And the verdict….ehhh…not really clear

SO if you read recently you know that the hubs was down for a week in the hospital. They diagnosed pancreatitis in the ER and admitted him to treat this condition with one doctor overseeing his care. This doctor then called in a GI specialist who ordered more tests, all the while we are “treating” the pancreatitis by not eating. The GI doctor dismisses the pancreatitis and orders a hida scan and an EGD, one test will look at gallbladder function and another will see whether or not there is an ulcer in his stomach. Well the verdict came back and the EGD was not even performed. My husband’s gallbladder is just plain not functioning. This makes it necessary to have surgery. I can deal with surgery. I have had this surgery. My oldest child has had this surgery. It really isn’t a big deal but it still does not explain that swollen spleen and elevated white count that landed us on this journey. I did notice that they were giving him IV antibiotics though something that previous visits had ignored. I by no means have a medical degree but I have been around enough medical to know that an elevated white count indicates an infection even if you cannot find out where that infection is at….to me that is a no-brainer. SO aside from treating the infection his previous symptoms are disregarded and we focus on the gallbladder. I am glad it is out. He also had an intestinal blockage, but no one really explained that one to us. While I am not stupid I am also not pleased that right after the surgery no one came to speak to me, I waited watching aboard for hours!!! HOURS!! I watched the surgical board for 3 hours while my husband was out of sight and moved from holding to in procedure to in recovery. The procedure took a little more than an hour and I waited and I paced, and I read Facebook posts, as I waited for someone to come and tell me that everything was ok. I never once talked to the surgeon. I was completely helpless to do anything for my husband except pray and these people these professionals completely disregarded me!!! I was scared after a while. I sat with another family as they waited and asked if the surgeon had come to speak to them afterwards and they said he had, I didn’t get that. The surgery waiting room cleared out as this family was told their patient was being moved to her room. And I sat some more…and watched as people passed by…And then an angel asked if she could help me. I told her that I had sat and stared at this board for 3 hours waiting to get some word from at least a nurse and I hadn’t. They told my husband that I was not there. I was there!!! I went to get a drink and to the chapel to pray. Unfortunately the chapel was just a room with chairs because the entire campus is under construction. But I digress….

The answer we got overall was that the pain was his gallbladder and an underlying infection that was not definitive. He got exceptional treatment form the entire staff and I will happily get over my hurt feelings if this is indeed the answer to our prayers and that this pain is over and done with.

So whether it is pancratitis or if the gallbladder was the answer. Either way we know what to o for it now. I am off to enjoy some down time and maybe get some sleep.

IT HAS A NAME!!!!

Ok. I haven’t been keeping up with my writing so much with all of the craziness that has been going on in my house but really I AM RELIEVED!!! My husband’s condition, the reason he has been in so much pain, with no appetite, losing 20 pounds in 3 weeks….acute pancreatitis!!! It has a name!!! We are not crazy!!! He IS NOT some drug seeking person floating in and out of the ER!!! There is a diagnosis!! We can fix this!!! As I type I am accompanied by my 5 year old trying to get him to lay down and sleep. I left my husband in the caring hands of the folks at the hospital to come home and do mom duty. Oh it is the wee hours of the morning and I honestly could use the sleep but my mind races with joy and I cannot thank the folks who are praying!! GOD is GOOD!!! I am so excited. This makes sense!!! It fits!!! And there is treatment!!! It is not pleasant, but there is a treatment!!!
***BACKSTORY*** This has happened before and it took 8 excruciating months and tons of ER and doctor visits to only be told that it was an ulcer that had caused all of the pain. At the time the diagnosis did not matter it only mattered that we had one and the symptoms went away with treatment. The ulcer was most likely caused by the 6 pill a day hydrocodone that the doctor had him taking, but hey I’m just a mom. Pancreatitis fits this case better. It makes sense that what happened 3 years ago was also pancreatitis. Praise the Lord!!

Currently my husband has been admitted to the hospital, one that actually had a sympathetic doctor that understood how frustrating it must have been to have pain with no known cause and to keep being treated as though he were only seeking pain meds!!! Well of course he was!!! He was in pain!! BUT we also wanted to know why!!??? WHY was he hurting so badly that he couldn’t eat? Why was his spleen swollen? WHY were all of his labs coming back “normal”?? There was nothing normal about his pain, the pale face and hands….but I digress. A wonderful man, GOD bless him named Dr. Hamilton has now given me reason to hope!!! This angel has given me answers where I thought there were not going to be any….

Ladies and gentlemen I must get some sort of sleep but just needed to get some very real, very good news out there!!! Acute pancreatitis!!! IT HAS A NAME!!! (FYI the pancreas is really not all that cute at all 😉 )

To Google or not to Google – Diagnosis from a Mom

I really know that doctors hate that you google your symptoms and try to self-diagnose yourself.  But honestly what are you supposed to do when doctors, medical professionals, cannot or will not give you clear answers as to why it is that your body hates you – and in this case my husband’s body.  We are in the 3rd or 4th episode this year of DH experiencing various symptoms. Plug these symptoms into google and you get some pretty scary stuff.  Three years ago we had similar experience and he did not work for 8 months!! I am looking at the bright side, my husband is alive.  He could potentially be very ill or it could be a nasty virus. The thing is I must choose to look on the UP side of this.  I must find a way to stay level-headed and try not to panic. Mom’s do not get to panic, they should be rational.  Wives do not get to panic or have nervous breakdowns. ( I truly hope you hear the sarcasm dripping off of these last couple of sentences because its complete BULL, I am not a robot) Running the symptoms through Google may scare me a bit, but I choose to believe that God has got this, HE has got me and mine.

We shall soldier on in the day to day as we seek answers for whatever condition DH may have. Currently he has crawled to the tub to soak for awhile.  I am about to jump off the blog and Facebook to search down medical records.

I have to be ME – migrated from Facebook

I have to be me
Sometimes I am chastised for being too kind, too caring, too trusting in this nasty world of ours.
I leave myself open to friendships and love. I get hurt alot by people that I care about. It doesn’t make me stop caring. It makes me want to do more, help more, reach out more. I know you must be thinknig I am crazy to keep putting myself out there only to continue getting hurt, being betrayed, sticking my neck out for other people. I just cannot stop being me.

I don’t know how to be any other way. This crazy mixed up and often clumsy person is who I am. I can be mean, don’t get me wrong, but it usually makes me feel horribly ill and I do not like it at all. I want people to like me. I want to be accepted for who I am, not what I can do for you. I am not a wealthy person, but I am RICH. I have family and friends that back me up even when I am not being so nice, they help me when I stumble and catch me when I fall.

I try every day to go out of my way to be kind to other people, sometimes strangers, other times acquaintances, family or friends. You ask for a few dollars for your phone bill?? I only have $10 right now, I hope it helps. You need a ride to the doctor? Tell me when and where. Your neighbor’s friend lost their home in a fire?? I will rally the troops and start a prayer chain and start finding out what ways we can best help them. Your uncle is terminally ill, get that prayer chain going, calling my prayer warriors. Your child is becoming difficult for you to handle?? Let him stay with me for a little bit, it’ll do him good, change of scenery, different atmosphere. That dog that needs a home?? I will try hard, and if not I will drive it to the shelter and make a donation while I am there. This is what I do, and I do not expect anything in return except the thought that I do what I can to make the world a better place for my children. You know, pay it forward? start a chain reaction….It is always who I am at the very core of my being. I am a giver. And as a giver I don’t always have boundaries and I have been taken advantage of, made fun of, treated poorly but it doesn’t stop me from being ME. I cannot stop being who I am to suit others or because I might get hurt. I have to believe that I will have an impact on the world. I need to know that kindness and laughter are my legacy.

I can’t say I am always so nice and sweet. I am not terribly good with money, I forget things, and I do have a mean streak (don’t mess with family). I do have my moments, but at the very core of my being, the make up of Julie Inez is a kind and generous soul who will always be trying to do my part. Love me – hate me or be completely indifferent, it is your choice and in some cases YOUR LOSS.

I just had to get that out there.

Halloween -migrated from Facebook post

Halloween
I did not hear as many rumblings against Halloween this year as I have in years past. It is interesting to me that many Christians associate Halloween to Paganism. Did these same people not wear costumes and trick or treat with their friends? Do you exchange gifts (some extravagant) with loved ones for Christmas? I was pondering this recently and thought what a hoot! Most people celebrate American Halloween with parties and games, dressing up in costume and trick or treating(getting candy after knocking on a doorstep). How is that Pagan? I don’t see it. I know the historical roots of the holiday, but I also know it is my mother’s birthday so we always have come together as a family to celebrate. How do the Americans that howl about Halloween celebrate Christmas? Christmas is about the birth of God’s son. The spirit of the season is giving, of yourself, your time, and perhaps even your money. It is not about granting the wishes of our children and trying to get them the best toys. It is a time to teach our children charity, even if you do not have much, you typically have more than someone out there. Just as our Halloween is about fun and games, enjoying the company of our friends. And we all know it is NOT just the Irish who have fun on St. Patrick’s day, and you don’t have to be Catholic or even religious to enjoy (or hate) St. Valentine’s day.

well that is my rant for now, wanted to get down my deep thoughts while I could.