Saturday, April 30, 2011

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.

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