A Journey

I have thought and doubted a lot with whether I should post what I'm about to write. I didn't want rumors to start, or a big deal made out of it. I haven't let any of this made known to the world wide web, which has been kind of nice. But I feel as if I should just give you a shortened version....So I will write in less detail, as a lot of the details don't matter as much anymore anyway! It's only taken me 5 months to blog about it. I thought it'd be good to look back on it someday.

We've been on a Journey the last several months- I've had a few health problems. It started last summer with being nauseous 90% of the time and having extreme fatigue. I didn't think that much of it, as I have always had stomach issues and I'm just the type to always be tired and try to get lots of sleep. But I finally went to the doctor, as I suspected it being a gluten intolerance or Celiac disease since my mom can't eat gluten.

After getting some blood tests done, my doctor sent me to a specialized GI doctor, who did an endoscopy. I did not show any sign of Celiac disease, but instead they found a tumor in my stomach and a nogel on my esophagus. So they did more blood work to find out more about the tumor, and to see if it spread anywhere else. They told me it would take 4 weeks to get those blood results back... but it really only took about 2. So when I received a phone call, I was completely not expecting what I heard. Mayo Clinic called me, and wanted to set up an appointment with Dr. Murray, in one WEEK. I had no idea what they were talking about, because I hadn't heard anything back from my blood tests yet. After telling Mayo's I would have to call them back, my doctor called me. She said it seemed to be more serious than she had thought... and she diagnosed me with an rare autoimmune disease: Autoimmune Atrophic Gastritis. 

She told me it is extremely rare, especially at my age, because people between 50-60 normally get this disease. That's why she wanted to send me to Mayo's; she had talked to Dr. Murray and requested that he take me as a patient. She said she didn't trust herself or anyone else around here to treat me. And she wasn't sure about the tumors... she said they were "fairly benign" I didn't know what to say, as I thought it'd be nearly impossible with my work, and most of all Daniel's school.

I told Daniel when I got home that night what she had said. I'm not gonna lie, it was very hard for both of us at first. Daniel told me that without a doubt, we were going to Mayo's. I really didn't want to put his school at risk though... The next day, we told our bosses and Daniel's teachers. Every. Single. One. was so incredibly understanding. It was an answer to prayer in it's self, that leaving for a week(we didn't know how long we would be gone) was not a big deal. 

So we found out on Monday(10/14) that we needed to go to Mayo's... and on Monday(10/21)  we were AT Mayo's. Within that week, it was amazing how many close friends and family members texted me and told me they were praying for us as we went. We felt soo blessed with all the love and support.

We left on Sunday afternoon so we could get most of the way there before dark. My mom went with us and we took their van which was a huge help. I never knew this until we went, but there's a house that the Apostolic church has for people who go to Mayo's. My mom got that all lined up for us to stay there. I think it was around 7 or 8 once we got there, and it was such a nice place and perfect for us! I went to bed fairly early, knowing that it would be a busy next day.

Our first day there, Monday, I had to fast for blood tests and had those first thing in the morning. It was a little stressful at first knowing where to go and where to park because that place is HUGE. After the blood test I was done until the afternoon. So we headed to a darling coffee shop/cafe for breakfast. Afterwards we stopped at a few stores, like Trader Joes that we don't have around here. :) We went back and I took a nap until my next appointment. My appointment with Dr. Murray was at 3:30, but we waited, and waited, and waited....I'm not sure what time we finally got taken back to the room, but I'm pretty sure I was the last patient for the day as there was nobody left when we were finally done! 

I really don't remember how the appointment went... I told him all my symptoms, my mom's family history of stomach cancer, blah blah blah.... I don't think he really said too much because he wanted to wait until after he saw the results of my endoscopy. But I do remember him saying that there's not really a "solution" for the disease. To just find out whatever works best for you.

That night we went out to eat at a wonderful gluten-free restaurant. They had an entire menu with good, normal food on it! My mom and I were thrilled! Then it was to bed early because I knew what the next day would be like!

Tuesday morning was my ultrasound endoscopy- basically like a very detailed endoscopy. This was something they couldn't do back at home. That was first thing Tuesday morning. I was a tad bit anxious, but it helped that I had already had an endoscopy 3 or 4 weeks prior. The nurse messed up my first IV...and left me with huge bruises. But I did survive. :) Everything went great.... waking up, wow I was soo exhausted the last thing I wanted to do was try and wake up and get out of bed. But they kept trying to get me to. Anyway, they said everything went very well and that was that. I finally managed to get out of bed and even walked to the car in the parking deck. But we went straight back to the house and I slept for a long time. I had a follow-up appointment with my results that afternoon so I know I needed to be rested up. 

So late that afternoon was our last and final appointment with Dr. Murray. He showed us the pictures of my stomach and explained what the problems were, etc. But it was mostly all GOOD news. The GOOD news was that it wasn't as bad as they initially thought. There were no tumors....they were just enlarged cells!! I am not going to go into full detail of what this disease causes, but a few of things is: thinning of the stomach lining, an inflamed stomach, and I don't produce stomach acid. Since I don't produce stomach acid, it makes it hard for me to absorb vitamins and nutrients. This was causing my iron to be extremely low and making me anemic. So he prescribed an iron pill that had acid in it, making it easier for me to absorb it. The low iron is what was causing me to be so tired and fatigued all the time. So basically we were all so relieved after knowing the tumors were not a problem. And yes, the stomach lining was a little thinned, but not dangerously. He said he's seen a lot worse. So we very thankful and wanted to praise the Lord after walking out of there! There wasn't a lot of specifics as far has what to do to help my nauseousness, he just said to do whatever works! At that time, gluten-free seemed to be helping me so that's what I was doing. He told me to have another endoscopy in another 3 years, and to get my blood check on a regular basis.

We decided to leave that afternoon since we really didn't need to stay for anything. We got home late Tuesday night, which was wonderful, as we had suspected to be there all week long.

The amount of prayers, support, and love we've been shown is incredible. It's something I don't want to forget. I've never been on the receiving side in a situation like that. There was so much unknown and worries, and it's amazing how God answered so many prayers and I'm not as bad as we had first though. After getting back, and even still to this day, people ask how I'm doing and how I'm feeling. It means so much to me as yes, I still have to live with these symptoms as they're still not gone. They've been a lot better(more on that later), but it required a lifestyle change, which is not always easy. 

I'm just so thankful for a supportive husband, who is a NURSE and knows and understands so much more than I do! If I didn't know what the doctor said, he'd interpret it for me when we got home. :) And for my mom, who has done so much cooking for me as I don't feel very good or have the energy to. I am so blessed!