Well, most of you know that I have struggled with stomach issues for many years and it's our hope that August 22, 2012 will mark the day that I will finally no longer have to deal with this issue. So to give a bit of a background for those that might not be aware of what I've been dealing with over the years I will start by stepping back a bit.
The first vivid memory of issues eating started back around the summer of 2002 I noticed every time I ate something I felt nauseous. There were times it didn't matter what it was. I went to several doctors and many had suspicions that it might be nerves or all these other issues (i.e. IBS, etc), but all tests showed nothing. I would follow doctor's instructions on diet, lifestyle, etc., but nothing seemed to work. I would find ways of managing through and there would be months at a time when things would seem to settle down, but for the most part I was always uncomfortable in my stomach and dreaded meal time.
I just lived with it until around 2008-2010 things just kept getting worst. I had test on my gallbladder and nothing ever showed to be an issue. Then December 2010 comes around and shortly after that I kept getting sicker and eating less and losing weight. Every time I would go to the doctor they would always chalk it up to losing my child and it must be nerves, it must be depression, etc. Really? Have you just completely lost the records from the previous years when my son was alive and well? How is it the moment they know about something emotional you go through that your physical problems must be due to your emotional status. Hmmmm.... Well, I was unfortunate enough to find my way to a GI doctor (I won't bother mentioning his name as that would not be right, but I would never recommend him if anyone specifically asked me about him). Anyway, I go to this doctor and as a new patient I complete my new patient paper work and of course they always ask the question about your children and if they are still alive, etc. Immediately he schedules me for an EGD (scope) and schedules surgery to remove my gallbladder. I was thrilled! I thought, finally, some relief! I have surgery October 2011 and almost immediately I get sicker. I can't keep anything down and I am hurting more than before I had the surgery. I call the doctor back and he tells me it is not surgery related and to go to my primary physician. Really? Well, I wasn't going back to my normal family doctor so I get yet another referral and just as I'm getting established with this doctor I get so sick that this doctor sends me to the ER. I'm dehydrated and apparently have a perforated bile duct (from surgery). It begins to heal itself, but while I have a few weeks of feeling decent, I still do not feel great. I continue seeing this new family doctor and he suspects there is more going on so he refers me to another GI doctor. Now, my family doctor is Dr. Bearden (and I just love him) and he refers me to Dr. Vinson. I told Tebo I did not want to mention losing Chad to this doctor for fear that he will immediately think that's what is wrong and I knew this was not the case. Dr. Vinson schedules me for several tests, but based on the results from a CT scan I had in the hospital he feels like I have scar tissue that has closed up my duodenum. (Ok, I had no clue what that was either, but basically it is an area that after your food enters your stomach it passes through the duodenum before entering into the intestines, this is also how you absorbs most of your nutrients). We go through the tests and he determines this is the case. I had scar tissue from a previous ulcer surgery back in 1997 that had grown up through the duodenum and wrapped around it and closed it off. It measured in the negative range the first time he went in. I had approximately 5 procedures to go into the hospital and have the scope down my throat for him to go in and stretch the duodenum (basically stretching/breaking the scar tissue to open the duodenum). This process failed. At this time I am basically on a mostly liquid diet. I would eat one meal a day of solid food and the other two meals would be a protein shake. This was manageable, but not ideal. I was struggling to maintain or gain weight and the doctor said that my only other option would be major surgery to bypass the duodenum. Well, I was not a fan of that option, but not going that route would have only resulted in me starving to death rather than improving. So, off to a surgeon we go...
Dr. Vinson sends me to Dr. Wood. We go in for a consult and needless to say I had lots of questions. Of course my first question was how many of these surgeries have you performed? His answer, none... Hmmmm... He did say however that he had done many surgeries in this area and he was confident he could take care of this for me. He would have to open me up to do the surgery (which now I'm so grateful for).
So this brings us to August 22nd. We go in and while I'm very nervous, I'm anxious to think this might finally be the thing that helps me eat like a "normal" person. Right after surgery there is no eating or drinking (the first 24 hours I believe), but honestly, that was the last thing I wanted. The first meal I did have (well, liquids) made me feel very sick and I just didn't handle it as well as I thought I would have. I was in the hospital for 6 days and had built up to cream of wheat and was handling that pretty well so they let us go home. I was a bit sore, but not in as much pain as you might have thought, but it was difficult to lay, sit, stand, or walk. My stomach was just super sore. Tebo did an amazing job of making sure I ate what I was suppose to and helping me get around the house and in and out of the bed. I couldn't have asked for more from him. He definitely takes his vows seriously for sickness and in health.
I will say that every time I feel really hungry and eat more than what I'm suppose to eat or eat something that really isn't soft/liquid, I pay for it. I'm just so tired of this mushy diet and would love to chew on something rather than sip it, but I know I have to be more patient and it will happen.
The long term goal obviously is that I will be able to eat like a normal person and not have the pain or sickness that goes along with the eating. It will be a very slow process to get there and as it's painful clear already, I'm not the most patient person, but in order for this to work properly and for me to truly get better, I have to do what the doctor says.
Apparently, after surgery, Dr. Wood determined that my issue was actually something he suspects I was born with rather than scar tissue. He said while it is very rare, it appears I was born with a webbing over my duodenum. I can only imagine that over time this webbing increased and ended up closing up the duodenum completely. There was no chance of anything else working to correct this issue so I am so thankful to first Dr. Bearden for taking my symptoms seriously and getting me in touch with Dr. Vinson who helped understand that there was an issue and getting me to Dr. Wood for the final (hopefully) surgery for this problem. To all those doctors who chose to just chalk it up to a grieving mother, shame on you! I could have just listened to you all and done nothing and most likely would not have survived this and while sometimes that option seems very tempting as it would give me the chance to be reunited with my son, it wasn't in God's plan yet. There is nothing more frustrating to anyone than for doctors to just assume someone is emotional and that is the reason for a physical illness. I know that does exist, but to just automatically assume that is the issue (especially when it's obvious this has been present well before losing my son). I would have probably been more likely to give up, but my husband would not allow it. He knew with all his heart that something was wrong. Even when I was beginning to think it was all in my head, he knew better. Thank you babe for believing in me and pushing me to get to the right doctors.
It's my hope and prayer that once I get through this recovery and I'm back to feeling like my old self again I will live a full and pain and nauseous free life.
I am currently on medical leave and will return to work hopefully in less than 6 weeks and by then I hope I will be eating and feeling like a "normal" person.
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