A JOYFUL NOISE

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 h...

That was the title of my talk with the ASP kids yesterday. And it was really fun and a blessing to me as I got to share some truths about life and in it all how God takes care of use and uses us for HIS Glory. For a few years, between 2005-2007, I would be on again off again as a discipler to the kids. I shared my testimony to the kids back then as a way of showing them that God uses everything we go through as a means to glorify and exalt His name. It's hard to believe that the kids who I helped back then are in college! YIKES! When I moved back to Lyndhurst in 2007, I was sadden to have had to stop attending ASP and being a disciple to ASP kids who mostly live in the coaches behind the church. I loved being part of ASP for a while and it was hard.....really hard to have given it up; I couldn't do it, not only because I was further away from the church, but because I had a full time job.... an 8-5 job; so I couldn't participate. But God's plan ch...

Today I was remembering some of the things my nieces do when we go and visit them. A few weeks ago, we were in Richmond when the hurricane came through. The winds were strong and the rain was heavy. My nieces were concerned about the water and was especially concerned about the fallen tree in the backyard. Both of my nieces clung tightly to my Mom and all my Mom could say is "it's okay....God is with us" As I remember that day, I can't help but to think to myself how important it is to cling to Christ. I remembered how tightly my nieces clung to someone they trust and I thought to myself "Do I really cling to Christ as I am suppose too?" I know at times, I don't. I think I don't need Him during my days when I'm not feeling well. I get angry when I'm feeling nauseated and in pain; I get angry when I can't get into see my doctor when I want to; I get angry when I see other people enjoy and participate in things I wi...

I have decided to go ahead and write a note sharing with you all my experience while in Alaska. I had wanted to wait til I got my computer back (my laptop is currently being repaired) and load pictures and share them along with my story, but I just decided that I couldn't wait. (oh, and for those of you who is wondering, I can't upload pics to my parent's computer only bc their computer memory is so low and can't upload it anyhow!) Let me first share a background about this trip. This is how my journal to Alaska began. My very good friend Keren told me about Josh back in December. I was very intrigued and interested in her journeys with this fellow she had met. I finally got to met him one time in March, and again in April when Joshua took Keren and I out to eat THE DAY BEFORE MY SURGERY! He knew about it and so did Keren and I guess they just wanted me to have a good "last meal" to enjoy since I wouldn't be able to eat much aft...

Today I saw my-- GI doctor (a fellow), DR Cerefice for the last night (he accepted an attending position in NJ; but my attending, Dr Peura will still be my attending). He caught up on my health issues and we discussed how I've been feeling. I did tell him that there was a while that I was eating nothing but fish and vegetables and started feeling a little bit better (that is, not in that constant pain and nausea). Until about 3-4 weeks ago, I again started up that cycle of feeling ill again; constant pain and constant nausea. I told him that there were certain days that I just don't sleep because of the pain and the nausea. He does want me to continue to small meals, fish/veggie/no gluten diet. He thinks that along with my motility issues there are other things that is happening that they still can't put a finger on so they are trying different alternatives in medications, diets, etc to see what works best. They do think it is a never problem t...

In my last note, I mentioned how this new food diet has been helping me with my stomach issues/abdominal issues. The pain and nausea were present but just not as pronounced as it was before. I was able to be a lot more active and have more energy throughout the day. I was praying that this "new found" help would last and that I would have the discipline to stick to the diet (basically no meat, lots of veggies and fruits, and tofu) I'm doing well sticking to my diet and continue to be on the diet on a regular basis. However, a couple of weeks ago, I started to again have the reoccurring excruciating right lower/ upper left pain. There were times I had to stay in bed laying down and taking Vicodin. There were days that eating would make me sick and even drinking just water would turn my stomach (this past Sunday was very bad for me) I've become very discouraged that what I thought was helping (the diet); doesn't seem to be working as ...

Wait? An answer to my GI problems? There might be an answer; we just have to wait and see as the weeks go by. Let me start from the beginning. You all know of my health issues regarding my stomach over the past year. I've undergone every imaginable GI test and exams and nothing except gastroperesis has been found as to why I suffer so much with pain and nausea. I've gone so many times to my GI doctor and tried various medications and yet I only felt temporary relief. There was no permanent "fix" to the situation since the doctors didn't know what to fix. All I was told was to take a certain medication and eat 6 small meals a day to help my digestion and gastroperesis. It is a continue struggle to go through pain and nausea. After I had my surgery, on March 17, my mouth was very sore and I couldn't really chew anything that wasn't soft. That meant, I couldn't eat chicken, beef, pork, etc. Really the only thing I can comfort...