Martha Thurston
Three years ago, I raised some concerns with my primary doctor about stomach pain, nausea, unintentional weight loss, and bloody stools (random, I might mention, and never constant). I was referred to a gastroenterologist who took one look at my size and immediately diagnosed me with gastroparesis. Should I mention his bedside manner was horrible?
After a test- that I passed- he realized gastroparesis wasn’t an issue. Must be an ulcer? Wrong again. CT scans were completed and still no true diagnosis other than what “appeared” to be a possible hemangioma on my liver.
I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy to rule out cancer in those areas. Nothing. Still having issues with bowel movements (sometimes a bowel movement makes me feel like my vagina is being turned inside out).
He released me and stated probably had IBS, and I should get that hemangioma scanned again in a year. There were no follow ups. No more referrals to him. No mention of what that could possibly be. I was sent back to life as normal, even though I was still having the same issues.
So I learned to cope with the pain.
Fast forward to this week, and I was unable to work for 2 days because the nausea, vomiting, and pain were blinding. Monday started with some eye irritation and my eyes turning slightly yellowish. Then came the pain that was so bad. Sips of water hurt. Food hurt. I became miserable. Thursday, when I decided to go back and wait on the follow up for my ultrasound, I was irritable from the pain, and my students did not help with my misery.
Yesterday, I had my ultrasound and my doctor called me about it. I have to see a gastroenterologist again and possibly have more tests.
Yay, me.
She stated that the outside of my liver had become nodular. An indication of early cirrhosis, but my liver enzyme test didn’t support that. A quick search and I found that those hemangiomas (I had one, remember?) can cause the same thing. Reading my report, I have quite a few now. They seem to have multiplied.
Now I’m just mad. I cried to my son because I feel like my advocation for my health has been dismissed these last few years. After all, I told my doctor that I was suicidal, and she told me I needed to work on controlling my diabetes. When she dismissed my mental health, I felt helpless. Finally, my principal pulled me into the office, created a safety plan for me with the school psychologist, and drove me to mental health. That’s how someone saved my life.
The new doctor I saw isn’t aware of 3 years ago. She knows my diabetes is still struggling out of control. But she’s concerned about my ultrasound. She was hoping it was a virus (the nausea and pain). I was hoping it was a kidney stone. I was really hoping for a stone.
My concern is my family history with cancer. I have had a close brush with it. I had a complete hysterectomy in 2001 due to a tumor. I’m still concerned about skin cancer, but my primary says it is just age. My dad lost his nose to what they thought was an age spot. He also had bladder cancer. My mom had lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. She also had to have lymph nodes removed due to cancer concerns. My grandmother had breast cancer and lost her life to it.
Thanks to all of this, I really haven’t kept up with my weight or anything else lately. I’ve reverted back into survival mode to make it past this latest crisis. I don’t plan to just roll over this time. I plan to fight and to advocate for my health. I have to fight. I have too much to lose if I decide not to do it.
