Questions Answered, some anyway

So, last I wrote I had a handful of questions and complaints. And, well, as time passes, I'm taming the complaints, and getting some answers. I still have a number of questions, though, but I'm trying to patient about those until I see my doc for the follow-up next week.

But, I will sure some good news/answers that I have received. My biggest complaint, you will recall, had to do with ibuprofen. And, admittedly, I am still lamenting its loss from my diet. However, I have found that acetaminophen actually helps more than I'd expected. I'm glad for something to help with pain in any case, even if something to reduce inflammation would be better. To that end, though, I have also found help and am grateful for the internet and friends for the answers to these prayers. I found a web page with an article that listed a number of pretty common things that help with inflammation, namely ginger, turmeric, and rosemary; fish oil, Vit. C and Vit. E, and a few less common things as well. But these I'd heard of and figured it wouldn't be too heard to implement them into my diet, especially since my primary doctor wants me eating more fish anyway.

So, initially I planned just incorporate them naturally into my diet and just bought some of the herbs and actual fish to eat. But as the week has worn on and I come to recognize the difficult of incorporating these things into the quick diet of a breakfast on the run and lunch munched on at my desk through the afternoon, I've realized that only having these things for dinner and not even always at that, is probably not going to cut it. I hadn't made any definite resolutions with this realization, but with it in mind, when my friend B... told me about a time when she'd had an inflamed thyroid and was encouraged to take 6 fish oil capsule-things a day, I realize I should probably by some of those fat pills rather than relying on just eating fish for dinner.

The immediate results of these changes, of course, have yet to make themselves as apparent as I would like, but I have confidence they will prove for positive changes in my diet. And I'm already loving the taste of turmeric mixed with thyme. I'd heard of turmeric before, and had of course tasted it in foods before without knowing it, but I'm glad now to discover it more completely. I found, but didn't buy, a supplement that is entirely turmeric and am now wondering if that might be better than fish oil--it will probably taste better in any case, just not sure if it's as effective.

I also have to give Kudos to my mom for realizing that I was not getting sufficient vitamins and minerals in my diet, which I was kind of realizing before though not able to put all the pieces together. And well, she recommended first a Multi-Vit supplement, which I'd recently read was completely ineffective, but then she suggested Ensure and so I've started drinking that pretty regularly and found a good increase in my energy level. Way to go, Mom!

And so, now I should apologize to any of you who thought you were following a great blog about books, because it hasn't really gone in that direction, has it? Obviously, my dietary dilemmas are top on my mind at the time, and reading about these things has been my most interesting study. However, never fret, because I still love fiction, and have continued to read a healthy dose of it. In fact, if you're looking for something good, I've just finished the trilogy of the Mysterious Benedict Society and would very highly recommend it. I actually listened to the whole thing rather than reading it, and really love Del Roy's voice for it. It kind of reminds me of Pres. Monson. He has his own unique voice--you would never mistake them--but the rhythm and pacing of his inflections are very similar, as well as his having a very kind old man's voice.

The Latest Scoop

It doesn't sound like that creative a title, I know. But, it fits, actually, since I've been eating a bit of scoops--of fat free frozen yogurt that is. And why? might you ask. Because, well, because of a number of things. It's kind of a long story, but today marked a significant point in the progression of things, so I feel a greater liberty to discuss the story now, though of course, it is still in progress.

So, you might remember reading a little while ago about my supposition about having a yeast allergy. And if I would have written earlier I would have said, "woops, I was wrong." I went to an allergist and they told me that no, I was not allergic to yeast. They thought I had Gerd--basically, acid reflux. They suggested that I take Prevacid, and so I did, even though the diagnosis didn't seem to completely jive and the medicine packaging said only to take it if you were having heart burn three or more times a week, which I wasn't, at the time. I wouldn't even have called it heartburn, just a feeling like I had a hard time breathing when I ate bread, and a few times when I ate rotisserie chicken. Not other chicken, just rotisserie chicken. And I eat rotisserie chicken so seldom because it's expensive, that I'd forgotten about it until I was at the allergist. Anyway, all very curious, I know. I did have some other symptoms, too, but I'll spare you those for now.

I had had some heartburn, quite a bit, actually, last summer, when I had bought some ultra lactase instead of the regular kind for my lactose intolerance. And the heartburn only came after taking a prescription that I've been taking every day for the past six years. (Well, minus a few months to be totally honest, when I tried going off of it but discovered that wasn't a good idea.) In any case, I thought that was just a bad chemical reaction or something. When I went back to regular lactase, or only took half an ultra, the heartburn went away.

Anyway, so I took the Prevacid, and within a few days of taking it, it seemed that wasn't such a smart decision. I got sicker than I had been before, with light headedness and stronger shortness of breath, and even more tired, if you can believe that. So I stopped and called the GI reference my doctor had given me and started to keep a food journal.

Well, not along after that, I did start getting heartburn again, and not related to any lactase-taking. And I started getting some other symptoms in the lower digestive tract, or they got significantly worse I should say, the details of which I'll spare you. I also had a recurrent sore throat, and headaches and stuff, too. Really, it was quite messy. So I became quite glad that I had made that GI appointment.

However, it was still a couple weeks to wait, and then, even at the appointment, the GI doctor wasn't able to give a definitive diagnosis, though he thought it sounded like Gerd, too. He also thought I might have another cyst, and suggested I see my gynecologist. But in the meantime, he scheduled an endoscopy for me, because it was quite clear there were digestive problems regardless of any cyst presence.

(Fortunately, I was able to see my gynecologist two days after my appointment with the GI, and she confirmed that I do not have another cyst. She also did not think it likely that my digestive symptoms were related to my endometriosis. So, at least that was cleared up.)

But the wait for an answer was still on, and the appointment for the endoscopy was first scheduled for the 29th of June, which was frightfully long to wait. Fortunately, they told me I could call on Monday to see if there were any cancellations. And when I called, there was one--for the 15th, then a little over a week later. But now, today!

Drumroll, are you ready? It's kind of yucky, so you can go away now if you want. The diagnosis based on the EGD is that I have two small ulcers in my stomach and eosinophilic esophagitis. Lovely, huh?  They also took biopsies, so I suppose there might be more later, but let's hope this is all.

What are these things? you're asking. Or maybe not. Ulcers, well, you know what those are. They're kind of scary sounding to me, though. I have been doing quite a bit of internet searching to find out what might be wrong and to figure out how to eat and all that. And the thought of an ulcer had occurred to me, and I remember even searching with trepidation, hoping that would not be the case. Why? I don't know. I guess it's one of those horrible words you grow up hearing in books and TV and whatnot, so I'm preconditioned not to like the sound of it. But in reality, how is it really worse than something I hadn't heard of as a kid? Like eosinophilic esophagitis? That one should probably be a bit scarier. Well, I don't know which is scarier.

But this ee thing, what is that? I was in a bit of a semi-conscious state when the doctor told me after the procedure, so I did a little research, and it turns out it's an inflamed esophagus, an auto-immune disease, and caused by an unknown allergen. It's also related to Candida, or yeast allergy. So you see, I wasn't crazy! It's not exactly the same thing as a yeast allergy, so maybe, I'm hoping, I can eventually eat yeasted things again. But we'll see. It's also related to Gerd, so acid reflux is a symptom.

Which brings me to the point that, fortunately, the treatment for both ulcers and ee is about the same. Soft and  mild foods for awhile, take Prilosec, related to Prevacid, so I'm really hoping I have a better reaction, and discontinue NSAIDs.

Yes, I can't take ibuprofen any more. That was probably worse than hearing I had those abominable ulcers. No more ibuprofen? How can I manage? Maybe some of you are die hard anti-pill people and you don't think that's a big deal. But you probably don't have endometriosis and arthritis (only diagnosed in my foot, not my hands, fortunately, though it does make exercise kind of painful). If you do, please share your secrets, because this is really killing me. For both of those diagnoses, both doctors' suggestion was Advil, as many other doctors have suggested for various other pains I've run across in my life. Doctors seem to like to tell you to take Advil. But now I have one telling me to stop, and for a very good reason. I don't want any more ulcers, and I want these to go away.

I'm not addicted to ibuprofen. I have actually gone weeks without taking it. And I even try to postpone taking it at times, even when I have pain, just to keep myself from overdoing it because I know it can cause stomach problems. But there are also periods of time when I have to take a good dose every day for a stretch. I've tried other painkillers. I had a very bad reaction to aspirin, and Aleve made me bloat something awful. Not that those matter. I can't take those any more either. I actually use topical analgesics, like sports cremes, pretty regularly, and they work okay. Not great, and nothing for headaches but they help a bit.  But Tylenol, the recommended alternative, or acetaminophen, has just never worked as well for me. And so if it doesn't work as well, will I be tempted to take more than I should and then have some other bad reaction to that?

Well, I irritate myself with too much negativity, and indeed there are some very positive things. But I needed to express those concerns in order to know how to turn them around, rather than being forced to ignore the negatives. I don't think that's helpful either.

So, for positive things:
1. The blessing I received comes back to comfort me that I'll be able to handle the changes in my life.
2. My family is very supportive and have been praying for me.
3. Supportive roommates, and much thanks to them for being willing to help me out so much.
4. Supportive friends at Church--and much thanks to Karen, the RS president for so cheerfully picking me up even though she wasn't familiar with the area, and for Marissa who was willing to.

5. I have only been working part-time, so I've been able to come home and rest, as I've needed to. 

And my supervisor at work has been supportive, even having some experience with Gerd--her husband, that is. And he actually doesn't take Prilosec, recommended by his first doctor, but instead found another doctor who's more homeopathic, like acupuncture. So that's actually a thought. I worry it might be kind of expensive, though, but maybe I'll try it. 

6. And of course, the list goes on and on. Somehow things will work out, with God's abundant mercy.