Sunday, July 31, 2011

Health Update

Dear Readers,
Have you been waiting with bated breath to find out the results of my fun tests from Wednesday?  I'm guessing you probably weren't lol but I'll pretend, just for a moment, that you were all on the edges of your seats!
The whole testing process was as pleasant as can be expected and the staff at the hospital was top-notch!
It was so funny--as I was wheeled into the procedure room and they hooked me  up to "my own private oxygen bar" (as the nurse called it--shower curtain flavor she said) the doctor asked me: "What's been going on?" I, rather stupidly I might add, replied,"Do you mean in general?" The doctor laughed,"Oh yeah, what'd you do last night, what's your favorite TV show, what are your hopes and dreams! Silly, I meant what brought you to my procedure room?"


That definitely lightened the mood and after describing my inability to eat or drink and the constant acid reflux and heartburn I was experiencing despite taking Prilosec twice a day and chugging Maalox like a frat guy chugs cheap beer, they paused to make sure I was aware of the procedure they were doing, etc and then they administered some sedating medication and put a camera down my throat...and up elsewhere! Touchdown for the doctor!!!
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When I woke up in the recovery room the first thing I asked the nice nurse as I opened my eyes was: "am I a hypochondriac?"
She looked at me quizzically and responded: "No there were some findings. Your father is on his way. You should rest."

Later, when my dad strode into the room, seeming to fill up the whole space with his tall frame and air of authority, my doctor came in with my test results and nifty pictures of my stomach and intestines. She spoke to my dad and my father complimented her on the recovery facilities. She told me dad how much sedation medication she gave me and my dad gave a low whistle and spoke to me; "You won't remember any of this or anything you studied before the procedure when you wake up tomorrow, the medicine causes antegrade amnesia." fabulous I thought to myself. I could have been relaxing when they ran that IV and gave me those enemas instead of studying. 


Then the doctor and my dad got down to business and my dad reviewed the results. I heard bits and pieces: "scalloping" "intestines""hernia" "motility""more testing"....and then I just slept. When the doctor left the nurse asked if I wanted juice. My dad told me to say yes so I said yes.
As the nurse  went to get juice my dad told me: "They won't let you leave until you drink 2 glasses of juice."

So even though I was scared to drink the juice (yep...scared. to. drink. juice (hey man acid reflux hurts)) I sucked it up and chugged that juice faster than you can say...chug. Then the nurse told me I could get dressed and my dad took me home and I slept all that day and the next day (after briefly waking up at 3 am and thinking it was 3 pm and getting really scared).

When I was more with it, i looked at the nifty pictures they took and read the results: Hiatal hernia (stomach in my esophogas) and scalloping of my intestines (which could possibly indicate Celiac disease).
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On Friday I met with my GI guy, Dr. Patel, and he said I don't have Celiac Disease (yay!!!!) but during the tests, my stomach didn't move at all and there was still food matter in it (remember I haven't eaten in forever) so he's pretty worried about that. See...your stomach breaks down food by churning (contracting and relaxing) as well as by chemical (acid) means. But they're worried my stomach isn't contracting which means my food is just sitting in my stomach for days on end...but they won't know for sure until they do  more tests (a 7 hour one) and I have to wait until AFTER my class finishes on August 5th because my teacher hates me and won't let me miss any more class!!

But yep, that's what's going on in my tummy!!!

Are you asleep and drooling on your computer yet?? ;-)

-I Lava Juice

Blog Changes

Dear Readers,
You'll (hopefully) notice some changes around the blog. I'm hoping it will make it easier to read; however, I may wind up switching it up again! Let me know what you think! All feedback is appreciated!!

-I Lava Juice

Monday, July 25, 2011

CONTEST

Song for this Post
Dear Reader(s),

I need people to read my blog, to leave me love, and to follow me. So in order to accomplish this, I've decided to create a contest. Here's how it works:

M(hehe):Your mission (Bond) should you choose to accept it (channeling Steve Irwin: despite the dangah) , is to bring as many active participants to my blog as possible from now until August 18th. The first time someone posts a comment, they should mention you as their referrer or you could tag me in your blog! The prize? Your favorite book  (to be determined) and a goodie bag filled with YOUR favorite goodies (based on info I get from you) as well as handmade jewelry and/or candles.

Is this absolutely shameless? Yes! Am I desperate? Pathetically so!

So let's get crack-a-lackin!

Thanks and have a fabulous day!

And remember,
A spoonful of sarcasm can make the ughness go down!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Where Are My Manners? Allow Me to Introduce Myself

Dear Readers,
Where are my manners? My mother would be rolling in her grave...except she's alive sooo...not so much; but if she were dead...lol!

My name is to remain unknown if you must call me something, you may call me, Aurora.
I like long walks on the beach and candlelit dinners....lol no but seriously:

I'm a college student double-majoring in Psychology and Spanish going into my junior year and I love it because I love to learn.
While I may rant on my family, they have been semi-supportive in recent years and I know they do love me. However, they all agree, I am the scapegoat.
I love to read everything I can, learn anything awesome (random facts, languages, history, biology, anatomy, etc), craft nifty things, bake yumminess I give my friends and finally  eat ice cream (when I'm able to eat lol)
Oh and did I mention my fantabulous cats? I saved the best for last!

About the blog:
I'll have contests and reader involvement!
So stay tuned!

ILavaJuice

Saying So Long Family and I CAN do It

Dear Readers, 
I'm not usually a complainer; I promise you that, but things are bad and my family is just making things worse and worse. When I turn to them for support they accuse me of doing it for attention, of being crazy, and to top it all of, they blamed my horrible ER experience last night on me
    I guess I should tell you what's going on: I'm having severe acid reflux; I can't even drink water and I haven't been able to eat for 3 days. I've lost 7 pounds. I have severe heart burn. I'm doing everything "right" and nothing helps. 
     When I spoke to my various family members the defense they used for it all being "attention-seeking behaivor" was me never having mentioned it before. Hmmm...I wonder why???I'm sure the astronauts saw  that one coming from space last week! I don't ever mention anything, any pain or physical issue unless it is absolutely intolerable; I deal with it because I know the reaction I'll get. Did I mention I come from a family of doctors? Seriously. 
    Stress makes things worse, no doubt about it which is why I've decided to go it alone. I'll have the GI guy (not GI Joe though that would be flippin' awesome!) call my dad and tell him the results. 
     I really wanted a normal relationship with my family for once in my 22 years. I tried so hard. But the fact that I spent the night in the ER alone said it all. 
    Whoever said when it rains it pours had it right (well...and wrong because obviously it drizzles a lot in Florida and Seattle). This whole situation makes me miss the man I was a caregiver for. He passed away in December and I miss him every day. He was my family, my adoptive dad, and everything I ever dreamed of in a family member: unconditionally loving and accepting , supportive; he assumed the best (not the worst), he always had time for me, and he emailed me every day even though our entire time together was spent with him dying of Lou Gehrig's disease. He believed in me more than I believed in myself and he brought me out of one of the darkest times of my life. He told me that I was everything he could ever want but never have in a daughter. =)
    So, I will feel better and I will graduate from college with honors and I will get into medical school despite my family's total belief that I will not. I will do it for myself and I will do it for my Adoptive Dad. I will do it for everyone who is in pain, who is suffering alone or is afraid. I will accomplish my goals and see my dreams realized. I will become the best doctor I can bee. i believe in me.
     And now to go down some tums, try to drink some water and study for class tomorrow in the bath tub! 
Viva la resistance! Lol


Sorry for the rant haha! I hope you stay tuned because I'm not usually falling apart at the seams! 

-Lalalalava Juice