Yesterday I had Endoscopy # 2 (see previous post). It went smoothly and without a hitch. The doc took some biopsies from a couple different spots along my digestive tract. Thanks to the fact that I was in the lovely state of drug-induced conscious sedation, I don't remember a thing and was able to go home to enjoy a four and a half hour "nap" afterward.
I came home with a printout of the initial findings and recommendations, not to mention some lovely full-color pics of my insides. I learned last time I had this procedure done that looking up medical terminology on the internet that one is not already familiar with is a VERY bad idea (what you tend to find are worst-case scenarios). So there are things on the report I'm not familiar with, and some that I am. The hernia is still there of course, but not the source of any real trouble. My stomach lining is still severely atrophied. Not good news. There were other findings not listed on my previous endoscopy; these are the things I am deliberately not looking up, but will wait instead for my kind and very thorough doctor to explain to me in person.
Tomorrow I go in for an abdominal/pelvic CT scan. These types of scans are used to further assist in diagnosing causes of abdominal pain and/or diseases of the bowel & colon. In preparation for this test, I get to drink two large (450 mL), nasty bottles of a barium sulfate suspension 3 hours apart. The solution is a radiocontrast agent, meaning this will help make the length of my entire digestive tract viewable on the x-ray, assisting my doctor in identifying any further issues not appearing on my endoscopy.
Perhaps I'm speaking too soon (as someone who has not yet had to chug nearly a liter of this chalky barium sulfate solution), but I really do feel blessed by all this. I was dismissed as "stressed out" and just having a "spastic stomach that needs to learn to relax" by a previous doctor, and here is someone who is taking my health seriously and actively seeking answers.
Thank God for the availability of second opinions!
As always, I will continue to keep you updated as I learn new information. I know this isn't the most thrilling of reading, but I'm grateful to know that near or far, whether you've met me or not, there are people out there who care. Color me blessed!!
Showing posts with label stomach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stomach. Show all posts
20 September 2007
18 September 2007
Sniffles & Stomach Matters
It's been awhile since I've shared anything on the health & wellness front, so I thought now would be an opportune time. Rest assured the adage holds here that no news is good news, but I do have some updates.
I find it only mildly ironic that as I sit here typing this, I am sniffling. Coughing. Clearing my throat of phlegm. Filling my trash bin with an inordinate amount of crumpled plain white facial tissue. So I'm eating some hot homemade soup, drinking my multi-green Kombucha, and enjoying the effervescent magic that is Airborne.
As far as gastrointestinal issues go, I've enjoyed many months of increased energy levels, little to no stomach trouble, and maintenance of a healthy weight. I'm still gluten-free and dairy-free and don't feel like I'm missing a thing. I'm able to enjoy meals out with more and more ease. And if pressed to assign a number to gauge how improved I feel, I'd say I'm anywhere between 80-90% better.
At first, this large an improvement was enough. But both my primary care doctor and I wondered about the remaining 10-20%.
While my energy and overall feeling of physical well-being has improved dramatically over the last five months, lab work reveals that all is not as it should be. I am still severely anemic, still experiencing lower-than-normal calcium levels, and there are days -- despite taking all the proper supplements and following the restricted diet -- where things are just off and noticeably not as they should be. I'm currently waiting on the results of labwork that will tell the naturopath whether or not I may be losing blood (however trace the amount) through the colon.
I recently sought a second opinion from another gastroenterologist. Where the last doctor seemed to be attempting to break records for how quickly he could usher patients out of his office, the new doc took his time with me. My first office visit lasted at least an hour. I felt taken seriously as a patient. There were no pat answers, no just take this antidepressant. The new doc postulated several theories as to what my ailment might be, and the battery of tests he would run in a very particular order so as to make that determination. I am grateful the least pleasant of all these tests (the colonoscopy) will be saved for last (and only if absolutely necessary)!
Tomorrow I go in for another endoscopy. This is the same test I had in early March, but this time the doctor is going to take a biopsy of the tissue. I will have my follow-up appointment with him on October 1 at which point I will either have a diagnosis or will move to the next test.
So I will continue to keep you all updated. I am increasingly hopeful that a proper diagnosis will enable me to pursue even better physical health!!
But for now, it's time for this stuffed-up blogger to take a nap ...
I find it only mildly ironic that as I sit here typing this, I am sniffling. Coughing. Clearing my throat of phlegm. Filling my trash bin with an inordinate amount of crumpled plain white facial tissue. So I'm eating some hot homemade soup, drinking my multi-green Kombucha, and enjoying the effervescent magic that is Airborne.
As far as gastrointestinal issues go, I've enjoyed many months of increased energy levels, little to no stomach trouble, and maintenance of a healthy weight. I'm still gluten-free and dairy-free and don't feel like I'm missing a thing. I'm able to enjoy meals out with more and more ease. And if pressed to assign a number to gauge how improved I feel, I'd say I'm anywhere between 80-90% better.
At first, this large an improvement was enough. But both my primary care doctor and I wondered about the remaining 10-20%.
While my energy and overall feeling of physical well-being has improved dramatically over the last five months, lab work reveals that all is not as it should be. I am still severely anemic, still experiencing lower-than-normal calcium levels, and there are days -- despite taking all the proper supplements and following the restricted diet -- where things are just off and noticeably not as they should be. I'm currently waiting on the results of labwork that will tell the naturopath whether or not I may be losing blood (however trace the amount) through the colon.
I recently sought a second opinion from another gastroenterologist. Where the last doctor seemed to be attempting to break records for how quickly he could usher patients out of his office, the new doc took his time with me. My first office visit lasted at least an hour. I felt taken seriously as a patient. There were no pat answers, no just take this antidepressant. The new doc postulated several theories as to what my ailment might be, and the battery of tests he would run in a very particular order so as to make that determination. I am grateful the least pleasant of all these tests (the colonoscopy) will be saved for last (and only if absolutely necessary)!
Tomorrow I go in for another endoscopy. This is the same test I had in early March, but this time the doctor is going to take a biopsy of the tissue. I will have my follow-up appointment with him on October 1 at which point I will either have a diagnosis or will move to the next test.
So I will continue to keep you all updated. I am increasingly hopeful that a proper diagnosis will enable me to pursue even better physical health!!
But for now, it's time for this stuffed-up blogger to take a nap ...
07 May 2007
Modified Elimination Diet: Week 4
Reincorporation
After the three weeks of the diet had come to a close, I was looking forward to adding certain foods back in. After my visit with the naturopath, I knew adding gluten back into the diet would be tantamount to asking for – at a minimum – a few days of discomfort. I’m not even going to try it!
The first food group I chose to add back into my diet was dairy. I’ve never had any noticeable aversion to dairy, so I didn’t suspect that I would have any problems. I made the reincorporation simple: I had grilled bread with tomato, basil, balsamic vinegar, and fresh mozzarella. I had a simple green salad over which I sprinkled freshly grated parmesan. It was delicious. Thank God for cheese!
I love dairy – cheese, in particular – but my digestive system does not. It protested quite plainly, in fact. I will spare my audience the gory details, but suffice it to say that the response fell far short of enjoyable. For at least three days. Ugh.
No dairy: check. No gluten: check.
As much as I miss certain foods, feeling healthy, energetic, and physically whole is worth more to me than giving up cheese and bread.
In fact, since this diet has had such far-reaching health benefits, I’ve decided to stick to it. I have terrific amounts of energy and feel fantastic, especially when not indulging in the goodies that (I will admit) still tempt me. With the exception of citrus fruit and strawberries, not to mention the occasional glass of wine, I see no reason to reintroduce other foods that contribute to less than a state of great health. These things that used to taste so good and that I eagerly anticipated enjoying again are some of the very things that make my body feel less than excellent. And why would I want that? Even (gasp!) my staple hot beverage, the decaf soy latte, no longer tastes as exceptional as that first one after what seemed a long month without. I’ve noticed that the small amount of evaporated cane juice in the soy milks most coffee shops use (about 8 g per cup) makes a difference. I’m certainly not saying I’ll never have one again, but that it will be an exception (one or two per month) rather than a regular occurrence (one to three per week).
I have held an avid interest in diet and nutrition for sometime, but this diet showed me something else on a broader scale: a lot of the food out there (especially so-called “convenience” food) has very little food in it. Having been a voracious food label reader for the past month, I was struck by how many of my seemingly “healthy” choices included a list of ingredients as long as or longer than my arm, half of which I could not pronounce. On the diet, I had to select entirely from whole foods, or foods with a short list of ingredients that included only real, whole food items (like my rice cakes: puffed rice, sea salt). And in spite of “giving up” so many things, I ate better on that diet than I ever had before in my life.
What was I missing again?
Elimination Diet Dinner of the Week
If you've been keeping up on the diet saga, you know a couple things: I've started adding a few things back, and I'm gradually moving toward a vegetarian diet. I will be eating animal protein 1-2 times a week until the current supply in my freezer is depleted, and then (pardon the pun) go cold turkey. Especially since I’m working toward coming out of a profound case of anemia, I think this transition period will be very important.
With that in mind, here is this week's recipe, a southwest-inspired chicken dish.
Ingredients:
Chicken breast
Red pepper, chopped
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
Button mushrooms, sliced
4-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Cilantro
Sea Salt
Large tomato, chopped
Avocado, diced
Lime juice
Olive oil
In a skillet, heat up olive oil and sauté red pepper, mushrooms, onions, and garlic. Cook until onions are translucent and remove from pan.
Add diced chicken breast. When cooked, add pepper mixture back to pan with chicken and lower heat.
Squeeze lime juice and add sea salt to taste.
In a separate bowl, mix diced tomato, avocado, cilantro, and a few good squeezes of lime juice and stir. Place chicken mixture in dish and top with the tomato/avocado relish!
Modifications...
I had the biopsy of the abnormal cells in my uterus on Friday. My doctor said there was only a very small patch of abnormal cells; mostly what he saw was inflammation of the lining. He did not say so explicitly, but I got the impression that this was good news (but only the biopsy results will reveal precisely what state these cells are in). The results are expected by Wednesday and at that point, we will have a better idea of whether this is something that requires treatment, or something that is likely to clear on its own.
The Joy of Working Out
I know some of you will think I’m a glutton for punishment (particularly Christin, who I recall saying something like "I will only run if my life is in danger”), but over the last 6-7 years, I have really come to love working out. I take Bodypump three days a week which is an hour-long strength/endurance class. In Bodypump, you work all the major muscle groups of the body over the course of an hour set to upbeat music that changes quarterly. I love it, and it has changed my body for the better.
I also love cardio training. Before my stomach rebelled against me and I started feeling sluggish, it was routine for me to have 45-minute or 1 hour cardio sessions. I loved it! As someone who has heart disease on both sides of the family, I have been attentive to focused cardiovascular training as part of my regimen. I also find pleasure in pushing and challenging my body, and find some happiness in meeting and setting new challenges.
After this whole ordeal with the stomach started, I began to feel my reservoirs of energy diminish completely. I was falling asleep before 7 p.m. most nights and felt like my limbs were lined with excessive amounts of lead. The most I could do some days was walk on the treadmill and even in that, was dragging my feet. I did what I could, but I’d be lying if I said I was not saddened by the loss of energy and the consequent lack of ability to participate in the classes and activities I enjoyed.
Since I started the diet and more recently when Dr. Wessels gave me the supplements for iron, thyroid, and the adrenal glands, I feel tremendous gains in my energy levels. For the first time in nearly a year, I was able to complete four heart-pumping cardio workouts last week. I started out at thirty minutes a session and by the end of the week, was completing forty-five minute sessions of cardio, praising God the whole time.
In spite of my more recent health news, I feel like my body has been restored to me. I feel like myself again, and the gains in energy are not in any way taken for granted. I believe that as my body becomes healthy and strong again, that this will support healing and restoration in other areas. That is my heart’s prayer and my highest hope.
So where will I be in the afternoons after work these days? Pumping iron or sweating profusely on the elliptical machine (or treadmill, bike, or stepmill), smiling and thanking God for every heartbeat and every bead of sweat.
After the three weeks of the diet had come to a close, I was looking forward to adding certain foods back in. After my visit with the naturopath, I knew adding gluten back into the diet would be tantamount to asking for – at a minimum – a few days of discomfort. I’m not even going to try it!
The first food group I chose to add back into my diet was dairy. I’ve never had any noticeable aversion to dairy, so I didn’t suspect that I would have any problems. I made the reincorporation simple: I had grilled bread with tomato, basil, balsamic vinegar, and fresh mozzarella. I had a simple green salad over which I sprinkled freshly grated parmesan. It was delicious. Thank God for cheese!
I love dairy – cheese, in particular – but my digestive system does not. It protested quite plainly, in fact. I will spare my audience the gory details, but suffice it to say that the response fell far short of enjoyable. For at least three days. Ugh.
No dairy: check. No gluten: check.
As much as I miss certain foods, feeling healthy, energetic, and physically whole is worth more to me than giving up cheese and bread.
In fact, since this diet has had such far-reaching health benefits, I’ve decided to stick to it. I have terrific amounts of energy and feel fantastic, especially when not indulging in the goodies that (I will admit) still tempt me. With the exception of citrus fruit and strawberries, not to mention the occasional glass of wine, I see no reason to reintroduce other foods that contribute to less than a state of great health. These things that used to taste so good and that I eagerly anticipated enjoying again are some of the very things that make my body feel less than excellent. And why would I want that? Even (gasp!) my staple hot beverage, the decaf soy latte, no longer tastes as exceptional as that first one after what seemed a long month without. I’ve noticed that the small amount of evaporated cane juice in the soy milks most coffee shops use (about 8 g per cup) makes a difference. I’m certainly not saying I’ll never have one again, but that it will be an exception (one or two per month) rather than a regular occurrence (one to three per week).
I have held an avid interest in diet and nutrition for sometime, but this diet showed me something else on a broader scale: a lot of the food out there (especially so-called “convenience” food) has very little food in it. Having been a voracious food label reader for the past month, I was struck by how many of my seemingly “healthy” choices included a list of ingredients as long as or longer than my arm, half of which I could not pronounce. On the diet, I had to select entirely from whole foods, or foods with a short list of ingredients that included only real, whole food items (like my rice cakes: puffed rice, sea salt). And in spite of “giving up” so many things, I ate better on that diet than I ever had before in my life.
What was I missing again?
Elimination Diet Dinner of the Week
If you've been keeping up on the diet saga, you know a couple things: I've started adding a few things back, and I'm gradually moving toward a vegetarian diet. I will be eating animal protein 1-2 times a week until the current supply in my freezer is depleted, and then (pardon the pun) go cold turkey. Especially since I’m working toward coming out of a profound case of anemia, I think this transition period will be very important.
With that in mind, here is this week's recipe, a southwest-inspired chicken dish.
Ingredients:
Chicken breast
Red pepper, chopped
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
Button mushrooms, sliced
4-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Cilantro
Sea Salt
Large tomato, chopped
Avocado, diced
Lime juice
Olive oil
In a skillet, heat up olive oil and sauté red pepper, mushrooms, onions, and garlic. Cook until onions are translucent and remove from pan.
Add diced chicken breast. When cooked, add pepper mixture back to pan with chicken and lower heat.
Squeeze lime juice and add sea salt to taste.
In a separate bowl, mix diced tomato, avocado, cilantro, and a few good squeezes of lime juice and stir. Place chicken mixture in dish and top with the tomato/avocado relish!
Modifications...
- For those of you who like your dishes a bit spicier, add a chili or two.
- I'm definitely going to try this with tofu in place of chicken!
I had the biopsy of the abnormal cells in my uterus on Friday. My doctor said there was only a very small patch of abnormal cells; mostly what he saw was inflammation of the lining. He did not say so explicitly, but I got the impression that this was good news (but only the biopsy results will reveal precisely what state these cells are in). The results are expected by Wednesday and at that point, we will have a better idea of whether this is something that requires treatment, or something that is likely to clear on its own.
The Joy of Working Out
I know some of you will think I’m a glutton for punishment (particularly Christin, who I recall saying something like "I will only run if my life is in danger”), but over the last 6-7 years, I have really come to love working out. I take Bodypump three days a week which is an hour-long strength/endurance class. In Bodypump, you work all the major muscle groups of the body over the course of an hour set to upbeat music that changes quarterly. I love it, and it has changed my body for the better.
I also love cardio training. Before my stomach rebelled against me and I started feeling sluggish, it was routine for me to have 45-minute or 1 hour cardio sessions. I loved it! As someone who has heart disease on both sides of the family, I have been attentive to focused cardiovascular training as part of my regimen. I also find pleasure in pushing and challenging my body, and find some happiness in meeting and setting new challenges.
After this whole ordeal with the stomach started, I began to feel my reservoirs of energy diminish completely. I was falling asleep before 7 p.m. most nights and felt like my limbs were lined with excessive amounts of lead. The most I could do some days was walk on the treadmill and even in that, was dragging my feet. I did what I could, but I’d be lying if I said I was not saddened by the loss of energy and the consequent lack of ability to participate in the classes and activities I enjoyed.
Since I started the diet and more recently when Dr. Wessels gave me the supplements for iron, thyroid, and the adrenal glands, I feel tremendous gains in my energy levels. For the first time in nearly a year, I was able to complete four heart-pumping cardio workouts last week. I started out at thirty minutes a session and by the end of the week, was completing forty-five minute sessions of cardio, praising God the whole time.
In spite of my more recent health news, I feel like my body has been restored to me. I feel like myself again, and the gains in energy are not in any way taken for granted. I believe that as my body becomes healthy and strong again, that this will support healing and restoration in other areas. That is my heart’s prayer and my highest hope.
So where will I be in the afternoons after work these days? Pumping iron or sweating profusely on the elliptical machine (or treadmill, bike, or stepmill), smiling and thanking God for every heartbeat and every bead of sweat.
30 April 2007
Modified Elimination Diet: Week 3
Wrapping it Up
It is Monday at the end of week three, and so the modified elimination diet comes to a close. The third week was a breeze, having had ample time to adjust to abstaining from the forbidden foods. I have lost more weight this week (for a grand total of thirty pounds), but I am assured this is to be expected from the elimination diet. I believe this trend will stop once some of the eliminated foods find their ways back into my diet.
Elimination Diet Dinner of the Week
This dinner was a big hit! One night, I was particularly craving something with a bit of Mexican flare, so I whipped up the following dish.
Ingredients:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
¼ large sweet onion, chopped
4-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Button mushrooms, sliced
1 large tomato, chopped
Fresh cilantro, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 can black beans
Sea salt
Pepper (optional)
2 large golden Yukon potatoes, cubed
Here is what I did:
On stovetop, heat up can of black beans on low-medium heat. Stir occasionally.
Place diced potatoes in baking dish. Pour olive oil over potatoes. Flavor with salt & pepper, and also some green pepper & cilantro if desired. Stir so potatoes are well coated. Place in 400 degree oven. Cook until potatoes are soft.
In a large saucepan, heat up one good pour of olive oil. Once hot, sauté onions, garlic, green pepper, & mushroom. Cook until onions are translucent. Remove from pan.
Add more olive oil to the hot pan. Cook up diced chicken breast. Once cooked, add onion/garlic/pepper/mushroom mixture back to pan.
Add tomatoes & chopped cilantro
Cook on low heat until entire mixture is warm.
Serve chicken mixture over oven-roasted potatoes and top with black beans.
I wish I had thought of it earlier, but some slices of avocado would be delicious on this. As it was, I could only eat about half of what I served myself. Very filling!
Non-elimination diet modifications (thanks to Jordan): put black beans & chicken mixture in a warm tortilla, top with sour cream, salsa, and your favorite cheese blend. Add a few squeezes of fresh lime for extra flavor!
Appointment with the Naturopath: The Moment of Truth
I met with the naturopath again today; what a fantastic appointment! He asked how I was feeling and I told him that I felt nothing short of marvelous. He was thrilled that the diet agreed with me so well and that I was feeling so much better.
He went over my recent blood work with me, and the results were quite revelatory. As he suspected, my thyroid levels are very low. I also have a low red blood cell count, am severely anemic (normal iron levels in women are 12.0 g/dL; my level was 3.4 g/dL), and have lowered adrenal gland function. My calcium levels also leave something to be desired. So all this explains the lowered energy levels throughout the past year, and why, as digestive tract heals and I better absorb nutrients from my food, I feel more energetic.
Because I tolerated the diet so well and based on the results of my blood test, he is almost certain I have a gluten sensitivity (but not a full-blown allergy). He said that in people with gluten sensitivities or intolerances, the villi in the small intestine (little “fingers” that come out of the small intestine, see diagram below) that absorb the nutrients become flattened, making it difficult to absorb nutrients from food or from supplements. As it is, the body tends to have more difficulty absorbing iron than any other nutrient.
He believes that as my digestive tract begins to heal, my absorption of nutrients will improve. He also postulated that because of my multiple bouts with acid reflux, my digestive system was already in a state of stress and somewhat damaged, and a gluten sensitivity just made it snowball from there. I will know how sensitive I am for certain once gluten is reintroduced into the diet.
Until then, I am to continue with the Intestinal Repair formula and three new supplements have been added to my regimen. I will be taking an herbal tincture three times a day to support adrenal function, a supplement once a day to support thyroid function, and a liquid iron supplement to increase my iron level (the liquid form is better absorbed by the body).
He was thrilled that I stuck to the diet (apparently many patients do not) and I literally thought he was going to leap out of his chair when he learned about how much better I’m feeling, and that I am improving daily. I told him of the weight loss (14 pounds since I started the diet) and he advised this is completely normal. What a relief! I expect I will have no problem gaining this back once eliminated foods are brought back into my diet. :o)
As the diet is at an end, I can start reintroducing foods at my leisure. He suggested I do it in groups, allowing one day of rest between groups. For example, he suggested I have a dairy day: have milk, yogurt, cheese. The following day would be a day of rest. The following day, I could add a new group of foods. He said as I haven’t had any of these things for nearly a month, I will know almost immediately whether I tolerate them well or not. He said if I do choose to add gluten back, to try it last (if at all). He believes that once my digestive tract has had ample time to heal, I may be able to handle it on a very limited basis.
I will return to his office to see him in a month so he can gauge my improvement after foods have been reintroduced, and after the additional herbal medicines have had a chance to do their work.
At the end of our visit, he advised me that he does this diet once every year: he begins it at Lent and concludes it on Easter Sunday. He said, "This diet is hard enough, I don’t know how Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness!" But what better time to do it? How remarkable that my naturopath loves Jesus and practices this diet as a spiritual discipline!
After battling uphill for a year, it is an immense relief finally to have made progress. Praise God for blessing me with renewed energy and health! Many thanks to all who have read this series of posts, who have encouraged and prayed for me, and to those who have offered insight and suggestions. It is much appreciated!
Another Health Update: I received a call from my doctor's office today. The results of my annual exam showed abnormal (pre-cancerous) cells. I go in to have a biopsy of the cells taken this coming Friday. I have a feeling that the state of stress my body has been in certainly could be a contributing factor, having had an obviously compromised state of health for the past year.
Please pray that this is something that will resolve itself & clear on its own as I become healthier & stronger. Please pray also that I would not be overly anxious about it, but just trust that God has this all under control.
Thank you in advance for your prayers!
It is Monday at the end of week three, and so the modified elimination diet comes to a close. The third week was a breeze, having had ample time to adjust to abstaining from the forbidden foods. I have lost more weight this week (for a grand total of thirty pounds), but I am assured this is to be expected from the elimination diet. I believe this trend will stop once some of the eliminated foods find their ways back into my diet.
Elimination Diet Dinner of the Week
This dinner was a big hit! One night, I was particularly craving something with a bit of Mexican flare, so I whipped up the following dish.
Ingredients:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
¼ large sweet onion, chopped
4-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Button mushrooms, sliced
1 large tomato, chopped
Fresh cilantro, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 can black beans
Sea salt
Pepper (optional)
2 large golden Yukon potatoes, cubed
Here is what I did:
On stovetop, heat up can of black beans on low-medium heat. Stir occasionally.
Place diced potatoes in baking dish. Pour olive oil over potatoes. Flavor with salt & pepper, and also some green pepper & cilantro if desired. Stir so potatoes are well coated. Place in 400 degree oven. Cook until potatoes are soft.
In a large saucepan, heat up one good pour of olive oil. Once hot, sauté onions, garlic, green pepper, & mushroom. Cook until onions are translucent. Remove from pan.
Add more olive oil to the hot pan. Cook up diced chicken breast. Once cooked, add onion/garlic/pepper/mushroom mixture back to pan.
Add tomatoes & chopped cilantro
Cook on low heat until entire mixture is warm.
Serve chicken mixture over oven-roasted potatoes and top with black beans.
Non-elimination diet modifications (thanks to Jordan): put black beans & chicken mixture in a warm tortilla, top with sour cream, salsa, and your favorite cheese blend. Add a few squeezes of fresh lime for extra flavor!
Appointment with the Naturopath: The Moment of Truth
I met with the naturopath again today; what a fantastic appointment! He asked how I was feeling and I told him that I felt nothing short of marvelous. He was thrilled that the diet agreed with me so well and that I was feeling so much better.
He went over my recent blood work with me, and the results were quite revelatory. As he suspected, my thyroid levels are very low. I also have a low red blood cell count, am severely anemic (normal iron levels in women are 12.0 g/dL; my level was 3.4 g/dL), and have lowered adrenal gland function. My calcium levels also leave something to be desired. So all this explains the lowered energy levels throughout the past year, and why, as digestive tract heals and I better absorb nutrients from my food, I feel more energetic.
Because I tolerated the diet so well and based on the results of my blood test, he is almost certain I have a gluten sensitivity (but not a full-blown allergy). He said that in people with gluten sensitivities or intolerances, the villi in the small intestine (little “fingers” that come out of the small intestine, see diagram below) that absorb the nutrients become flattened, making it difficult to absorb nutrients from food or from supplements. As it is, the body tends to have more difficulty absorbing iron than any other nutrient.
He believes that as my digestive tract begins to heal, my absorption of nutrients will improve. He also postulated that because of my multiple bouts with acid reflux, my digestive system was already in a state of stress and somewhat damaged, and a gluten sensitivity just made it snowball from there. I will know how sensitive I am for certain once gluten is reintroduced into the diet.
Until then, I am to continue with the Intestinal Repair formula and three new supplements have been added to my regimen. I will be taking an herbal tincture three times a day to support adrenal function, a supplement once a day to support thyroid function, and a liquid iron supplement to increase my iron level (the liquid form is better absorbed by the body).
He was thrilled that I stuck to the diet (apparently many patients do not) and I literally thought he was going to leap out of his chair when he learned about how much better I’m feeling, and that I am improving daily. I told him of the weight loss (14 pounds since I started the diet) and he advised this is completely normal. What a relief! I expect I will have no problem gaining this back once eliminated foods are brought back into my diet. :o)
As the diet is at an end, I can start reintroducing foods at my leisure. He suggested I do it in groups, allowing one day of rest between groups. For example, he suggested I have a dairy day: have milk, yogurt, cheese. The following day would be a day of rest. The following day, I could add a new group of foods. He said as I haven’t had any of these things for nearly a month, I will know almost immediately whether I tolerate them well or not. He said if I do choose to add gluten back, to try it last (if at all). He believes that once my digestive tract has had ample time to heal, I may be able to handle it on a very limited basis.
I will return to his office to see him in a month so he can gauge my improvement after foods have been reintroduced, and after the additional herbal medicines have had a chance to do their work.
At the end of our visit, he advised me that he does this diet once every year: he begins it at Lent and concludes it on Easter Sunday. He said, "This diet is hard enough, I don’t know how Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness!" But what better time to do it? How remarkable that my naturopath loves Jesus and practices this diet as a spiritual discipline!
After battling uphill for a year, it is an immense relief finally to have made progress. Praise God for blessing me with renewed energy and health! Many thanks to all who have read this series of posts, who have encouraged and prayed for me, and to those who have offered insight and suggestions. It is much appreciated!
Another Health Update: I received a call from my doctor's office today. The results of my annual exam showed abnormal (pre-cancerous) cells. I go in to have a biopsy of the cells taken this coming Friday. I have a feeling that the state of stress my body has been in certainly could be a contributing factor, having had an obviously compromised state of health for the past year.
Please pray that this is something that will resolve itself & clear on its own as I become healthier & stronger. Please pray also that I would not be overly anxious about it, but just trust that God has this all under control.
Thank you in advance for your prayers!
23 April 2007
Modified Elimination Diet: Week 2
The business of having been issued a body is deeply confusing -- it's another thing I'd like to bring up with God. Bodies are so messy, and disappointing. Every time I see the bumper sticker that says, 'We think we're humans having spiritual experiences, but we're really spirits, having human experiences,' (a) I think it's true, and (b) I want to ram the car.
- Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
Check-up
I had my annual check-up with my primary care physician last week; this was the first time I’ve seen her since I was referred to the gastroenterologist. I gave her a rundown of the revelations of the endoscopy (which was already part of my chart anyway), how I felt rushed out of the office, and that I was being treated by a naturopath for my condition.
She is concerned not only about my weight loss (now up to a total of 25 lbs), but my mental health as well; she wants me to be on the lookout for signs of depression, but understands my reluctance to pop anymore pills.
I will go back to see her once I know the outcome of the naturopathic treatment and see if my issue stems from an evil culprit in my normal (pre-elimination) diet. It was great to see her again, as she is a physician who has a great patient focus, is a fantastic listener, and asks thoughtful questions.
Elimination Diet Dinner of the Week
Flexible, winging it cooking is my style. No recipe, no measuring, going by sight and taste. This dish was born out of me missing pasta sauce (one of my favorite things to do for dinner is brown ground turkey, add pasta sauce, and serve it over oven-roasted green beans). I made a mental note of the main ingredients in pasta sauce (tomato, onion, garlic, basil) and decided to try those ingredients from a garden instead of a jar. This was the result.
This is a little something I’ve come to call “Turkey Pow”, because the flavor goes POW in your mouth! :o)
- Olive oil (1 good pour)
- Ground turkey (1 ¼ lbs)
- ½ red onion, chopped
- 4-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 large chopped tomatoes
- Chopped fresh basil (a generous amount)
- Sea salt (to taste)
In a large saucepan, pour olive oil. On med-high heat, sauté onions and garlic until onions are translucent (about 4-5 mins). Remove onions and garlic from pan.
In the same pan, brown ground turkey. Drain fat and place back on heat. Add onion and garlic mixture back to saucepan with turkey.
To this mixture, add chopped tomatoes & basil. Stir frequently. Lower heat and cover. Allow to simmer 10-12 minutes, or until tomatoes are soft. Add sea salt to taste.
I’ve served it for myself over oven-roasted green beans (I simply don’t care for starch as a part of my evening meal), and even tried it with rice. Mmm!
OTHER SERVING IDEAS (even some for non-elimination diet bellies): try serving with herbed oven-roasted potatoes, pasta, or topping with your favorite shredded cheese (Jordan was a big fan of this addition); I am eager to try it again, substituting mashed tofu for a vegetarian dish.
Adventures in Eating Out
It is hardly surprising that (as far as I can tell) there is no elimination diet-friendly item to be found on any menu in any restaurant. Honestly – who would willingly order it? Following the tulip festival we went to a local brewery for lunch. I braced myself for the warm and savory scents of brewery food and walked through the door.
I made a preemptive apology to our waitress, explaining that there was much I could not eat at present, so I was going to be a difficult customer. I ordered the fish tacos without the taco, without sauce, without a side, but they were willing to compensate for my manifold omissions by adding extra black beans. I advised everything should be as plain as possible.
When the meal arrived, I tasted the black beans (a favorite food of mine) which were accompanied by roasted onions and tomato; something wasn’t quite right. Another bite confirmed my suspicion that the black beans were served in lime juice (and citrus a no-no on the diet). Bummer.
So I had my plain cod and a few bites of cabbage while Jordan hungrily devoured his bleu cheese burger and potato salad. It was just a day earlier that I eyed his raspberry scone with a lustful eye; now the potato salad was the object of my desire (but honestly, I would have settled for being able to eat the black beans). The diet only becomes difficult when I am face to face with something forbidden to me: just like life, isn’t it?
Luckily, I had prepared a lunch (stowed safely away in the car), so I went and gobbled up some of the steamed brown rice once we were safely beyond the enticing scents of the brewery.
Wrapping it Up …
I am feeling fantastic! My stomach feels better every day, further confirming for me that seeking the assistance of a naturopath was the best route for my returned health. Whether from the diet, or the intestinal repair formula (most likely it is a combination of the two), it is working.
There are things I thought I’d miss that I really don’t (breads, oatmeal, cold cereal), but there are things that I miss sorely when I know I cannot have them (like cheese, a glass of wine with dinner, or the occasional indulgent bit of chocolate). But these sacrifices are a minor trade for a body that is getting healthier and stronger.
I thank God, the Great Physician, daily for how I good feel. Good health is a tremendous blessing which I cannot take lightly.
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
His greatness no one can fathom.
Psalm 145:3
I’m in the home stretch now! Stay tuned for Week 3 …
16 April 2007
Modified Elimination Diet: Week 1
Back to the Garden
Sunday marked the completion of my 7th day on the Modified Elimination Diet. The contents of my fridge and cupboard were a veritable Garden of Eden, well-stocked with mostly organic and entirely whole (unprocessed, unrefined) foods: rice cereal, fruits, vegetables, salad greens, nuts, raisins, brown rice, potatoes, soy milk (which I've been a fan of for awhile now), and the like.
I have had to read food labels voraciously for ingredients: it is surprising to find how many foods contain sugar, eggs, peanuts, gluten, or dairy products. This means pretty much everything I'm eating (with the exception of brown rice bread) is made from scratch.
Typical Meals
My options are most limited for breakfast food, but even here I've been surprised at how much I've liked it. I was a diehard oatmeal or Kashi Go Lean Crunch girl for breakfast and wasn't looking forward to forfeiting my breakfast favorites. The hot rice cereal prepared with soymilk, walnuts, and raisins (added for flavor, texture, and a nutritional boost) is surprisingly tasty and gets me to the mid-morning snack a few hours later. Speaking of which, I didn't expect to like the brown rice bread. Toasted and topped with almond butter, I'm satisfied well until lunch.
Lunches and dinners look much alike. I've prepared salads with chickpeas, black beans, tofu or tuna, or simply had dinner leftovers. Some of my favorite dinners have been my experimental stir-fries. The stir-fry below was prepared with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt, pepper, and Herbes de Provence. In this mixture, I cooked some cubed extra-firm tofu, zucchini squash, and carrots. It was delicious!
My other favorite dish was one that Jordan has already asked that I prepare a second time. In a skillet, I cooked up diced boneless, skinless (organic & free-range) chicken breast with olive oil, sea salt, and pepper. To this I added chopped fresh pineapple and red pepper. It was served over oven-fried golden Yukon potatoes that were also cooked with olive oil, sea salt, pepper, and some chopped pineapple to add sweetness. We also tried it with extra-firm tofu in place of the chicken and served it over rice noodles; this was also very tasty.
Detoxification
In spite of all the wonderful food I was enjoying, the first four days (Mon - Thurs) on the diet were particularly tough. I felt sluggish and spent from the moment I got up until the blessed minute I fell asleep at about 7 pm. It wasn't until my chiropractor mentioned to me (on Day 5) that I was detoxyifying, and that was why I was so tired. I hadn't thought of it that way, but his explanation made sense. By Friday, I wasn't exhausted anymore, and by Saturday, I had energy enough to work out in the morning and do a thorough spring-cleaning of my apartment later that afternoon.
What's more, the diet and the Intestinal Repair Complex are working wonders. While not back to 100%, my stomach feels better than it has in the past year. Praise God! I am confident at last that I am pursuing the best possible course of treatment to ensure my returned health.
Stay tuned for Week 2 ...
Sunday marked the completion of my 7th day on the Modified Elimination Diet. The contents of my fridge and cupboard were a veritable Garden of Eden, well-stocked with mostly organic and entirely whole (unprocessed, unrefined) foods: rice cereal, fruits, vegetables, salad greens, nuts, raisins, brown rice, potatoes, soy milk (which I've been a fan of for awhile now), and the like.
I have had to read food labels voraciously for ingredients: it is surprising to find how many foods contain sugar, eggs, peanuts, gluten, or dairy products. This means pretty much everything I'm eating (with the exception of brown rice bread) is made from scratch.
Typical Meals
My options are most limited for breakfast food, but even here I've been surprised at how much I've liked it. I was a diehard oatmeal or Kashi Go Lean Crunch girl for breakfast and wasn't looking forward to forfeiting my breakfast favorites. The hot rice cereal prepared with soymilk, walnuts, and raisins (added for flavor, texture, and a nutritional boost) is surprisingly tasty and gets me to the mid-morning snack a few hours later. Speaking of which, I didn't expect to like the brown rice bread. Toasted and topped with almond butter, I'm satisfied well until lunch.
Detoxification
In spite of all the wonderful food I was enjoying, the first four days (Mon - Thurs) on the diet were particularly tough. I felt sluggish and spent from the moment I got up until the blessed minute I fell asleep at about 7 pm. It wasn't until my chiropractor mentioned to me (on Day 5) that I was detoxyifying, and that was why I was so tired. I hadn't thought of it that way, but his explanation made sense. By Friday, I wasn't exhausted anymore, and by Saturday, I had energy enough to work out in the morning and do a thorough spring-cleaning of my apartment later that afternoon.
What's more, the diet and the Intestinal Repair Complex are working wonders. While not back to 100%, my stomach feels better than it has in the past year. Praise God! I am confident at last that I am pursuing the best possible course of treatment to ensure my returned health.
Stay tuned for Week 2 ...
04 April 2007
The Good Doctor
Yesterday I had my first visit with the naturopath. I had many hopes for this visit: that I would be heard, that I would be taken seriously, and that I would be offered at least the hope of healing from my condition. I dared myself to believe that I could go beyond mere pain management and find my way back to good health again. As the time for the visit drew nearer, I feared that once again my hopes might be a tad too high.
Dr. Wessels' office is in a big house in the historical district of town, a good distance away from the hospital and the rows of whitewashed doctor's offices. The door creaks, as do the dark hardwood floors. There is a vase of flowers and a bowl of red grapes at the office manager's desk when I walk in. I smell several herbs in the air, their scents muddled. I already feel better about this visit than all the others, and I haven't even seen the doctor yet.
It took little time after finishing the paperwork before I saw the doctor himself (there is no nurse to act as an intermediary). He is a tall, lean man about my dad's age, with black rimmed glasses and a small patch of facial hair below his bottom lip. His office is more of a cozy study; open journals and notebooks are spread on his wooden desk, curtains adorn the window, and volumes of books (not all health-related) line the bookshelves in the room. He invites me to pull up a cozy blue chair, as if I had been invited into his living room. He sits across from me and we simply begin to talk. I can feel the sun come in through the blinds and warm my cheek.
I tell him all that brought me in: my history of stomach issues, the pain of the last year, losing sixteen pounds (he is the first doctor I have seen who finds this even remotely alarming), and the frustration resulting from my most recent experience with the gastroenterologist. I told him about the several useless prescriptions tossed my way, and he chuckled about the most recent: an anti-depressant for stomach pain? Because if a young woman's stomach hurts, she must be depressed, he chuckles (finally, someone with a sense of humor. No one else I've seen has allowed an inch for humor). I tell him about the results of the endoscopy: the hernia and gastric mucosal atrophy, but later being told everything looks "perfectly normal & healthy" and promptly being sent on my way. He asks about other health items not directly relating to my stomach, such as concerns about my poor blood circulation. As we talk, he scribbles down notes, filling a whole page during our twenty-minute conversation.
It is only after this time that I am directed to the examining area. There is a small examination bed behind a folding partition. He checks my breathing, my blood pressure, and palpitates my belly.
We sit back down in our chairs and the discussion continues. He advises me that it is not the hernia that is causing me trouble; the hernia would likely only be an issue if I were obese and over 50 years old. He assures me that this kind of pain and weight loss is neither normal nor healthy in someone of my age and overall good health. He is concerned about the gastric mucosal atrophy; this is the primary cause of my discomfort. The atrophy tells me, he says, that your stomach lining has been severely damaged due to the mucous lining being chronically inflamed and it needs to be repaired (I am so glad he agrees!!).
He gives me an Intestinal Repair Complex that is comprised of herbs, amino acids, and enzymes that are specifically designed to restore a healthy mucosal lining. Unlike previous prescriptions that were only masking symptoms, this formula is specifically designed to promote healing and provide for factors essential to a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
I am also going to have extensive bloodwork done that will measure organ function, nutrient levels, and the levels of just about everything else that can be measured in a person's blood (the office manager advises me the report that comes back is 8-10 pages long). It is a fasting test, so I have to go in after having abstained from any food for 12 hours.
Additionally, as of Monday, I am on a 3-week Modified Elimination Diet. He tells me, I won't lie to you. Being on this diet stinks! "No" is the operative word in this diet, applying to the following: gluten, all sugars, caffeine, alcohol, red meat & pork, dairy, eggs, citrus fruits & strawberries, peanut products, or any foods containing any amounts of the items listed above (this covers more foods than I could possibly list; you should check out the link, just for kicks & giggles). Abstaining from these foods for this period of time will cleanse my body. Once these foods are reintroduced, we will learn if any of these foods are contributing to the damage done to the lining of my stomach. Some of these things are not going to be missed. With others, it will be difficult. Even the Gardenburger patties I love have gluten in them!
I will go back on April 30 to go over the results of the bloodwork and at that point, foods will slowly be reintroduced back into my diet.
My feelings following this appointment are completely the opposite of those I had following the appointment with the specialist just last week. For the first time since all this started, I feel like I am being heard and taken seriously. Instead of trying to numb me to the pain caused by having a damaged stomach lining, I am being given a supplement that will assist in its healing and restoration. For the first time, dietary factors are being addressed to see if any of these foods are contributing to the damage (because what is the use in healing the damage if you don't know what causes it in the first place?). Additionally, the bloodwork will give him a good view of my overall health and will possibly reveal other contributing factors to my condition.
In nearly a year of being in and out of doctor's offices, he is the first one to order any kind of bloodwork or to address the possibility that something in my diet could be causing the damage. It occurred to me yesterday how wildly experimental all that modern medicine was, giving me medicine after medicine for an unknown condition. I was offered pain relief; not a single doctor I saw attempted to pin down the source of all the trouble. My only regret is I didn't go to the naturopath any sooner! For once I feel hopeful, empowered, and like my future maybe, just maybe, will be one where I have a healthy and normally functioning digestive tract.
I am thankful to have the godly people in my life who encouraged me to pursue this alternate course of treatment. I want to thank those of you who have been slogging through all these posts for caring and for the prayers offered up on my behalf. Some of you have never even met me and yet, you pray for this wordy, ranting, curly-haired stranger from a far-off corner of the country. I cannot adequately express how humbled, encouraged, and loved I feel. The Body of Christ is at work, even through a blog. Amazing.
No one but God knows what the outcome of all this will be, but I have faith that the Lord will ultimately use this for good, as He often does with the things in our lives that we find unbearable while in the midst of them. Our God is great indeed.
Many thanks and many blessings.
Dr. Wessels' office is in a big house in the historical district of town, a good distance away from the hospital and the rows of whitewashed doctor's offices. The door creaks, as do the dark hardwood floors. There is a vase of flowers and a bowl of red grapes at the office manager's desk when I walk in. I smell several herbs in the air, their scents muddled. I already feel better about this visit than all the others, and I haven't even seen the doctor yet.
It took little time after finishing the paperwork before I saw the doctor himself (there is no nurse to act as an intermediary). He is a tall, lean man about my dad's age, with black rimmed glasses and a small patch of facial hair below his bottom lip. His office is more of a cozy study; open journals and notebooks are spread on his wooden desk, curtains adorn the window, and volumes of books (not all health-related) line the bookshelves in the room. He invites me to pull up a cozy blue chair, as if I had been invited into his living room. He sits across from me and we simply begin to talk. I can feel the sun come in through the blinds and warm my cheek.
I tell him all that brought me in: my history of stomach issues, the pain of the last year, losing sixteen pounds (he is the first doctor I have seen who finds this even remotely alarming), and the frustration resulting from my most recent experience with the gastroenterologist. I told him about the several useless prescriptions tossed my way, and he chuckled about the most recent: an anti-depressant for stomach pain? Because if a young woman's stomach hurts, she must be depressed, he chuckles (finally, someone with a sense of humor. No one else I've seen has allowed an inch for humor). I tell him about the results of the endoscopy: the hernia and gastric mucosal atrophy, but later being told everything looks "perfectly normal & healthy" and promptly being sent on my way. He asks about other health items not directly relating to my stomach, such as concerns about my poor blood circulation. As we talk, he scribbles down notes, filling a whole page during our twenty-minute conversation.
It is only after this time that I am directed to the examining area. There is a small examination bed behind a folding partition. He checks my breathing, my blood pressure, and palpitates my belly.
We sit back down in our chairs and the discussion continues. He advises me that it is not the hernia that is causing me trouble; the hernia would likely only be an issue if I were obese and over 50 years old. He assures me that this kind of pain and weight loss is neither normal nor healthy in someone of my age and overall good health. He is concerned about the gastric mucosal atrophy; this is the primary cause of my discomfort. The atrophy tells me, he says, that your stomach lining has been severely damaged due to the mucous lining being chronically inflamed and it needs to be repaired (I am so glad he agrees!!).
He gives me an Intestinal Repair Complex that is comprised of herbs, amino acids, and enzymes that are specifically designed to restore a healthy mucosal lining. Unlike previous prescriptions that were only masking symptoms, this formula is specifically designed to promote healing and provide for factors essential to a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
I am also going to have extensive bloodwork done that will measure organ function, nutrient levels, and the levels of just about everything else that can be measured in a person's blood (the office manager advises me the report that comes back is 8-10 pages long). It is a fasting test, so I have to go in after having abstained from any food for 12 hours.
Additionally, as of Monday, I am on a 3-week Modified Elimination Diet. He tells me, I won't lie to you. Being on this diet stinks! "No" is the operative word in this diet, applying to the following: gluten, all sugars, caffeine, alcohol, red meat & pork, dairy, eggs, citrus fruits & strawberries, peanut products, or any foods containing any amounts of the items listed above (this covers more foods than I could possibly list; you should check out the link, just for kicks & giggles). Abstaining from these foods for this period of time will cleanse my body. Once these foods are reintroduced, we will learn if any of these foods are contributing to the damage done to the lining of my stomach. Some of these things are not going to be missed. With others, it will be difficult. Even the Gardenburger patties I love have gluten in them!
I will go back on April 30 to go over the results of the bloodwork and at that point, foods will slowly be reintroduced back into my diet.
My feelings following this appointment are completely the opposite of those I had following the appointment with the specialist just last week. For the first time since all this started, I feel like I am being heard and taken seriously. Instead of trying to numb me to the pain caused by having a damaged stomach lining, I am being given a supplement that will assist in its healing and restoration. For the first time, dietary factors are being addressed to see if any of these foods are contributing to the damage (because what is the use in healing the damage if you don't know what causes it in the first place?). Additionally, the bloodwork will give him a good view of my overall health and will possibly reveal other contributing factors to my condition.
In nearly a year of being in and out of doctor's offices, he is the first one to order any kind of bloodwork or to address the possibility that something in my diet could be causing the damage. It occurred to me yesterday how wildly experimental all that modern medicine was, giving me medicine after medicine for an unknown condition. I was offered pain relief; not a single doctor I saw attempted to pin down the source of all the trouble. My only regret is I didn't go to the naturopath any sooner! For once I feel hopeful, empowered, and like my future maybe, just maybe, will be one where I have a healthy and normally functioning digestive tract.
I am thankful to have the godly people in my life who encouraged me to pursue this alternate course of treatment. I want to thank those of you who have been slogging through all these posts for caring and for the prayers offered up on my behalf. Some of you have never even met me and yet, you pray for this wordy, ranting, curly-haired stranger from a far-off corner of the country. I cannot adequately express how humbled, encouraged, and loved I feel. The Body of Christ is at work, even through a blog. Amazing.
No one but God knows what the outcome of all this will be, but I have faith that the Lord will ultimately use this for good, as He often does with the things in our lives that we find unbearable while in the midst of them. Our God is great indeed.
Many thanks and many blessings.
28 March 2007
The Dangling Carrot
(If you need to catch up on the health issue I write of here, see a previous post)
I had it in my grasp: the answer. After ten months of stomachache, heartburn, and gutache, several doctor’s visits, five different prescriptions, sixteen pounds lost, and two visits to the emergency room, I had it. I had a piece of paper on it that said: this is what you have. This is the cause of your pain.
While grabbing a hold of this provided no immediate physical relief, it was a burden lifted to consider that my mysterious ailments had been brought out of hiding and identified.
Yesterday I found that the carrot I thought I had firmly in my grasp was a phantom, a vapor. How cruel to let the answers flirt with me for two weeks. At my follow-up appointment on March 27, the doctor yanked the carrot out of sight, telling me that everything looks “perfectly healthy and normal”.
Huh? Did I not have a piece of paper on my fridge stating otherwise?
“Do you want to treat this?” he asked me.“Yes, this is extraordinarily difficult to live with,” was my answer. I made no effort to mask my incredulity at the question.
He says that he believes I have a spastic stomach (which does not take a medical degree to identify; I could have easily told him that myself) and that it needed help to relax. Before I had a chance to ask, I was handed my sixth prescription since this ordeal started and advised that if it didn’t help in a week or two, I was to call and speak with one of his nurses. The time it took for the nurse to take my vitals, to hear this information from the doctor, and to be on my way out spanned about four minutes.
Wha…? Do they take bets on how quickly they can cycle patients out of the office? I had heard this was par for the course with many physicians, especially specialists. Perhaps since my symptoms offered little in the way of anything interesting, I was to be scuttled along to make room for the next set of symptoms (otherwise known as a “patient”).
I had been wham-bam-and-thank-you-ma’amed. My head was spinning; this is not at all what I expected. I had at least hoped to discuss with him treatment for the conditions described on that piece of paper. What about that hiatal hernia? And the gastric mucosal atrophy? Do I have those, or don’t I?
This sort of treatment may make sense to someone in the medical profession, but I left that office scratching my head. Is this really what passes for so-called “healthcare” these days? Having always enjoyed a great state of health, this is the first time I had really encountered what those who are chronically sick must face on a regular basis: feeling like I’ve been reduced to a collection of symptoms; feeling like every pain simply has a new prescription thrown at it; feeling a little deprived of hope, a little disempowered, and a whole lot frustrated.
I wish I had been more adamant with him and insisted that he tell me if the conditions described on that sheet were in fact present realities for me, or whether these were merely initial findings that he had later concluded were false. I wish I knew.
I really don’t have anything against modern medicine, but the more I am in and out of these offices, the more disillusioned I am becoming with how it is practiced. I am not expecting these visits to double as a therapy session, but why can I not have the room to say, “this is how the pain is interrupting my life. I simply want to return to my life”?
It makes me want to stand up and scream: I am more than my medical chart! These symptoms come in a body, and with that body a whole person is attached! I have people I love, things I want to do and love to do, a job, goals to accomplish! Being in a consistently compromised state of health compromises my ability to live fully! Are these things not important?
So I left the medical office yesterday and got the prescription filled. I came home and defiantly set that bottle next to the others. I looked at my mini-pharmacy and thought, there they are: five orange bottles, each of which at one point offered me the hope of relief, if not returned health (one that had been previously prescribed is no longer part of my regimen). The contents of these bottles have not provided me with anything resembling wellness, so my skepticism runs deep as to whether this sixth will be the magical missing link. In fact, I’ve stopped taking most of them since it seems pointless to pump my body full of synthetic drugs that have fallen far short of achieving the purpose for which they were designed.
I have decided that a fresh perspective is needed. I called today and made an appointment for next week with a naturopath (read about I really am at a loss as how to conclude all this, as I have arrived at no conclusions myself. The answers I thought I had have been replaced by more questions. I feel small, frustrated, angry, a little scared, and a lot like crying. Was it not just a couple weeks ago that after so much waiting, God gave me a long hoped-for answer? I suppose there are lessons even in this: trusting, waiting, waiting, waiting, kneeling with open hands.
I cling firmly to the knowledge that He who made me also holds me fast and trust that perhaps someday, He will use what I currently see as a terrific mess to be a blessing to someone else who needs it.
09 March 2007
What the Endoscopy Revealed
On Wednesday, March 7 I had an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. This is a procedure in which a small, lighted tube with a camera is inserted through the throat to get a view of the upper digestive system. This includes the esophagus, stomach, and the upper portion of the small intestine. Because prior tests had revealed nothing out of the ordinary, the question of whether or not anything would be found this time nagged and niggled at me.
After being wheeled into the procedure room and being hooked up to oxygen and the appropriate monitors, I was given intravenous drugs to put me in a state of consciousness where I was essentially asleep, but able to respond to instructions to assist with the treatment (such as putting my mouth around a plastic ring to keep from biting on the tube, and subsequently swallowing the endoscope to help guide it through my digestive tract). The last thing I remember after being given the intravenous drugs is waking up in the recovery room about an hour later.
I have a follow-up appointment on March 27, but I was given a letter from the doctor containing his findings: I have a hiatal hernia and gastric mucosal atrophy.
Gastric mucosal atrophy is a condition in which the mucous membrane layer of the stomach has become chronically inflamed due to gastritis. This condition can result in a shrinking of the peptic glands and consequently, a lack of digestive juices. This makes it difficult to digest food and move it through the stomach normally.
There is a lot of helpful information and diagrams on the Mayo Clinic’s website about hiatal hernia (to give credit where it is properly due, the information in the following paragraph is summarized & quoted from the article in the link provided at the beginning of this paragraph; the diagram is from this site as well). In short, the esophagus (food pipe) passes through an opening in the diaphragm called the hiatus. Hiatal hernias (or, “hiatus hernias”) occur when the surrounding muscle tissue becomes weak and the stomach pushes up through the hiatus so that a portion of the stomach is above the diaphragm.
After being wheeled into the procedure room and being hooked up to oxygen and the appropriate monitors, I was given intravenous drugs to put me in a state of consciousness where I was essentially asleep, but able to respond to instructions to assist with the treatment (such as putting my mouth around a plastic ring to keep from biting on the tube, and subsequently swallowing the endoscope to help guide it through my digestive tract). The last thing I remember after being given the intravenous drugs is waking up in the recovery room about an hour later.
I have a follow-up appointment on March 27, but I was given a letter from the doctor containing his findings: I have a hiatal hernia and gastric mucosal atrophy.
Gastric mucosal atrophy is a condition in which the mucous membrane layer of the stomach has become chronically inflamed due to gastritis. This condition can result in a shrinking of the peptic glands and consequently, a lack of digestive juices. This makes it difficult to digest food and move it through the stomach normally.
There is a lot of helpful information and diagrams on the Mayo Clinic’s website about hiatal hernia (to give credit where it is properly due, the information in the following paragraph is summarized & quoted from the article in the link provided at the beginning of this paragraph; the diagram is from this site as well). In short, the esophagus (food pipe) passes through an opening in the diaphragm called the hiatus. Hiatal hernias (or, “hiatus hernias”) occur when the surrounding muscle tissue becomes weak and the stomach pushes up through the hiatus so that a portion of the stomach is above the diaphragm.
“Ordinarily, the diaphragm is aligned with the lower esophageal sphincter, which relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow into your stomach when you swallow. The diaphragm supports and puts pressure on the sphincter to keep it closed when you're not swallowing. But a hiatal hernia raises the sphincter above the diaphragm, reducing pressure on the valve. This permits the sphincter muscle to open at the wrong time, allowing stomach acid to back up into the esophagus.”
The herniated portion of the stomach can become a reservoir for stomach acid, causing it to back up into the esophagus. With a sphincter that is not closing properly, the result is often gastroesophogeal reflux disease (or GERD), a condition I have already been diagnosed with.
I have yet to find out the severity of my condition; I have no idea how large the hernia is, or to what degree the gastric mucosa is damaged. As anyone who searches medical websites knows, it is good for general information, but not for self-diagnosis. I must wait to discuss the particulars of all this with my physician until my follow-up appointment on March 27. At this point, I am glad that what I’ve been experiencing over the last several months does, in fact, have a name. I look forward to discussing treatment options with my physician and Lord-willing, finding relief.
If I may be so bold, I have found a particular kinship with the apostle Paul in all this. While I have experienced nothing like the revelation he describes in 2 Corinthians 12, I am beginning to lay hold of the calling for which Christ formed me. I find I identify in some small way with his “thorn in [the] flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment [him]” (v 7).
I have yet to find out the severity of my condition; I have no idea how large the hernia is, or to what degree the gastric mucosa is damaged. As anyone who searches medical websites knows, it is good for general information, but not for self-diagnosis. I must wait to discuss the particulars of all this with my physician until my follow-up appointment on March 27. At this point, I am glad that what I’ve been experiencing over the last several months does, in fact, have a name. I look forward to discussing treatment options with my physician and Lord-willing, finding relief.
If I may be so bold, I have found a particular kinship with the apostle Paul in all this. While I have experienced nothing like the revelation he describes in 2 Corinthians 12, I am beginning to lay hold of the calling for which Christ formed me. I find I identify in some small way with his “thorn in [the] flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment [him]” (v 7).
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (vv 8-10, NIV).
I have pleaded with the Lord to take this away. But in His infinite wisdom, perfect will, and His ceaseless love, He has chosen to allow me to learn the depths to which His grace is sufficient. I am only a novice where such grace is concerned, but my prayer is that whether by my healing or by bearing with my own thorn, that the glory of God will be made manifest in my body.
I will provide updates as they become available.
I will provide updates as they become available.
God's grace is sufficient! I thank you friends, for your prayers and encouragement.
21 February 2007
Gastrointestinal Update
Yesterday I was finally able to see my gastroenterologist, Dr. Stiner (for those of you needing to catch up, click here & here for a description of my stomach troubles). As expected, the appointment was brief as we went over the types of symptoms I had been experiencing & describing at length how those were affecting me.
Sadly, I wasn't surprised to see that when they weighed me in, I had lost an additional 3 pounds since I was last weighed at the doctor at the end of December (this makes a total of 12 pounds lost since this ordeal began back in June; 10 of these pounds have been since November 2006). If you haven't seen me since my college days, I had already shed a few pounds & pant sizes from working out regularly & good, healthy eating. I maintained a healthy weight for years until the stomach troubles started. With my DNA, I never thought I'd have the problem of not being able to keep the weight on! It concerns me since my body may not be absorbing nutrition from the food I eat & whatever my condition is also has resulted in a greatly decreased appetite.
I have been scheduled for an Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy on March 7 (two weeks from today). Basically, they will give me some drugs to knock me out, take a tube with a camera & go through my esophagus to get a view of the whole upper GI tract (this includes the esophagus, stomach, and the upper portion of the small intestine). This way they can see any lesions, ulcers, or other abnormalities that could be causing the stomach pain I've been experiencing over the last several months. This should only take about 45 minutes to an hour after which someone will be driving me home. I will be taking the following two days off of work since I tend to stay loopy longer than the average patient after taking narcotics!
Sadly, I wasn't surprised to see that when they weighed me in, I had lost an additional 3 pounds since I was last weighed at the doctor at the end of December (this makes a total of 12 pounds lost since this ordeal began back in June; 10 of these pounds have been since November 2006). If you haven't seen me since my college days, I had already shed a few pounds & pant sizes from working out regularly & good, healthy eating. I maintained a healthy weight for years until the stomach troubles started. With my DNA, I never thought I'd have the problem of not being able to keep the weight on! It concerns me since my body may not be absorbing nutrition from the food I eat & whatever my condition is also has resulted in a greatly decreased appetite.
I have been scheduled for an Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy on March 7 (two weeks from today). Basically, they will give me some drugs to knock me out, take a tube with a camera & go through my esophagus to get a view of the whole upper GI tract (this includes the esophagus, stomach, and the upper portion of the small intestine). This way they can see any lesions, ulcers, or other abnormalities that could be causing the stomach pain I've been experiencing over the last several months. This should only take about 45 minutes to an hour after which someone will be driving me home. I will be taking the following two days off of work since I tend to stay loopy longer than the average patient after taking narcotics!
He listed a few multi-syllabic medical terms indicating what he thinks it could be given a description of my symptoms, but the forthcoming tests will really be the only indication of what's really going on down there.
I will keep you all updated as I found out more!
12 January 2007
Postponed
Due to the inclement weather we’ve had here recently, my appointment with the gastroenterologist on January 11 was canceled. The office called me today to reschedule.
My new appointment is on February 20. Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile know I have been dealing with this ailment on & off since May/June of 2006 (my first symptoms popped up 3 1/2 years ago). It was at the beginning of November 2006 that my symptoms became too severe to ignore & were not responding to any of the medication I was taking. My January 11 appointment was scheduled shortly after Thanksgiving. I must now wait another five and a half weeks before I can get in.
I understand that the severe weather was beyond anyone’s control. I recognize that I am not the only patient this has impinged upon, & I’m reasonably certain that I am not the only one who is unhappy about it.
I’m doing my best to trust God in this, to say “ may it be as You have said”, but the news is still fresh & I feel like this is a tremendous setback. Simply put, I am worn out with being sick, weary of waiting, and drained by the unpredictable & varying symptoms I’m experiencing.
As the news settles in, it is my prayer that I will trust God’s hand in all of this & trust that there is a bigger picture I am simply too shortsighted to see. I pray that this may be a "when I am weak, then He is strong" experience.
I am not there yet, but by His grace, I will be soon.
My new appointment is on February 20. Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile know I have been dealing with this ailment on & off since May/June of 2006 (my first symptoms popped up 3 1/2 years ago). It was at the beginning of November 2006 that my symptoms became too severe to ignore & were not responding to any of the medication I was taking. My January 11 appointment was scheduled shortly after Thanksgiving. I must now wait another five and a half weeks before I can get in.
I understand that the severe weather was beyond anyone’s control. I recognize that I am not the only patient this has impinged upon, & I’m reasonably certain that I am not the only one who is unhappy about it.
I’m doing my best to trust God in this, to say “ may it be as You have said”, but the news is still fresh & I feel like this is a tremendous setback. Simply put, I am worn out with being sick, weary of waiting, and drained by the unpredictable & varying symptoms I’m experiencing.
As the news settles in, it is my prayer that I will trust God’s hand in all of this & trust that there is a bigger picture I am simply too shortsighted to see. I pray that this may be a "when I am weak, then He is strong" experience.
I am not there yet, but by His grace, I will be soon.
22 December 2006
Cheer-Up Squad
When Kaari (my sister) found out I had taken myself to the ER, she correctly guessed that I needed some cheering up, & perhaps an opportunity for some catharsis. When I came home to my apartment, I found ballons taped to my cabinets, a magazine to brush up on celebrity gossip, & a pomegranate fizzy bath tablet to help me relax. I was given strict instrucions to pop the balloon that represented my stomach, absorb myself in someone else's life for awhile, & to take a nice relaxing bath. I am so thankful to have so many friends & family supporting me and caring for me in their own unique ways. Here are some pics of what Kaari did. :o)
21 December 2006
E.R. Diaries
Yesterday, my stomach pain got bad enough that I went to the E.R. at about 1 pm. Thankfully, I got admitted almost immediately (I got triaged, checked in, & in a room in 5 minutes flat). My blood pressure was through the roof (155/96) & they took blood & urine samples right away. An ultrasound was ordered so they could check to see if there was anything wrong with my gallbladder & I was given a non-narcotic for the pain.
I have to tell you, donning a hospital gown & being rolled around on that bed from room to room was a humbling experience. Having always enjoyed an excellent state of health, I am finding being sick (at least like this) is really a foreign concept to me. Finding out what’s wrong won’t be easy & requires that I put up with waiting, tests, some pain, & a long list of unanswered questions. I am feeling depleted, physically, emotionally, & spiritually.
All the waiting time in the ER gave me ample opportunity to reflect & pray. I trust the Lord to see me through to the other side of this more like He wants me to be, but I just don’t know what to do when there is so much pain that it stops me cold. I feel like it’s making me into this sick, tired person who just needs to rest all the time; I feel like it’s changing my relationships, changing the way I work, & depriving me of the ability to do the things I love, like working out & going to yoga. I’m just not sure how to cope with that loss right now, but I suppose I must learn to trust the Lord even in this.
The ultrasound showed no gallstones, so that is one more thing that can be crossed off the list of possibilities. I have been given a prescription to handle the pain & another to help move food out of the stomach (since just about everything I eat ends up feeling like a big brick in there), but am getting some conflicting advice about the best meds to be taking to deal with the issue at hand.
So … the saga continues. Thank you so much to those who are praying. May you all be blessed!!
I have to tell you, donning a hospital gown & being rolled around on that bed from room to room was a humbling experience. Having always enjoyed an excellent state of health, I am finding being sick (at least like this) is really a foreign concept to me. Finding out what’s wrong won’t be easy & requires that I put up with waiting, tests, some pain, & a long list of unanswered questions. I am feeling depleted, physically, emotionally, & spiritually.
All the waiting time in the ER gave me ample opportunity to reflect & pray. I trust the Lord to see me through to the other side of this more like He wants me to be, but I just don’t know what to do when there is so much pain that it stops me cold. I feel like it’s making me into this sick, tired person who just needs to rest all the time; I feel like it’s changing my relationships, changing the way I work, & depriving me of the ability to do the things I love, like working out & going to yoga. I’m just not sure how to cope with that loss right now, but I suppose I must learn to trust the Lord even in this.
The ultrasound showed no gallstones, so that is one more thing that can be crossed off the list of possibilities. I have been given a prescription to handle the pain & another to help move food out of the stomach (since just about everything I eat ends up feeling like a big brick in there), but am getting some conflicting advice about the best meds to be taking to deal with the issue at hand.
So … the saga continues. Thank you so much to those who are praying. May you all be blessed!!
06 December 2006
Back to the Doctor I Go
Today will be my third (or fourth?) doctor's visit in about 2 months as it relates to my mysterious stomach pain. The last time I went round this merry-go-round was in June/July. I was put on Protonix (a proton-pump inhibitor generally prescribed for acid reflux conditions such as GERD) which seemed to help ... after I was taking it for 5-6 weeks ... and the results lasted for about two months.
I went back to the doctor on Nov 22, having had the same symptoms again for about 2 weeks. Symptoms tend to be icky & I won't go into great detail, but it's like having a stabbing stomach ache for a month, accompanied by heartburn and lots of other fun things.
They tested for helicobacter pylori (aka "h. pylori"), a fierce bacteria that causes 90% of ulcers (think of how gnarly this stuff must be to survive in stomach acid). My test came back negative. My feelings were mixed as in GREAT!! I don't have a vicious ulcer-causing bacteria, but CRAP!! I still don't have any idea what's going on here. I was initially told to "wait & see" how I did on the Protonix.
This is my third time round with this ailment & the proton-pump inhibitor should be helping by now (if acid reflux were really the problem). But it's not, so I am going back as these painful symptoms are of a different breed. I was in such pain yesterday, I was in tears. The "wait & see" approach clearly isn't appropriate anymore.
I am learning (for myself, and vicariously) that the patient has to be proactive when it comes to healthcare. If you know something is not right, you must knock down whatever doors you have to until you get the appropriate care. Patients need to speak up; it is your body. You know better than anyone what is or is not right.
UPDATE 07 Dec 2006:
I had a really good appointment with my doctor yesterday. She felt so badly that I was back & in as much pain as I was. I have a really good rapport with her, so I knew I wouldn’t have to do much insisting in terms of what I needed for medical care.
She got a very thorough list of my symptoms (it is just weird to talk about bowel function, even with a doctor) & palpitated my belly to see exactly where it was hurting. She knows all about my family history with this kind of ailment & is fairly certain it’s not gall bladder related (I have my mother's side of the family to thank for tummy issues). They did a CBC and blood test for liver function. My white count was normal, but my blood pressure was through the roof as I had been in a fair amount of pain for 2-3 days. Tests for liver function are forthcoming. She also gave me a GI cocktail (a mixture consisting of lidocaine & an antacid), making my stomach feel happy (because it was numb!) for about 30-45 minutes. :o)
She’s taken me off the Protonix & has put me on Prevacid instead and added another drug called Carafate to help ease my stomach. It is often prescribed for ulcer patients (not sure if that is what I'm dealing with or not) & she said it basically coats & protects the stomach walls from further irritation which in my case, are obviously very irritated & inflamed. This should (Lord-willing) buy me some time until I can see the gastroenterologist on January 11.
My doc said it’s definitely a concern not only that the symptoms have returned, but that they’re getting more severe in someone my age & overall general health. I’m still in pain of course, but I really feel good that more is being done to move this along. She said if my symptoms got funky or grew even more severe, not to hesitate to go to emergency if that’s what I needed, or to call her no matter the hour, even if it is a weekend. I have a lot of peace knowing I'm in the hands of some good physicians, & the Great Physician Himself!
I went back to the doctor on Nov 22, having had the same symptoms again for about 2 weeks. Symptoms tend to be icky & I won't go into great detail, but it's like having a stabbing stomach ache for a month, accompanied by heartburn and lots of other fun things.
They tested for helicobacter pylori (aka "h. pylori"), a fierce bacteria that causes 90% of ulcers (think of how gnarly this stuff must be to survive in stomach acid). My test came back negative. My feelings were mixed as in GREAT!! I don't have a vicious ulcer-causing bacteria, but CRAP!! I still don't have any idea what's going on here. I was initially told to "wait & see" how I did on the Protonix.
This is my third time round with this ailment & the proton-pump inhibitor should be helping by now (if acid reflux were really the problem). But it's not, so I am going back as these painful symptoms are of a different breed. I was in such pain yesterday, I was in tears. The "wait & see" approach clearly isn't appropriate anymore.
I am learning (for myself, and vicariously) that the patient has to be proactive when it comes to healthcare. If you know something is not right, you must knock down whatever doors you have to until you get the appropriate care. Patients need to speak up; it is your body. You know better than anyone what is or is not right.
UPDATE 07 Dec 2006:
I had a really good appointment with my doctor yesterday. She felt so badly that I was back & in as much pain as I was. I have a really good rapport with her, so I knew I wouldn’t have to do much insisting in terms of what I needed for medical care.
She got a very thorough list of my symptoms (it is just weird to talk about bowel function, even with a doctor) & palpitated my belly to see exactly where it was hurting. She knows all about my family history with this kind of ailment & is fairly certain it’s not gall bladder related (I have my mother's side of the family to thank for tummy issues). They did a CBC and blood test for liver function. My white count was normal, but my blood pressure was through the roof as I had been in a fair amount of pain for 2-3 days. Tests for liver function are forthcoming. She also gave me a GI cocktail (a mixture consisting of lidocaine & an antacid), making my stomach feel happy (because it was numb!) for about 30-45 minutes. :o)
She’s taken me off the Protonix & has put me on Prevacid instead and added another drug called Carafate to help ease my stomach. It is often prescribed for ulcer patients (not sure if that is what I'm dealing with or not) & she said it basically coats & protects the stomach walls from further irritation which in my case, are obviously very irritated & inflamed. This should (Lord-willing) buy me some time until I can see the gastroenterologist on January 11.
My doc said it’s definitely a concern not only that the symptoms have returned, but that they’re getting more severe in someone my age & overall general health. I’m still in pain of course, but I really feel good that more is being done to move this along. She said if my symptoms got funky or grew even more severe, not to hesitate to go to emergency if that’s what I needed, or to call her no matter the hour, even if it is a weekend. I have a lot of peace knowing I'm in the hands of some good physicians, & the Great Physician Himself!
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