Long awaited update
I apologize for not doing the "best" of job in updating you all on my health issues. For a period of time, I've become so overwhelmed and frustrated with my not feeling well, having to check in to the ER, doctors appointments, etc. Sometimes it's so hard to go through this and share with friends. I don't want to burden any of my friends with my health issues, even though I know they will always pray for me.
Back in the beginning of September, I had an appointment with my GI doctor, Dr Perua and Dr. Henry. All of you know that for the past 2-3 years these stomach issues of pain and nausea has been baffling to not only myself and my parents, but with the doctors as well. They had hypothesis, did various tests, and still they couldn't figure out what was going on with me. The did; however, know that I have gastroperesis which is the slow emptying of the stomach. Normally the stomach will empty 100% in 2 hrs; with me, my stomach emptied only 37% in 2 hours. So from there, the doctor put me on a VERY LITTLE food intake diet and eating at least 4-6 times a day.
Still the pain and nausea was present and they continued to do various tests to the point I've exhausted all the possible tests. They even did tests on me that would normally NOT be done with people my age (32!!! yikes!)
Finally by God's grace, the doctors came up with a diagnosis. I have an extremely rare form of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Usually with the common form of IBS, one has nausea accompanied with diarrhea or constipation. Instead my symptoms is overactive nerve receptors in the stomach and intestine; the nerves expand/contract "too frequently" thus causing the extreme pain, and it explains why I hurt after I eat food; he also explained that with pain that severe, I'm bound to be sick to my stomach for the two goes hand in hand. There is NO cure for this illness, but only help with medications. For now, the doctors are finding the right combo of medication and I usually go back to the UVA GI clinic every 3 months for bloodwork, and tweaking of medications.
One of the possible causes also of this pain is the possibility that my arteries are smaller than usual (that is physiologically smaller, not smaller due to cholesterol, etc); thankfully I was able that test done to rule out this possible cause....which is good. We still don't know what is causing this and the docs said they might never know.....sometimes all that could be done is medications, rest, and very small meal diet.
I've been doing all the above but there are still days I feel horrible, and there area few days I feel "all right". I never know what day I will be faced with and it's really tough to plan things for myself.
I've also recently developed swallowing issues; sometimes just drinking sometimes I have a hard time swallowing; this is another issue yet to be determined by my doctor; one of the possibilities is that the non-cancerous tumors I was born with (Neurofibrimotosis) could be growing someplace in my throat. The doctors now I deciding to see what the bests test to undergo to figure out why this new symptom has occurred.
I continue to ask for prayers. As you know, this has been physically tiring for me and sometimes I'm so drained I can barely do any work. (If I can't eat well, energy won't be there!)
Another thing, my COBRA ends Dec 31, 2011. My reconstructive surgeon is trying to set up another surgery date before my insurance end. The surgery is still the same thing---continuous removal of the non-cancerous tumors, that still cause some problems. After my insurance ends, I'm hoping I'll be eligible for Medicaid. Please pray that all the kinks and process of applying will work.
Back in the beginning of September, I had an appointment with my GI doctor, Dr Perua and Dr. Henry. All of you know that for the past 2-3 years these stomach issues of pain and nausea has been baffling to not only myself and my parents, but with the doctors as well. They had hypothesis, did various tests, and still they couldn't figure out what was going on with me. The did; however, know that I have gastroperesis which is the slow emptying of the stomach. Normally the stomach will empty 100% in 2 hrs; with me, my stomach emptied only 37% in 2 hours. So from there, the doctor put me on a VERY LITTLE food intake diet and eating at least 4-6 times a day.
Still the pain and nausea was present and they continued to do various tests to the point I've exhausted all the possible tests. They even did tests on me that would normally NOT be done with people my age (32!!! yikes!)
Finally by God's grace, the doctors came up with a diagnosis. I have an extremely rare form of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Usually with the common form of IBS, one has nausea accompanied with diarrhea or constipation. Instead my symptoms is overactive nerve receptors in the stomach and intestine; the nerves expand/contract "too frequently" thus causing the extreme pain, and it explains why I hurt after I eat food; he also explained that with pain that severe, I'm bound to be sick to my stomach for the two goes hand in hand. There is NO cure for this illness, but only help with medications. For now, the doctors are finding the right combo of medication and I usually go back to the UVA GI clinic every 3 months for bloodwork, and tweaking of medications.
One of the possible causes also of this pain is the possibility that my arteries are smaller than usual (that is physiologically smaller, not smaller due to cholesterol, etc); thankfully I was able that test done to rule out this possible cause....which is good. We still don't know what is causing this and the docs said they might never know.....sometimes all that could be done is medications, rest, and very small meal diet.
I've been doing all the above but there are still days I feel horrible, and there area few days I feel "all right". I never know what day I will be faced with and it's really tough to plan things for myself.
I've also recently developed swallowing issues; sometimes just drinking sometimes I have a hard time swallowing; this is another issue yet to be determined by my doctor; one of the possibilities is that the non-cancerous tumors I was born with (Neurofibrimotosis) could be growing someplace in my throat. The doctors now I deciding to see what the bests test to undergo to figure out why this new symptom has occurred.
I continue to ask for prayers. As you know, this has been physically tiring for me and sometimes I'm so drained I can barely do any work. (If I can't eat well, energy won't be there!)
Another thing, my COBRA ends Dec 31, 2011. My reconstructive surgeon is trying to set up another surgery date before my insurance end. The surgery is still the same thing---continuous removal of the non-cancerous tumors, that still cause some problems. After my insurance ends, I'm hoping I'll be eligible for Medicaid. Please pray that all the kinks and process of applying will work.
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