Similar situation being I don't have insurance.
HERE'S MY STORY:
In December of 2010, I noticed minor blood (i know this sounds gross, but so it is) in my stools. I played it off, through fear.
It got worse.
In March, of 2011, I took my self to our family doctor, and he treated me for internal hemorrhoids.
That didn't fix it.
I.......
1. don't have insurance
2. don't/ didn't want to know if I have cancer. (still don't, I swear to THIS DAY, if I have cancer, I will opt out of doing chemo/radiation).
3. Didn't have the time off work
4. Was afraid of knowing what it was.
5. Thought "this will go away, surely eventually".
So, ...life proceeded. I was sleeping alot. ALOT. Like I would sleep until 11:00 a.m. (after my job expired). *I thought I was just catching up on lost sleep from working for the past 18 years* I would then take a nap with my son at 2:00 pm.m, and sleep through supper sometimes. (don't know what I would have done had I not had my spouse around. : (
With all that tiredness, in November 2011 I got sick with the stomach bug/flu! (or whatever it was, in hindsight it was probably my condition worsening) I was puking so often, with rampid diarrhea, (bloody might I add), and NO ENERGY what so ever. This lasted about two weeks.
Around November 14th, I dragged myself into the dr. office, and literally told him, somethings not right, i don't feel well, I'm sick. He couldn't figure out. He noticed my heart rate was fast, and my breathing was way low. So, he sent me over for xrays, and blood test. This was late in the p.m.
The next morning on November 15th, he called me on his day off, to direct me to the Emergency Room in Murray KY, where there was a Dr. Dawdy waiting (gasterologist) on me, with a room in the hospital as well. My xrays were fine, however my blood levels were at a 4.8 (should be at least a 9, preferably at a 12! So....I made arrangements for my daughter after school, and my son as well, and Nathan drove me to Murray.
I was given no choice, but to accept a blood transfusion. The doctor ordered two pints of blood, and tests the next morning.
The next morning, November 16th, Dr. Dawdy came in and said i was safe enough to do a endoscopy, but that my blood levels still weren't up to par. After the endoscopy, I would receive two more pints of blood. (Four pints of blood people, ....the human body only holds 7! NO WONDER I WAS SO TIRED and sleeping all the time. I was EXTREMELY Anemic, and from the blood loss. Who without a medical degree would have put those two together.? Ok....perhaps I should have since I have a Nutrition degree...but I tell ya....being a tired Mommy was consuming my life!)
The Endoscopy revealed 5 Duodenal Ulcers in my stomach. None of which were the cause for the bleeding. So, a colonoscopy was suggested. (thankfully enough, this doctor REALLY worked with me, on he price of this procedure, only charged me $250. Wow! )
On Monday November 21st, I went for the Colon scope, and I was a nervous wreck. I REALLY didn't want to know what it would reveal. I feared the big C word. Terribly.
What is the culprit? The culprit is not curable, but treatable. Treatable with episodes of flare ups. (It IS curable, if the colon is completely removed...I'm NOT doing that). So, this is something I'll have to live with. Ulcerative Colitis. Glad to know it wasn't Cancer...but worried sick about what to do with it.
Dr. Dawdy sent me home with a few prescriptions, told me to wait on more after the biopsies returned. (to see if it was Bacterial UC, ....and it wasn't). Then he sent me on to my family dr.
Family Dr., bless his heart, did all he knew to do. Put me a high dose of prednisone, and then a drug called Methotrexate (a chemo) drug, which scared me to no avail. I didn't like taking that. :( The UC itself, is an Auto Immune Disorder (not disease), so taking the prednisone really made me a GERM MAGNET!
The first of December for 3 weeks, I had the flu again....received tami flu, and the other 3 in the family were prophylactic treated. All the vomiting, I lost my voice, ....(JUST NOW getting it back). Still experiencing the bloody stools, (loose might I add), added to another summation to the equation.
Hemorrhoids!!! 3 weeks of them. Never had them before, yes I took myself to the dr., and had them diagnosed. I went two weeks, and asked my Dr. for some lortabs! Also in that time frame, my blood levels were checked, and I needed to be on Iron supplements, as they were getting low again. NOWAY was I taking them to get constipated with hemorrhoids.!
On January 11th, I went to see a Gastroenterologist, ..one who can perform surgeries, AND do more than the gastrologist did/does. He took me off the Methotrexate, thank goodness. Asked me about being on Iron pills. He got a little upset with me not having taking them, and told me, ....if I am going to treat you, you have to be compliant, or you can choose not to be, and die.
WHOA!!! I'm liking this Dr. , he's straight forward, and very adamit! (however that word is spelled).
I have non-specific pancolitic Ulcerative Colitis. I am now taking 325mg of Iron, 30 mg of prednisone (to be tapered once a month), Asacol HD, (6 pills a day), and and antibiotic for my inflamed intestines (3 a day).
Who'da thunk that at 33 years old I'd be so tired, and on so many meds, wondering if they are going to even help out my condition. ?
So, ...that's where I am. Still tired. Still bleeding. and still trying to figure out how to put into remission this disease. So, if you catch me saying no to something I normally love to do, ...please understand that its NOT a offense toward you, or something I want to quit. I just literaly can't do any extra.
If you notice you need medical help, ....GO to the Dr. ....EVEN if you don't have health insurance. Go. There is NO PRICE to your health. Especially if you have children. I've lost so much time and fun with them, it's not even funny. (this brings about a whole-nother blog).
Have questions, email me. or call me. or comment here...and I'll get to ya!
No comments:
Post a Comment