I was pretty upbeat last time I posted. I have had such a great couple of months and I'm so happy about that. The gluten-free diet has really helped me, especially my energy level.
I mentioned that the hard spot in my stomach was almost gone but last week I started noticing it more and more. I thought maybe it was from Halloween candy. I started planning to cut sugar out of my diet, a thought that terrifies me, it's going to be difficult.
Anyway, a few nights ago I started having spasms and pain in my left lower stomach. It felt exactly like it did when the nerve problem originally started in my upper right stomach. This is the third spot this is happening now because I also have one in my upper left stomach which started a couple months ago (I've been ignoring that spot because it didn't fit in with ACNES). Whatever is going on in there is spreading. It feels like something is attacking my stomach.
Since my original problem appeared to be a nerve, I started looking up nerve disorders that can attack the stomach. A few links to websites about Lupus came up. Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own healthy tissues and organs. In addition to the stomach issues, I have many of the other symptoms: hair loss, weight loss, joint pain, fatigue, swelling, tingling in my feet, blacking out wtih dizzy spells and dry eyes (I haven't been able to wear my contacts for a few months without lots of discomfort).
I never thought that a lot of those symptoms could be related to my stomach. I spoke with an internist today, a brilliant doctor I used to work for. He is my very last resort. He was so thoughtful and is willing to do some more in-depth bloodwork and a CT scan to figure this out. Thank goodness for a doctor who listens.
He said he also wants to check to see if I have a hormonal imbalance from my last pregnancy because that whole experience was wrong. Four weeks after delivery I started hemmorhaging like crazy and an ultrasound showed particles from birth had not come out with the placenta. He said my OB should have ordered a pelvic CT scan to check for fluid build up and swollen lymph nodes. So I might have problems from that, which would make sense because I have not felt right since my pregnancy.
So the blookwork and scans begin again this week. I must say though, at least I am not in severe pain like before.
I'm freaking out right now. Lupus would mean a lifetime of treatment and flare ups but at least it would mean answers. Why can't I just know what is wrong instead of thinking I have control and then losing it? Ugh, I just feel like sobbing right now.
It feels so weird to be sharing all of this personal information. I normally would just keep all of this to myself and my family but I believe now that sharing health experiences can save lives. We can't just trust doctors to make us fit into their perfect little diagnosed boxes. The more talking and research I have done, the more I have figured things out on my own.
More to come!
No comments:
Post a Comment