My Last Two Weeks

In the last two weeks as a friend said "my stomach went psychotic." I have had a stomach disorder for the last 10 years. It usually isn't a huge deal--a matter taking medicine regularly and watching the foods that I eat. I have had several "flare ups" since I was diagnosed when I was 13 but they went away after adjusting medicine. The thing about Chron's (or some spell it Crohn's) Disease is that there is no cure, only ways to treat the symptoms. Doctors describe it as a nuisance more than anything.

In the last weeks I had a "flare up" worse than I have ever had before. After 8 days of not being able to eat solid foods--and sometimes liquid foods--my body was weak. A friend took me to the E.R. and I was able to get some fluid in my body as well as some much appreciated anti-nausau medicine. Part of having a stomach disorder is having regularly scheduled diagnostic tests so the doctors can see the inside of your digestive system. Since the trip to E.R. my doctor pushed up one of the tests--a lower GI (barium sure is tasty--note the sarcasm) to last Wednesday. The test would tell the doctors whether I needed stronger medicine or surgery.

I had avoided surgery in the last 10 years. It's a great short term solution but doesn't help things too much long term so doctors tend to use it as a last resort. After hearing my symptoms the doctors had thought that surgery was going to be the only option. Yet after having the tests the doctors were more hopeful in treating my stomach with stronger medicine. I'm not out of the dark yet with surgery--I meet with a Chron's Disease specialist (the perks of living in LA) on Friday for a final diagnosis.

I am feeling somewhat better now--I have even been able to eat chicken noodle soup several times, and how exciting to chew something! :) I have learned a ton over the last 2 weeks--one of the biggest lesson is what an amazing community I have around me here. From people letting me sleep on their couches (my A/C broke and I need to be in A/C while not feeling well) to bringing me movies to borrow to visits and prayers and phone calls from both sides of the coasts. It's been humbling to ask for help and see how God has created us to be loved by one another. So to my community--THANK YOU! And do keep me in your prayers y'all that my stomach continues to heal.