Medical update
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:11 am (Uncategorical)
It’s a little silly for me to post this on Monday, because I have a doctor appointment with a specialist on Tuesday. However, I have a feeling I won’t have many answers on Tuesday, so it can’t hurt to keep you in the loop.
You may recall that I have had episodes of severe (super severe) abdominal pain in the past few months. The last internal explosion landed me in the emergency room when my pain skyrocketed out of the 10-point pain scale all the way up to 11. I finally chose a doctor, got some lab work done, and have learned that my liver and pancreas are seriously malfunctioning.
My doctor wanted a $20 copay to give me her opinion. Of course, the Great and Powerful Dr. Google gave me his thoughts for free. If I were a betting lady (or, if one could actually make money on such things), I’d predict that I have pancreatitis that’s secondary to severe gall stones. There are several reasons for my amateur self-diagnosis, but we’ll know more tomorrow after I visit with a gastroenterologist. Cross your fingers that this process won’t be dragged on for 5 or 6 more weeks of overbooked doctors and time-consuming diagnostic tests.
In the meantime, I have been so terribly fatigued that I can barely keep my eyes open. I’ve literally slept 13-18 hours for the past 5 days. I’m now aware of a constant, low-grade abdominal pain that sometimes twinges up to a level 4 or 5 after eating. I’ve been instructed by my doctor, because of how high my liver enzymes are elevated, to “for the love of God not take any pain killers.” Let me tell you, that made last week’s 3-day migraine super fun.
Will keep you posted. If you think it’s anything but a dead or dying gallbladder, feel free to toss your hat in the ring!
Jen said,
September 22, 2008 at 7:58 am
I’ll leave the guessing to the doctors. Hope tomorrow’s appointment gives you the answers you want.
lilbet said,
September 22, 2008 at 8:35 am
Hey there!
Let us know what the doc says, but I’m a RN and I think your appraisal is probably right. The symptoms after eating (do you notice it more with high fat foods or cruciferous vegetables?). If so, that’s a ringing bell for gallstones.
My wish for you is that they do a thorough testing for you. So, ultrasound at the very least. Are you seeing a GI doc as well?
Feel better! I’ll be thinking of you.
Bet
TOWR said,
September 22, 2008 at 9:21 am
I’m so sorry. :( I hope they can diagnose you quickly and fix the problem even faster. Pain is NO GOOD.
MaryFran said,
September 22, 2008 at 9:28 am
Good luck with the doctor tomorrow! Keep us posted!
Amy said,
September 22, 2008 at 9:33 am
Dude, it sucks that you’re in so much pain. I hope you get some answers soon. Thinking of you!
mal said,
September 22, 2008 at 9:47 am
Bet,
I don’t really eat high fat foods at this point in my life, but I do eat lots of veggies — cruciferous and otherwise. My appointment on Tuesday is with a gastroenterologist. They actually did a series of ultrasounds on me, but were unable to find a gallbladder! Either it was in hiding, just waiting to attack — or already “dead” and contracted. Hopefully the GI doc tomorrow will be able to interpret those results and we can move to the action phase sooner than later.
To everyone else — thank you SO MUCH for the support.
Girl on Top said,
September 22, 2008 at 10:02 am
So sorry to hear that! Hope you feel better and will be able to know what it is. I hate having to wait and find out and then it’s always never a really sure thing so they give you a much of tests and then treat you with all sorts of stuff because they don’t know.
But hope you feel better!
vickie said,
September 23, 2008 at 3:46 am
good heavens!!!
hopefully they will get some answers/take action.
I can see why they want you to feel the pain -
and not mask it.
BUT WHAT A PAIN.
Please keep posting - so we know what is going on. . .
i i eee said,
September 23, 2008 at 8:45 am
Oh my goodness. I hope it is just a gallbladder issue–after having mine removed last week, I feel like the world is a wonderful place. A whole newww woorrrlllllld! If they can just remove your gallbladder, that’s seems like such a fairly quick fix. But freak, I hope they can at least find the dang thing! Even if it is something else, I wouldn’t doubt that your rogue gallbladder is somewhat guilty.
thinking of you….