Monday, March 28, 2011
Today's Test
Today I had a test to measure the functionability of my stomach. The test only took 45 minutes which means that whatever the doc thought it was, it probably is not. Woo hoo. My stomach works fine. So I have an appointment with the doctor next week after he looks over the results. They told me that if today came back inconclusive that the decision at that point would probably be to have my gall bladder out. I don't have an appointment with the surgeon until mid April so it won't happen before then. At that point I'll boycott it until our trip to Florida is over! Woo hoo. Everything happens for a purpose so I'm just going with the flow!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Oh the Delightfulness of it All
I was going to post a picture here but George is not so sure I should. I may do it anyway. Wanna see what my stomach looks like? I'll post the picture tomorrow but I will warn you, it's kind of gross and not for the weak of stomach.
George kept telling me he didn't feel like it was the right time for us to try to have a baby again so we have been waiting. I'll be honest, I've been a little frustrated with that until this month when all of the sudden I am sick all the time and I have random pains throughout my stomach, sides, and shoulder. So...it's off to the doctor we go again. (Can I be honest here, if I never have to see another doctor again, I will be extremely happy.) The doctor decides that I need to go have an ultrasound of my gallbladder... done. No gallstones. Okay, well then we'll send you for a HIDA scan. In goes the IV liquid with the radioactive tracer through my body to test how well my gall bladder is functioning. It's working at 22%, not horrible (normal is 35-75%) but not great either. So the doc decides to send me to a surgeon.
A week later, I'm sitting in the surgeon's office as he and his NP ask me questions about my symptoms. They decide the symptoms I am feeling do not coincide with the gallbladder and decide to send me in for an endoscopy.
They were able to get me in rather quickly to the endoscopy. I get put out and down goes the camera and low and behold appears the lovely image you may see tomorrow. There was food still in my tummy. Apparently all food should be out of your stomach within 2 hours if your stomach is functioning correctly. Oh great. What does that mean? Possibly gastroparesis (a condition in which your stomach does not consistently contract and digest the food as it should), commonly found in patients with diabetes. But I don't have diabetes. I have PCOS... Connection? Who knows. Now I am being sent for another one of those radioactivity tests where they make me ingest some tracer and try to figure out if my stomach is doing what it is supposed to do. Then an appointment with yet a 3rd doctor. You keeping up?
To top it all off. The symptoms the surgeon was looking for have suddenly appeared. Possible gastroparesis and gall bladder problems? Heck, who knows. Apparently not me or any of the doctors. I think the goal this year is to see how high we can run our medical bills. So at this point there are no firm conclusions. If it is gastroparesis, it is easily taken care of through medication and no eating of fatty/fibrous foods (no more whole wheat, good excuse for white bread? I think so). If it is the gallbladder, well then that means surgery. And if it means both, well then between PCOS and those two I may never be allowed to eat again. hahaha. Cooked veggies, canned fruits, and fish and chicken, here I come!
It's been a blast and it is kind of funny cause really only I would have stuff like this happen. I'm thankful to George for listening to that feeling that kept telling us not to try to have a baby yet cause can you imagine trying to figure all of this out and being pregnant on top of that or going through a miscarriage through all of that? I surely can't. I'm counting those blessings!
George kept telling me he didn't feel like it was the right time for us to try to have a baby again so we have been waiting. I'll be honest, I've been a little frustrated with that until this month when all of the sudden I am sick all the time and I have random pains throughout my stomach, sides, and shoulder. So...it's off to the doctor we go again. (Can I be honest here, if I never have to see another doctor again, I will be extremely happy.) The doctor decides that I need to go have an ultrasound of my gallbladder... done. No gallstones. Okay, well then we'll send you for a HIDA scan. In goes the IV liquid with the radioactive tracer through my body to test how well my gall bladder is functioning. It's working at 22%, not horrible (normal is 35-75%) but not great either. So the doc decides to send me to a surgeon.
A week later, I'm sitting in the surgeon's office as he and his NP ask me questions about my symptoms. They decide the symptoms I am feeling do not coincide with the gallbladder and decide to send me in for an endoscopy.
Per MedicineNet.com:
Endoscopy: Endoscopy is a broad term used to described examining the inside of the body using a lighted, flexible instrument called an endoscope. In general, an endoscope is introduced into the body through a natural opening like the mouth or anus. Although endoscopy can include examination of other organs, the most common endoscopic procedures evaluate the esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, and portions of the intestine.
They were able to get me in rather quickly to the endoscopy. I get put out and down goes the camera and low and behold appears the lovely image you may see tomorrow. There was food still in my tummy. Apparently all food should be out of your stomach within 2 hours if your stomach is functioning correctly. Oh great. What does that mean? Possibly gastroparesis (a condition in which your stomach does not consistently contract and digest the food as it should), commonly found in patients with diabetes. But I don't have diabetes. I have PCOS... Connection? Who knows. Now I am being sent for another one of those radioactivity tests where they make me ingest some tracer and try to figure out if my stomach is doing what it is supposed to do. Then an appointment with yet a 3rd doctor. You keeping up?
To top it all off. The symptoms the surgeon was looking for have suddenly appeared. Possible gastroparesis and gall bladder problems? Heck, who knows. Apparently not me or any of the doctors. I think the goal this year is to see how high we can run our medical bills. So at this point there are no firm conclusions. If it is gastroparesis, it is easily taken care of through medication and no eating of fatty/fibrous foods (no more whole wheat, good excuse for white bread? I think so). If it is the gallbladder, well then that means surgery. And if it means both, well then between PCOS and those two I may never be allowed to eat again. hahaha. Cooked veggies, canned fruits, and fish and chicken, here I come!
It's been a blast and it is kind of funny cause really only I would have stuff like this happen. I'm thankful to George for listening to that feeling that kept telling us not to try to have a baby yet cause can you imagine trying to figure all of this out and being pregnant on top of that or going through a miscarriage through all of that? I surely can't. I'm counting those blessings!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Exciting Things
George and I have some exciting things coming up in the future and we are pumped. We are anxiously awaiting the end of the semester as it has been long and hard so far. Only six and a half weeks left, we can make it! George is thinking about changing his major at school and I'm so excited for him to find what it is that he truly loves so that he can love his job.
Through it all, comes the question of what to do about having a family. Weight loss is coming, slowly, but coming. Do we try again, do we not? Can we handle the heart ache that comes from losing something that we have so dearly hoped for? Do we become foster parents? Do we start the paperwork for adoption? So many questions and not really any answers. There are a lot of decisions to make and a lot to look forward to.
How thankful I am that through it all I have a loving Heavenly Father who keeps me going. Even when I pull away, He's there, just waiting for me to remember that He can help me. My heart aches often. I yearn to hold the babies I lost. I ache to be a mother. Sometimes, there are tears and frustration, maybe even a little temper tantrum. I've cried more than once alone in my bedroom asking Heavenly Father what He wants from me and what I need to do and why we haven't been able to keep a child. Through all the tears and frustration, I know He is there and I know He has things for George and I to do. He has helped us find ways to be happy and to find joy in our daily journey.
I remember every day that my Heavenly Father gave me one of the best things He could have ever given me, George. He is my angel. I needed him and I am forever grateful for that man. Things will work out because I have him with me.
Whatever the next year brings for our family, we will continue to find joy in the journey. We will continue to make goals and plan exciting activities. I can't wait for the summer, there's a lot coming.
- George's birthday is next month. I need something good to do, any ideas?
- In May we are flying to Florida and we are so excited. It will be our first really big trip (other than to California). We plan on going to Harry Potter land and spending my brother's birthday with him.
- We are also looking forward to running a half marathon on July 9. I've started working towards races like this twice before and I'm going to do one this time, I'm determined.
Through it all, comes the question of what to do about having a family. Weight loss is coming, slowly, but coming. Do we try again, do we not? Can we handle the heart ache that comes from losing something that we have so dearly hoped for? Do we become foster parents? Do we start the paperwork for adoption? So many questions and not really any answers. There are a lot of decisions to make and a lot to look forward to.
How thankful I am that through it all I have a loving Heavenly Father who keeps me going. Even when I pull away, He's there, just waiting for me to remember that He can help me. My heart aches often. I yearn to hold the babies I lost. I ache to be a mother. Sometimes, there are tears and frustration, maybe even a little temper tantrum. I've cried more than once alone in my bedroom asking Heavenly Father what He wants from me and what I need to do and why we haven't been able to keep a child. Through all the tears and frustration, I know He is there and I know He has things for George and I to do. He has helped us find ways to be happy and to find joy in our daily journey.
I remember every day that my Heavenly Father gave me one of the best things He could have ever given me, George. He is my angel. I needed him and I am forever grateful for that man. Things will work out because I have him with me.
Whatever the next year brings for our family, we will continue to find joy in the journey. We will continue to make goals and plan exciting activities. I can't wait for the summer, there's a lot coming.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)