In the summer and fall, I had two cases of tendinitis and went to the doc in the box. At this point, I was over doctors and I was very cautious. I just wanted to make sure my finger wasn't broken and I could still go to massage school. Doc Box heard my symptoms besides the hurt finger thing and suggested my ANA be tested, a test for autoimmune diseases.
Over the preceding years, I had mostly been complaining of nausea, but I was also very clear I had no energy, was very tender, was sore sometimes, and overall, I felt like absolute crap. I told my friends and family when I was feeling my worst that, "I'm sick of fighting my body." What do autoimmune diseases do? They basically cause your body to attack itself.
The ANA came back barely positive. At first, I didn't want to know if I actually had lupus, but after lots of Googling, I came to the conclusion that chilling out would help put it into remission and that knowing my weakness would allow me to fight it better. I say that I have borderline lupus. The doctor told me there needed to be a positive ANA and the presence of ~6 symptoms from a list. I had one less symptom than the ~6, so, I'm so close to having it, but not quite enough. I'll take it. (Although I just Googled it again, and now the lupus websites are saying 4 symptoms out of 11, which I have. See how confusing this is? One minute I reach the criteria for diagnosis, the next, not quite. Go figure.)
I saw ENDO2 in the late fall and he wasn't very helpful.
In January, I decided to give myself a break from doctors, unless necessary. In the spring/summer, my GI4 told me he wouldn't prescribe me Phenergan until I started seeing another endocrinologist about my thyroid.
In April 2011, I joked with some friends, "I think my thyroid cured itself." I was feeling a lot better than before.
In September 2011, I got the best news in the world: I had Grave's disease (autoimmune hyperthyroid disorder) and ENDO3 suspected my lupus flared up with my Grave's. I was to get my thyroid levels checked every 4 months or so and check in with my doctor to see how things were going (i.e. to check for symptoms).
This spring, I noticed my symptoms returning. I figured I was so exhausted because I had a sweet new puppy and Junior League was taking up a lot of time and energy. On Easter Sunday, when I was so sore from my hips to feet I could barely move, I knew what was up. Since then, I have minimized stress as much as possible and started acupuncture. I'll know soon if I have forced my body back into remission again.
So, it was now 2010. I was physically-enough recovered from surgery. I was working on living in Auburn. I had decided to go to massage school. I had decided to pursue being a doula and I had my first birth in May 2010. Simply put, I was reclaiming my life.
In June, I went in for my annual and OBGYN decided to run some lab work on my thyroid. (Because two aunts had thyroid cancer and my mother was adopted and I don't have her medical history, I keep a close watch on my thyroid. That, and apparently my doctor, after two years of mentioning it, finally "got it" when I said I was having hot flashes.)
Of course, my thyroid levels were off, and the odd thing is they were UP. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, went to the endocrinologist (ENDO1) and was told to see a surgeon about having my thyroid removed. I. Think. Not.
In the summer and fall, I had two cases of tendinitis and went to the doc in the box. At this point, I was over doctors and I was very cautious. I just wanted to make sure my finger wasn't broken and I could still go to massage school. Doc Box heard my symptoms besides the hurt finger thing and suggested my ANA be tested, a test for autoimmune diseases.
Over the preceding years, I had mostly been complaining of nausea, but I was also very clear I had no energy, was very tender, was sore sometimes, and overall, I felt like absolute crap. I told my friends and family when I was feeling my worst that, "I'm sick of fighting my body." What do autoimmune diseases do? They basically cause your body to attack itself.
The ANA came back barely positive. At first, I didn't want to know if I actually had lupus, but after lots of Googling, I came to the conclusion that chilling out would help put it into remission and that knowing my weakness would allow me to fight it better. I say that I have borderline lupus. The doctor told me there needed to be a positive ANA and the presence of ~6 symptoms from a list. I had one less symptom than the ~6, so, I'm so close to having it, but not quite enough. I'll take it. (Although I just Googled it again, and now the lupus websites are saying 4 symptoms out of 11, which I have. See how confusing this is? One minute I reach the criteria for diagnosis, the next, not quite. Go figure.)
I saw ENDO2 in the late fall and he wasn't very helpful.
In January, I decided to give myself a break from doctors, unless necessary. In the spring/summer, my GI4 told me he wouldn't prescribe me Phenergan until I started seeing another endocrinologist about my thyroid.
In April 2011, I joked with some friends, "I think my thyroid cured itself." I was feeling a lot better than before.
In September 2011, I got the best news in the world: I had Grave's disease (autoimmune hyperthyroid disorder) and ENDO3 suspected my lupus flared up with my Grave's. I was to get my thyroid levels checked every 4 months or so and check in with my doctor to see how things were going (i.e. to check for symptoms).
This spring, I noticed my symptoms returning. I figured I was so exhausted because I had a sweet new puppy and Junior League was taking up a lot of time and energy. On Easter Sunday, when I was so sore from my hips to feet I could barely move, I knew what was up. Since then, I have minimized stress as much as possible and started acupuncture. I'll know soon if I have forced my body back into remission again.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The medical journey: 2009
My early January appointment with GI3 rolled around and I got me some Phenergan. You have no idea how amazing it was to manage my nausea in a way that worked fairly well.
I haven't mentioned it before, but the nausea would be so bad sometimes I would make a little pallet on the floor by the toilet. I always carried ginger ale, a bottle of water, gum, crackers, Maalox, Emetrol, and a plastic bag (in case I actually vomited) in my purse.
GI3 wanted me to see my ENT to see if my nausea could be inner-ear related and GI3 scheduled me for an MRI to check my pituitary gland. All clear. (I also flipped the f out in the MRI machine, the first time I realized I was claustrophobic, and I couldn't handle hanging in there long enough to get the contrast dye, so it wasn't the best test ever.)
I wasn't that impressed with GI3, but if it meant I could manage my nausea better, I was going to play the game.
In mid-February, I caught another stomach bug. I hoped this would reverse my prior nausea and I was so desperate for an answer I made an appointment with GI3, only he wasn't in the office, and GI4 saw me. He told me to come back in a couple of weeks if the nausea hadn't gone away again.
Of course, I made another appointment with him.
GI4 has been amazing! He ran a lot of tests on me (another CT to check the status of my accessory spleen and to check for blockages and whatnot, HIDA scan for gall bladder, gastric emptying, and another endoscopy). This was all crazy expensive, but I didn't care. If I could get an answer for why I felt so badly, I was willing to pay for it. The only test that showed something of significance was the HIDA scan. Apparently, my accessory spleen caused me pain during the test.
Off to the surgeon I went and we scheduled my gall bladder surgery.
Y'all, this was the worst physical experience ever. Horrible gas pain (it's not in your intestines so you can't just burp or fart it out, your skin has to absorb the gas), horrible constipation, infected incisions (due to the wrong after care instructions), a HOLE in my ABDOMEN filled with WHITE GUNK (although, I will say it healed much more nicely, and less painfully, than the other infected incision that had mostly healed over already). Because I had an exploratory pelvic lap at the same time and my lovely OBGYN closed the surgery, my general surgeon "fixed" my incisions (by ripping out dissolvable stitches from skin that had grown over them) and told me to see my OBGYN for follow up.
What is it about that woman?
Well, I saw good, ol' OBGYN about a week later when the skin around my incision hole was so raw (from the peroxide) and the white gunk was still there. My blood pressure was a little high (not surprised) and my OBGYN dug out the gunk. Again, absolute excruciating pain that probably would not have been so bad with the help of some Lidocaine or something. I was to see my OBGYN weekly until the incision began to heal.
I also began having horrible diarrhea as a result of the antibiotics and not having a gall bladder.
Since my blood pressure was scarily high and I couldn't be too active (you know, with recovering from moderate abdominal surgery and having a hole in your abdomen and all), I resorted to ordering and watching the entire series of "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." Peaceful scenery and music, not too funny, mean, or suspenseful of a show. I was home bound because my car was also in the shop during all of this (and it's not like I could really go anywhere anyway), and I would lay in bed all day eating grapes, cheese, apples and crackers while I watched my Dr. Quinn.
And I decided to move to Auburn.
The rest of the year, health-wise, I dealt with real IBS, more widespread achiness and pain, and the nausea was not cured. On the bright side, I had begun to notice (in late 2008) my upper abdomen was very distended. After the surgery, my upper abs totally deflated, and that is the only positive change since I lost my gall bladder.
I haven't mentioned it before, but the nausea would be so bad sometimes I would make a little pallet on the floor by the toilet. I always carried ginger ale, a bottle of water, gum, crackers, Maalox, Emetrol, and a plastic bag (in case I actually vomited) in my purse.
GI3 wanted me to see my ENT to see if my nausea could be inner-ear related and GI3 scheduled me for an MRI to check my pituitary gland. All clear. (I also flipped the f out in the MRI machine, the first time I realized I was claustrophobic, and I couldn't handle hanging in there long enough to get the contrast dye, so it wasn't the best test ever.)
I wasn't that impressed with GI3, but if it meant I could manage my nausea better, I was going to play the game.
In mid-February, I caught another stomach bug. I hoped this would reverse my prior nausea and I was so desperate for an answer I made an appointment with GI3, only he wasn't in the office, and GI4 saw me. He told me to come back in a couple of weeks if the nausea hadn't gone away again.
Of course, I made another appointment with him.
GI4 has been amazing! He ran a lot of tests on me (another CT to check the status of my accessory spleen and to check for blockages and whatnot, HIDA scan for gall bladder, gastric emptying, and another endoscopy). This was all crazy expensive, but I didn't care. If I could get an answer for why I felt so badly, I was willing to pay for it. The only test that showed something of significance was the HIDA scan. Apparently, my accessory spleen caused me pain during the test.
Off to the surgeon I went and we scheduled my gall bladder surgery.
Y'all, this was the worst physical experience ever. Horrible gas pain (it's not in your intestines so you can't just burp or fart it out, your skin has to absorb the gas), horrible constipation, infected incisions (due to the wrong after care instructions), a HOLE in my ABDOMEN filled with WHITE GUNK (although, I will say it healed much more nicely, and less painfully, than the other infected incision that had mostly healed over already). Because I had an exploratory pelvic lap at the same time and my lovely OBGYN closed the surgery, my general surgeon "fixed" my incisions (by ripping out dissolvable stitches from skin that had grown over them) and told me to see my OBGYN for follow up.
What is it about that woman?
Well, I saw good, ol' OBGYN about a week later when the skin around my incision hole was so raw (from the peroxide) and the white gunk was still there. My blood pressure was a little high (not surprised) and my OBGYN dug out the gunk. Again, absolute excruciating pain that probably would not have been so bad with the help of some Lidocaine or something. I was to see my OBGYN weekly until the incision began to heal.
I also began having horrible diarrhea as a result of the antibiotics and not having a gall bladder.
Since my blood pressure was scarily high and I couldn't be too active (you know, with recovering from moderate abdominal surgery and having a hole in your abdomen and all), I resorted to ordering and watching the entire series of "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." Peaceful scenery and music, not too funny, mean, or suspenseful of a show. I was home bound because my car was also in the shop during all of this (and it's not like I could really go anywhere anyway), and I would lay in bed all day eating grapes, cheese, apples and crackers while I watched my Dr. Quinn.
And I decided to move to Auburn.
The rest of the year, health-wise, I dealt with real IBS, more widespread achiness and pain, and the nausea was not cured. On the bright side, I had begun to notice (in late 2008) my upper abdomen was very distended. After the surgery, my upper abs totally deflated, and that is the only positive change since I lost my gall bladder.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The medical journey: 2008
Oh, 2008
Having been sick for a year, I was beginning to get the hang of this nausea and otherwise feeling like crap thing. I was ready for it to end, but I knew how to manage it.
For some reason, I was now seeing my OBGYN for my nausea. (BTDubs ... some doctors kept pushing the "it could be your Pill" card and, like I said before, GI2 kept having me make an appointment to consult with OBGYN on EVERYTHING.)
I think I had quite the supply of Phenergan stockpiled, and combined with the GI cocktail and another nausea prescription I had temporarily tried (Oh. My. Soul. The side effects!), I was set on managing the nausea.
In April 2008, after turning 25, I applied for my own health insurance. I was told I was being dropped from my mother's insurance and would need to apply for my own. I was under the impression that I would just apply for an individual plan and I would be okay. Wrong. I was denied because of pre-existing conditions (pre-existing before the nausea, because, at this point I still had no actual diagnosis) and weight (a side-effect of pre-existing conditions).
Now that I was dropped from insurance, I began to panic. I had heard horror stories, but I really didn't want to switch OBGYNs at this point, so I called before my annual appointment and asked to speak to someone in billing, to whom I explained the situation. I discovered that actual doctor appointments (not lab work, diagnostic tests, etc.) are not THAT expensive. I'm talking in the $50 range.
Anyway, OBGYN time rolls around and I go to my appointment. The receptionist flips out about me not having insurance, and announces my insurance status to the whole waiting room, and I felt absolutely mortified as I walked up to the receptionist area, with a gazillion pregnant women's eyes staring at me. (At this time, it was still a little taboo not to have insurance and everyone thought it was all about ability to afford health insurance, slippery slope slippery slope slippery slope ... random memory: in debate class, we were taught to avoid slippery slope arguments, which is exactly what healthcare is allowing to dictate their policies ... ::stepping off soapbox now::)
After sharing my insurance woes (and voicing a grievance about the receptionist), OBGYN said to let her know if I needed more Phenergan.
The next few months, I called about once a month for a Phenergan refill. In about September or October, she cut me off. Her rationale was if I was needing that much Phenergan, I needed to be seeing a GI. (Seriously, what in the world did she think I meant when I said I was nauseous and felt like crap for the past year?) I couldn't get in with the GI until January.
Those next few months were miserable and I really started packing on the pounds when I resorted to ginger ale and saltines to settle my stomach. I rationed out my remaining Phenergan and stocked up on Emetrol and Maalox. This was not a preferred course of managing the nausea, but it had to do.
Having been sick for a year, I was beginning to get the hang of this nausea and otherwise feeling like crap thing. I was ready for it to end, but I knew how to manage it.
For some reason, I was now seeing my OBGYN for my nausea. (BTDubs ... some doctors kept pushing the "it could be your Pill" card and, like I said before, GI2 kept having me make an appointment to consult with OBGYN on EVERYTHING.)
I think I had quite the supply of Phenergan stockpiled, and combined with the GI cocktail and another nausea prescription I had temporarily tried (Oh. My. Soul. The side effects!), I was set on managing the nausea.
In April 2008, after turning 25, I applied for my own health insurance. I was told I was being dropped from my mother's insurance and would need to apply for my own. I was under the impression that I would just apply for an individual plan and I would be okay. Wrong. I was denied because of pre-existing conditions (pre-existing before the nausea, because, at this point I still had no actual diagnosis) and weight (a side-effect of pre-existing conditions).
Now that I was dropped from insurance, I began to panic. I had heard horror stories, but I really didn't want to switch OBGYNs at this point, so I called before my annual appointment and asked to speak to someone in billing, to whom I explained the situation. I discovered that actual doctor appointments (not lab work, diagnostic tests, etc.) are not THAT expensive. I'm talking in the $50 range.
Anyway, OBGYN time rolls around and I go to my appointment. The receptionist flips out about me not having insurance, and announces my insurance status to the whole waiting room, and I felt absolutely mortified as I walked up to the receptionist area, with a gazillion pregnant women's eyes staring at me. (At this time, it was still a little taboo not to have insurance and everyone thought it was all about ability to afford health insurance, slippery slope slippery slope slippery slope ... random memory: in debate class, we were taught to avoid slippery slope arguments, which is exactly what healthcare is allowing to dictate their policies ... ::stepping off soapbox now::)
After sharing my insurance woes (and voicing a grievance about the receptionist), OBGYN said to let her know if I needed more Phenergan.
The next few months, I called about once a month for a Phenergan refill. In about September or October, she cut me off. Her rationale was if I was needing that much Phenergan, I needed to be seeing a GI. (Seriously, what in the world did she think I meant when I said I was nauseous and felt like crap for the past year?) I couldn't get in with the GI until January.
Those next few months were miserable and I really started packing on the pounds when I resorted to ginger ale and saltines to settle my stomach. I rationed out my remaining Phenergan and stocked up on Emetrol and Maalox. This was not a preferred course of managing the nausea, but it had to do.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The medical journey: 2007
2007 started off pretty horribly. I realized I was in the wrong place for grad school, The ex-Boyfriend broke up with me, I couldn't get out of grad school for the semester, and less than a month later, I was sick with a stomach bug. On the night of the Apollo Ball, which I had managed to score and invite. That sucked. Little did I know, things were about to really start sucking.
After the stomach bug, I found I couldn't muster the energy to go out Saturday night after going out Friday. I chalked it up to all the stress and listened to my body and stayed in Saturday nights. By early March, I began battling random bouts of nausea. By early April, I couldn't seem to get over the nausea. I couldn't go to class, I couldn't go to work, and I couldn't go out (which is what was getting me through those miserable months).
I made an appointment with the GI doc, was prescribed Phenergan, and scheduled for an endoscopy the following week.
I celebrated my 24th birthday with close family and friends, bland food, and the bed.
A few days later, I had my endoscopy and, much to the doctor's surprise, I did NOT have an ulcer.
He chalked it up to getting over a stomach bug and said I should be better in a few months.
I began to manage my nausea better and worked hard to finish that semester of grad school. (Why I didn't ask for a medical leave, I have no clue ... )
Battling not only nausea, but also fatigue and upper left quadrant pain, was very exhausting, both emotionally and physically.
Since the GI doc wasn't doing to much to get to the bottom of my medical problems, I began Googling. Ovarian cancer, toxoplasmosis, lupus, and a parasite seemed to be the most likely reasons why I was feeling this way. The doctor had ruled out the common or most obvious diagnoses (thyroid, H. Pylori, ulcer, etc.) so even though I sound like a total hypochondriac, I wanted those things checked out.
When the thought of ovarian cancer came up, I totally freaked out. My grandmother had ovarian cancer, I have ovarian cysts, so it just seemed like it might actually be possible. I immediately rationalized it in my head. I would have a total hysterectomy and maybe radiation or chemo, depending on whether or not it was bad and had spread. Luckily, my OBGYN saw me immediately, diffused my fears, and ordered some bloodwork and an ultrasound to make sure. Thankfully, I did not have ovarian cancer.
I started seeing a general practitioner early that summer in order to try to get a more broad view of what was going on. He ordered an ultrasound, and after finding a "hypoechoic" area near my stomach, ordered a CT. The CT showed nothing (this is why I don't trust CTs - they do not show everything) and I had terrible nausea and bowel movements for the next few days from all the iodine and barium. He had me try a reflux medicine, which sopped up all my excess stomach acid I had the most painful bowel movements ever, followed by actual reflux after only taking it for a few days.
In the meantime, The ex-Boyfriend and I started talking again. He was having the same symptoms. Perhaps we shared a little something before we broke up? He was taking an antibiotic for a parasite, and I brought it up with my OBGYN at my annual, since none of my other doctors so far had really seemed to push past a couple of reasons why I might feel this way. She prescribed me an antibiotic and referred me to another GI.
The new GI (GI2) ordered another ultrasound, and after comparing the previous ultrasound and CT, determined I had an "accessory spleen," or as the nurse called it a "cessary spleen" (it took a LONG time to figure that one out, since the doctor always had the same nurse return my calls and we always missed them ... oh, the joys of living in the South). The GI2 wanted me to take antidepressants for my so-called IBS to help the "colon spasms" I was having, which was causing my pain. (At this point, I had a really good vision of the GI anatomy and my pain was where my accessory spleen is, not in my colon.) He also wanted me to keep making appointments with my OBGYN.
I tried two antidepressants, both of which made me depressed, the second being the worst. I'm talking paranoia, depression, worse nausea, made me want to sleep all day and all night, and nearly every other side effect. Luckily, I was on the medication for a short time so I could go off cold turkey and my bad side effects almost immediately disappeared.
My OBGYN referred me to another GI doctor, who kept telling me to come back in a few weeks. He was convinced I had IBS and referred me back to my OBGYN. He also had her prescribe me another acid reflux medicine. It was more complicated to take, made me gassy, but otherwise I had no ill side effects. Because the medicine was so expensive, I had to break my prescription up into weekly installments. After a month, I had used all my refills (I don't think the pharmacy did this right because I was supposed to has four refills of 30 pills, not four refills of seven pills) and I had to quit the meds cold turkey, with my friend the reflux.
I was referred to a new GP (GP2) who ordered a chest X-Ray (during all of this mess, my ribs, shoulders, and neck became hyper-sensitive) to rule out a hurt rib. She prescribed me a "GI cocktail" which was basically numbing medicine and Maalox. It made me go to the bathroom. A lot. It didn't really help with the nausea. She was a patient of GI2, so she encouraged me to continue seeing him. She also sent me to a surgeon to look into removing my accessory spleen. The surgeon didn't see anything at all (not even an accessory spleen) and that was the biggest waste of time ever. Especially since I left a sexual health conference early to see him.
After the stomach bug, I found I couldn't muster the energy to go out Saturday night after going out Friday. I chalked it up to all the stress and listened to my body and stayed in Saturday nights. By early March, I began battling random bouts of nausea. By early April, I couldn't seem to get over the nausea. I couldn't go to class, I couldn't go to work, and I couldn't go out (which is what was getting me through those miserable months).
I made an appointment with the GI doc, was prescribed Phenergan, and scheduled for an endoscopy the following week.
I celebrated my 24th birthday with close family and friends, bland food, and the bed.
A few days later, I had my endoscopy and, much to the doctor's surprise, I did NOT have an ulcer.
He chalked it up to getting over a stomach bug and said I should be better in a few months.
I began to manage my nausea better and worked hard to finish that semester of grad school. (Why I didn't ask for a medical leave, I have no clue ... )
Battling not only nausea, but also fatigue and upper left quadrant pain, was very exhausting, both emotionally and physically.
Since the GI doc wasn't doing to much to get to the bottom of my medical problems, I began Googling. Ovarian cancer, toxoplasmosis, lupus, and a parasite seemed to be the most likely reasons why I was feeling this way. The doctor had ruled out the common or most obvious diagnoses (thyroid, H. Pylori, ulcer, etc.) so even though I sound like a total hypochondriac, I wanted those things checked out.
When the thought of ovarian cancer came up, I totally freaked out. My grandmother had ovarian cancer, I have ovarian cysts, so it just seemed like it might actually be possible. I immediately rationalized it in my head. I would have a total hysterectomy and maybe radiation or chemo, depending on whether or not it was bad and had spread. Luckily, my OBGYN saw me immediately, diffused my fears, and ordered some bloodwork and an ultrasound to make sure. Thankfully, I did not have ovarian cancer.
I started seeing a general practitioner early that summer in order to try to get a more broad view of what was going on. He ordered an ultrasound, and after finding a "hypoechoic" area near my stomach, ordered a CT. The CT showed nothing (this is why I don't trust CTs - they do not show everything) and I had terrible nausea and bowel movements for the next few days from all the iodine and barium. He had me try a reflux medicine, which sopped up all my excess stomach acid I had the most painful bowel movements ever, followed by actual reflux after only taking it for a few days.
In the meantime, The ex-Boyfriend and I started talking again. He was having the same symptoms. Perhaps we shared a little something before we broke up? He was taking an antibiotic for a parasite, and I brought it up with my OBGYN at my annual, since none of my other doctors so far had really seemed to push past a couple of reasons why I might feel this way. She prescribed me an antibiotic and referred me to another GI.
The new GI (GI2) ordered another ultrasound, and after comparing the previous ultrasound and CT, determined I had an "accessory spleen," or as the nurse called it a "cessary spleen" (it took a LONG time to figure that one out, since the doctor always had the same nurse return my calls and we always missed them ... oh, the joys of living in the South). The GI2 wanted me to take antidepressants for my so-called IBS to help the "colon spasms" I was having, which was causing my pain. (At this point, I had a really good vision of the GI anatomy and my pain was where my accessory spleen is, not in my colon.) He also wanted me to keep making appointments with my OBGYN.
I tried two antidepressants, both of which made me depressed, the second being the worst. I'm talking paranoia, depression, worse nausea, made me want to sleep all day and all night, and nearly every other side effect. Luckily, I was on the medication for a short time so I could go off cold turkey and my bad side effects almost immediately disappeared.
My OBGYN referred me to another GI doctor, who kept telling me to come back in a few weeks. He was convinced I had IBS and referred me back to my OBGYN. He also had her prescribe me another acid reflux medicine. It was more complicated to take, made me gassy, but otherwise I had no ill side effects. Because the medicine was so expensive, I had to break my prescription up into weekly installments. After a month, I had used all my refills (I don't think the pharmacy did this right because I was supposed to has four refills of 30 pills, not four refills of seven pills) and I had to quit the meds cold turkey, with my friend the reflux.
I was referred to a new GP (GP2) who ordered a chest X-Ray (during all of this mess, my ribs, shoulders, and neck became hyper-sensitive) to rule out a hurt rib. She prescribed me a "GI cocktail" which was basically numbing medicine and Maalox. It made me go to the bathroom. A lot. It didn't really help with the nausea. She was a patient of GI2, so she encouraged me to continue seeing him. She also sent me to a surgeon to look into removing my accessory spleen. The surgeon didn't see anything at all (not even an accessory spleen) and that was the biggest waste of time ever. Especially since I left a sexual health conference early to see him.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Flowers in a desert
Hi y'all :)
Over the years, I have been desperately trying to find my blogging groove with SouthernLikeThat. I love the title, I love some of what I did with it. The thing is, I just couldn't bring myself to consistency. As much as I tried to stick to it, I have found myself needing a clean slate. Maybe if I get away from what's not working, I will find something that does.
Lately, I have found myself really enjoying the song "In a Big Country" by Big Country. So many of the lyrics stick out to me, but most importantly is "I'm not expecting to grow flowers in a desert, but I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime."
A few months ago, a dear friend basically chewed me out for wanting to live in Auburn. He didn't think I had good friends, he thought the dating pool was non-existent, he accused me of hanging onto someone things were not going to work out with, so on, so forth. I will totally admit, when I first decided to move to Auburn a few years ago, it seemed like a really good idea at the time. As the years have worn on, it has become evident it wasn't the greatest decision ever, but it works for me enough.
I absolutely can not stand being in Birmingham. I love my family, I love my friends, it's where my doctors are, the food selections are plentiful and delicious, I have a social life. But all of that is not worth the day-to-day dealing with people who don't know you. For the most part, people in Birmingham are quite rude and selfish.
Now, Auburn doesn't have the family, and it doesn't have all the friends, and I only have an acupuncture doctor, but it has fresh air and nice people and it only takes around ten or fifteen minutes to get anywhere. I also have about the most eclectic group of friends down here than I ever had. The dating pool is practically non-existent, but that's what dating websites and going back to Birmingham are for.
Also, when I decided to move to Auburn, I was under the impression that after I had surgery, my body would be on the mend. Apparently, not. (More on that later ...)
I was going through a lot then, and I am going through a lot now, and it is time to share my story and see how my flowers grow.
Over the years, I have been desperately trying to find my blogging groove with SouthernLikeThat. I love the title, I love some of what I did with it. The thing is, I just couldn't bring myself to consistency. As much as I tried to stick to it, I have found myself needing a clean slate. Maybe if I get away from what's not working, I will find something that does.
Lately, I have found myself really enjoying the song "In a Big Country" by Big Country. So many of the lyrics stick out to me, but most importantly is "I'm not expecting to grow flowers in a desert, but I can live and breathe and see the sun in wintertime."
A few months ago, a dear friend basically chewed me out for wanting to live in Auburn. He didn't think I had good friends, he thought the dating pool was non-existent, he accused me of hanging onto someone things were not going to work out with, so on, so forth. I will totally admit, when I first decided to move to Auburn a few years ago, it seemed like a really good idea at the time. As the years have worn on, it has become evident it wasn't the greatest decision ever, but it works for me enough.
I absolutely can not stand being in Birmingham. I love my family, I love my friends, it's where my doctors are, the food selections are plentiful and delicious, I have a social life. But all of that is not worth the day-to-day dealing with people who don't know you. For the most part, people in Birmingham are quite rude and selfish.
Now, Auburn doesn't have the family, and it doesn't have all the friends, and I only have an acupuncture doctor, but it has fresh air and nice people and it only takes around ten or fifteen minutes to get anywhere. I also have about the most eclectic group of friends down here than I ever had. The dating pool is practically non-existent, but that's what dating websites and going back to Birmingham are for.
Also, when I decided to move to Auburn, I was under the impression that after I had surgery, my body would be on the mend. Apparently, not. (More on that later ...)
I was going through a lot then, and I am going through a lot now, and it is time to share my story and see how my flowers grow.
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