Saturday, April 30, 2011

I Believe In Christ

During these months of frustrations and doubt in myself, I have found that my testimony in Him is ever growing. I know that my pains and aches are only but a small inkling to what our Savior experienced for us, for me. I know that anything I may deal with now is but a drop in the spectrum of eternity. I am so thankful that about this time last year, I opened my heart and began the journey of coming unto my Savior, my Lord, Jesus Christ. I know that I am a daughter of God. I know that whatever this life has in store for me, it is for my good. I can choose to grow from the experiences and opportunities afforded me or I can choose to be bitter and resentful and pitiful. I choose love. I choose life.

Enos 1:8: And he said unto me; Because of they faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard or nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.

College Girl

In this whirlwind of medical craziness, I needed something else to focus on, so I am going to school! I am very excited to begin the summer semester at SLCC. I'm only going to take one class for the summer, but come fall semester I've got a full-time schedule planned. Woooohooooo!!! Nursing degree, here I come!

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away..Or Does It?

On January 2nd, 2011 I proclaimed this the Year of Medical Interventions. Did I actually mean it? No. It is true? Yes. Due to symptoms of random things beginning last autumn I have seen the following specialists/providers - urogynecologist, physical therapist, gastoenterologist, ob/gyn specializing in pelvic pain, rheumatologist, and internist. I've been poked, prodded, scanned, scoped, radiated, drained, and x-rayed. At first glance it might seem that I just have a bunch of random things going on, until you remember that in the last few years I've also seen a neurologist and cardiologist. And next up will be the geneticist. Oh, the fun we are having! But it doesn't end there...

Now for the newest diagnoses - rectocele, cystocele (I'm certain the uterus is following along), pelvic floor dysfunction, gastritis, eosinophilic esophagitis, hiatal hernia, fibromyalgia, pretty certain a connective tissue disorder/disease, we just have to figure out which one, and Vit D deficiency.

The treatments - Since I can't continue the physical therapy due to pain and urogynecologist can't continue durther testing due to pain, it's time to take care of one cause of pain. The cause of this particular pain is from vulvar vestibulitis. I'm getting ready to have a vestibulectomy and I can say I am not excited about the procedure, but I am excited about the possibility of being able to be pain-free in at least that aspect.  I'm also currently taking meds to help with the gastritis, that I'm not quite sure are helping, a med for the eosinophilic esophagitis, and will be starting 50,000 iu of a Vit D prescription.

Why do I want to share these very personal issues I have? Because I know I am not alone in having them, but not enough information is shared about them. It's hard enough to admit any kind of intimacy with your spouse is painful. It's hard to admit that something doesn't feel quite right when you go to the bathroom. It's frustrating when your body hurts and you don't know why and nobody seems to understand. It's frustrating when you are young and should be in great health, but something just isn't right. I hope that as I open up and talk about some of these things, maybe someone will know they aren't alone. Maybe someone will get the courage to talk with a dr. Maybe someone will feel hope.

Hello, Again.

Maybe we'll give this another try. As one can see, I'm not very good at this blogging thing, though I should be, since in the real world I seem to have no trouble with random ramblings. Suppose I ought to get better at the whole picture taking thing too. Not very good at that one either. When they say parents taken thousands upon thousands of pictures of the oldest child, while the youngest has maybe 10, they aren't lying. It's horribly true.

But now I'm going to tell you. The ponderings of my mind lately include some pretty personal events. Consider yourself warned.