Well, I had my appt with the gastro doc today. He decided to go ahead and put me down for gastroperisis AND IBS. Why? Well after taking in all the facts of all my symptoms and doing the endo and the colonoscopy, as well as all the other tests I have had...it is obvious to him. Not to mention all three gastros that I have seen agree sort of just puts it out there. To him is seems like I have had IBS in the lower for years, which is true because I was dx with it back before I was pregnant with Josiah who is almost 11 yrs old...what? 11 yrs old? How on earth did that happen!!!?? Oh sorry.... My current symptoms and testing show gastroperesis. YAH!!! umm.....not. He wants me to live (eat) as though I have GP and treat myself as though I do so I can see if it makes a difference.
Also the endo (Feb 2012) and colonoscopy (last week), both showed some things.
Short Barretts Esophogus (precancerous cells)
Polyups (also precancerous) they aren't always ,but mine where. They were also quite large. I had a colonoscopy done 2 years ago and had none.
From this point I will need a repeat of both in 3 years. If nothing worsened then we can push it out 5 years. We will see what happens from here.
My Lyrica was approved faster than I thought so I am on it. Is it helping? I don't know. The doc said to give it a month and see what happens. The pains in my arms are not better. Sleep, I still have to take a Flexeril before I go to bed. I lay down and BOOM my mind starts going and going and going......... Frustrating. I will actually lay in bed totally exhausted and ready to sleep until 4 am!!! Ugh.
So as of right now it is still a waiting game in some respects. In others it is life changing. They don't want me to change things too fast or we won't know what is helping and what isn't. Understandable.
Again, your prayers are always appreciated. Feel free to leave any comments or questions! I will answer as best as I can.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
It's a Beautiful day
Everyday is beautiful. At least it should be. Even if the weather is not. The LORD tells us in his word that life is a gift. Yes, it is. Even if my mortal life on this earth is to be filled with pain, GI issues, headaches, and the like it can still be beautiful!
I have 6 beautiful children. I have one amazing hubby who loves me very much. My family is my biggest support group!! My oldest son is only 10 years old and has taken over most of breakfast and lunch cooking. He has been helping a lot with dinner as well. My twins who are 9 years old have started taking over the laundry. Older son and I still load washer and he switches it, but they get it and fold it and hang it all up. Then they have the two little boys help them put it all away. I truly feel blessed!
Physically, I feel lousy, but this is part of my life that I will have to accept and stop commenting on how terrible I feel. I started my Lyrica but honestly I don't feel a difference at all. I even took two pills. So I will see what the doctor wants to do. From what I was reading on the support group for Fibro, Lyrica only works for 50% of people. Also many have had terrible side effects. So hubby is watching me closely to make sure I don't develop them and if I do call the doc right away.
I have heard so much about Fibro not being real. I have also heard some say that a chiropractor, eating better, and exercise will cure it. For some people I am sure that works. For many though it doesn't. You can go back and read through my last post about what Fibro actually does. A person with fibro has an issue with the nerve sensory in their body. They feel too much, so it causes pain. Just simple things like my son poking me to get my attention feels like someone stabbed a knife into my arm. So it is important to remember that every person with fibro is different and needs treatment different than another person with it. It affects each person differently.
What I do know is that my GOD said he will be my guide. He told me that he will supply my need. To many people it may seem crazy to not go searching for a cure or a relief, but honestly that is not what the LORD put me on this earth to do. I can't spend all my time researching for things to help with this. I just can't. Not to mention trying this and trying that is expensive. So for now I am putting myself in the hands of my doctors. This is what my husband and I feel we should do. Yes I have praying and sought the LORD. If he leads me to other ways I will look into them. For now we truly believe that my doctor knows what he is doing and wants to help me live a full life without pain if possible. If that means trying a couple meds to see which fits, I will do it. I have 6 children to tend to, a hubby that needs me, a house that needs me, and a church that needs me. If meds are what it takes to get me to be able to function at a place that is almost normal or at least bearable, then that is what I will do for now.
Please keep praying for me. Keep reading as I post. I will post updates and things I learn along the way. I will also post blessing from God's word that he uses to help and guide me through this journey.
Till He comes,
Robin
I have 6 beautiful children. I have one amazing hubby who loves me very much. My family is my biggest support group!! My oldest son is only 10 years old and has taken over most of breakfast and lunch cooking. He has been helping a lot with dinner as well. My twins who are 9 years old have started taking over the laundry. Older son and I still load washer and he switches it, but they get it and fold it and hang it all up. Then they have the two little boys help them put it all away. I truly feel blessed!
Physically, I feel lousy, but this is part of my life that I will have to accept and stop commenting on how terrible I feel. I started my Lyrica but honestly I don't feel a difference at all. I even took two pills. So I will see what the doctor wants to do. From what I was reading on the support group for Fibro, Lyrica only works for 50% of people. Also many have had terrible side effects. So hubby is watching me closely to make sure I don't develop them and if I do call the doc right away.
I have heard so much about Fibro not being real. I have also heard some say that a chiropractor, eating better, and exercise will cure it. For some people I am sure that works. For many though it doesn't. You can go back and read through my last post about what Fibro actually does. A person with fibro has an issue with the nerve sensory in their body. They feel too much, so it causes pain. Just simple things like my son poking me to get my attention feels like someone stabbed a knife into my arm. So it is important to remember that every person with fibro is different and needs treatment different than another person with it. It affects each person differently.
What I do know is that my GOD said he will be my guide. He told me that he will supply my need. To many people it may seem crazy to not go searching for a cure or a relief, but honestly that is not what the LORD put me on this earth to do. I can't spend all my time researching for things to help with this. I just can't. Not to mention trying this and trying that is expensive. So for now I am putting myself in the hands of my doctors. This is what my husband and I feel we should do. Yes I have praying and sought the LORD. If he leads me to other ways I will look into them. For now we truly believe that my doctor knows what he is doing and wants to help me live a full life without pain if possible. If that means trying a couple meds to see which fits, I will do it. I have 6 children to tend to, a hubby that needs me, a house that needs me, and a church that needs me. If meds are what it takes to get me to be able to function at a place that is almost normal or at least bearable, then that is what I will do for now.
Please keep praying for me. Keep reading as I post. I will post updates and things I learn along the way. I will also post blessing from God's word that he uses to help and guide me through this journey.
Till He comes,
Robin
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
At the Rhuemy today
Can I just say God is sooooo good! I am surrounded by such great doctors that have been so very helpful and so caring. Thank you for all your prayers for me as I continue this long road.
So today I went to see the Rhuemy. He remembered me. I handed him my last post from here so he could see everything I am dealing with. He read through some things here and there and then asked questions. I was totally shocked when he questioned me about my GI issues and was almost word for word what I was feeling although he hadn't even read that part of the paper yet. (how do I knw? it was the second page and he hadn't flipped yet.) LOL He said I have A very severe case of Fibromyalgia. At first I was a little put off and shocked to hear that. Then he explained. It was a HUGE eye opener. It made perfect sense. Here is a little explination of it:
So today I went to see the Rhuemy. He remembered me. I handed him my last post from here so he could see everything I am dealing with. He read through some things here and there and then asked questions. I was totally shocked when he questioned me about my GI issues and was almost word for word what I was feeling although he hadn't even read that part of the paper yet. (how do I knw? it was the second page and he hadn't flipped yet.) LOL He said I have A very severe case of Fibromyalgia. At first I was a little put off and shocked to hear that. Then he explained. It was a HUGE eye opener. It made perfect sense. Here is a little explination of it:
Explanation of Fibromyalgia
We understand that Fibromyalgia is caused by a constant contraction of the membranes that surround in the brain and spinal cord.
Picture this membrane surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. All the nerves coming from the brain and the cord have to pass through this membrane to get to the organs, muscles joints and every other place in the body.
When this membrane is constantly in contraction, the nerves are constantly firing. (Think of what happens when you slightly tap your funny bone).
1 The pain nerves are constantly firing, thus you have pain
2 The sensation nerves are constantly firing, thus sensitivity
3 Muscle nerves are constantly firing, leading to the muscles constantly in contraction
(those tight muscles you feel in the neck and shoulders etc.), leading to lactic acid buildup. This leads to fibrous tissue.
This is why when many of you push yourselves you are in pain for days with a flare-up because you are ripping this tissue.
The sympathetic nervous system is constantly on, thus you’re producing constant adrenalin, and thus sleep is impossible, yet you’re so tired. Excess Adrenalin also interferes with dopamine receptors leading to the “Fibro fog “. This also leads to depression. When the sympathetic is on all the time, the parasympathetic system is off, leading to digestive problems. Food is not totally digested; the bacteria digest the food sitting in the gut leading to methane gas which leads to I.B.S. and Reflux.
This is just about exactly what he told me. Honestly with everything I am going through and feeling it makes perfect sense! BUT...he also said a few other things. He wonders if I am starting Lupus. So he wanted to test more into that one. Many women with Lupus have fibro. It usually starts as just Fibro but then as they get older or sicker it is more obvious they have Lupus as well. Prayerfully that won't be the case with me.
He also mentioned something else. He wanted to test me for another thing, can't remember the name. It has to do with anemia and red blood cells being smaller than normal. It is possible as my mom is also extremely anemic and it is a genetic disorder. So that's something we are waiting on.
He then examined me and definitely said Fibro and IBS. So it is good news to hear most likely not gastropereisis or Lupus. Now Fibro is no walk in the park and will require life changes as well as a new medicine for me. But I have some great doctors that are going to stand by me and help me get better and be able to handle the flare ups.
He is putting me on Lyrcia, which has some side effects but helps with all the nerve firing issues. Prayerfully m y insurance will cover it so I can get some relief. Now on to research to see what I can do to help myself. So much to learn.
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