Reality finally hit me

Barb5454 · May 2015

I first want to say I have been on here off and on lurking around, reading posts and on occasion maybe post something of concern. I have tried to ignore and deny the fact I even had cancer. I have been trying for 2 years ( I am 2 years post treamtent) to go back to "my normal" way of living before I had cancer.

When I was going through treatment the nurses and doctors told me that I might have stomach and sleeping issues down the road. They called them "the later effects". They said it can happen years later. I thought to myself "Oh no not me".

So when something comes up I come to this forum, I post a question and I get the answer feeling relieved and move on. I would go back into denial....until now.

For the last week I have been in and out of the emergency room. I have had CT scans done, ultrasounds and X Rays looking why I was getting so sick. My stomach would swell up like I was 9 months pregnant. This was after I had 2 handfuls of peanuts. This put my body into an awful tale spin. What they found out is my small intestine became enlarged and inflammed because of those peanuts.

So they put me on pain meds and sent me on my way. See, I don't have the diarrhea problem...my is constipation.

Anyway, back into denial I go...and I had made some homemade barbeque sauce and made baked beans. Well, here we go again. I ended up back into the emergency room, but this time throwing up blood.

A wonderful nurse finally sat me down and explained to me I can't eat some of the foods I use to eat before cancer. She told me to keep a food diary, but mainly eat cooked veggies and fruits. She told me I need to find my "new normal"

It all hit me. and hit me hard! I had cancer! I had gone through treament! And now my body is reacting to the later effects! I was devastated.

I tried to talk to my family, but how can they understand since they have never been through it?

I also have chronic fatigue syndrome. I'm going to go through a sleep study to see if I have sleep apnea.

One more thing..I have been working part time at Jewel. I work in the produce department and I'm on my feet a lot. I was working 6 days a week and it was tearing me apart. My doctor told me that I can only work 5 days a week and if I can't handle 30 hours a week I may have to go down to 20 hours. Or find a job where it isn't so strenous.

Wow! That's all I can say is Wow!

So now I'm trying to accept all of this. And I knew this is the one place where people would understand me and I don't have to feel like I'm going through this alone.

Also, my man, the guy I live with, who has been my biggest supporter is afraid to touch me and make love to me because he is afraid of hurting me. I'm tired of using the dialators and I need human affection.

One final thing...I am on 5 different kinds of medication, for my stomach, to help me sleep and for depression.

Thanks for listening.

mp327 · May 2015

Barb5454

I am sorry that you are having so many issues. I am the kind of person who finds it difficult to accept the fact that things are not what they used to be. After my colorectal surgeon told me early on after treatment ended that I could "eat anything I wanted to," I took that as gospel and proceeded to eat all of my favorite foods (including peanuts). She was VERY wrong. I am so surprised I didn't end up in the ER with an intestinal obstruction long before January 2013, when I was so sick, I just wanted to die. I now know there are limits and my body cannot handle what it used to. When I'm at home, it is easy to avoid foods that I know are troublesome. When I go out to eat, I try to avoid things where the veggies may not be fully cooked or dishes that contain nuts. I do not wish to have another intestinal obstruction, but I'm not very hopeful that it won't happen again because I've had milder episodes since the one that put me in the hospital. I know you've posted about stomach issues previously and I still think you may be experiencing intestinal blockage somewhere in your small intestine. Stomach distention is a symptom of blockage and peanuts could definitely cause this. The nurse who spoke with you gave you some good advice and she is probably right--your "new normal" excludes some of the foods you were able to eat pre-cancer. It's a hard pill to swallow, I know, but I would rather do without those peanuts than go through the torture of a bowel obstruction, which is SO painful.

Acceptance of our limitations is the key to finding happiness and contentment with our post-cancer lives. Find new things of interest and make the necessary changes that will keep you healthy--life can still be SO good!

Martha

Barb5454 · May 2015

mp327 said:
Barb5454
I am sorry that you are having so many issues. I am the kind of person who finds it difficult to accept the fact that things are not what they used to be. After my colorectal surgeon told me early on after treatment ended that I could "eat anything I wanted to," I took that as gospel and proceeded to eat all of my favorite foods (including peanuts). She was VERY wrong. I am so surprised I didn't end up in the ER with an intestinal obstruction long before January 2013, when I was so sick, I just wanted to die. I now know there are limits and my body cannot handle what it used to. When I'm at home, it is easy to avoid foods that I know are troublesome. When I go out to eat, I try to avoid things where the veggies may not be fully cooked or dishes that contain nuts. I do not wish to have another intestinal obstruction, but I'm not very hopeful that it won't happen again because I've had milder episodes since the one that put me in the hospital. I know you've posted about stomach issues previously and I still think you may be experiencing intestinal blockage somewhere in your small intestine. Stomach distention is a symptom of blockage and peanuts could definitely cause this. The nurse who spoke with you gave you some good advice and she is probably right--your "new normal" excludes some of the foods you were able to eat pre-cancer. It's a hard pill to swallow, I know, but I would rather do without those peanuts than go through the torture of a bowel obstruction, which is SO painful.

Acceptance of our limitations is the key to finding happiness and contentment with our post-cancer lives. Find new things of interest and make the necessary changes that will keep you healthy--life can still be SO good!

Martha

Martha

I failed to say that my doctor did tell me it was a small blockage and it did correct itself. I totally agree that changing my diet is far better than ever having to go through that again. I am finding new foods that I'm enjoying. I guess I was kind of feeling sorry for myself earlier this morning

thank you for your input and advice

Barb

LaCh · May 2015

to 5454: your new normal

(The issue specific comments are towards the end)

I don't lurk here but I peruse once every 4 or 5 months or so. The reason I don't linger is because I find that I have little in common with the emotional/ psychological elements of the experience of cancer and I never did. In the past, when I mentioned that I felt different, it wasn't well received. There's a lot of empathy and support for people here but not that much flexibility for those who don't feel as the majority feels in response to the experience of cancer. Since I tend to just take things as they come (being the odd duck out) coupled with the fact that I had nothing to offer and no particular need, I don't come here often. That said, 5454 .... I have the same issues that you do. Eat a pea sized anything and it's as if I've swallowed a truck. No diarrhea, but no motility. It's not constipation; it's slow/ no motility that evidently includes my stomach, which (I assume) is why I eat a dot-sized morsel and feel like I've eaten a boulder for the next 12 hours. Fatigue is off the charts. No one mentioned these potential side effects from the treatment BEFORE the treatments, and it was by pure accident that I learned that 5FU and/ or mitomycin can cause gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying). I cope by over-cooking everything, eliminating many foods that, no matter what, are going to cause me problems, either high up in the journey (stomach and small gut) or lower down (bleeding). I guess the only difference is that I don't think of cancer as a different illness than, say, pertussis (whooping cough) or the flu. Flu kills people also. I never self-identified as a cancer survivor any more than I identify as a pertussis survivor, since I'm not my diseases, nor, even my experiences. Feel free, readers, to hurl vitriol at me; I no longer mind it, it's ok. These are my feelings and I make no apologies. As for the lingering effects from the treatments; yeah, well, many, many of us traded one problem, a tumor, for a series of others; fatigue, digestion, hip pain and so on. Was it worth it? That's an individual assessment for each of us. What do I do about it all? I just deal with it one day at a time, one meal at a time and in between, don't think about it. My attitide is "everybody has something." A dear friend of mine died last year from pancreatic cancer. People lose limbs, parents, children, there's Syria, Yemen, poverty, racism, the list of atrocities and suffering is beyond words, beyond understanding and beyond my ability to impact in any meaningful way. When I put my life story and my issues, my experiences, my pains and my challenges alongside what seems to me to be truly horrific lives, mine don't even register. On MY chart. In MY estimation. Don't misunderstand me; I'm not criticizing or judging or even saying "I do this, why don't you." It's not what I do, not what I think, and not what I feel. Each of us sees things through our own lens and no two people look through the same one. My comments are purely about me. No one else. I also know that the way that I assimilate the things in my life is heavily influenced by two things that most peoople don't share (or one of them anyway); my belief in the cycle of reincarnation and the fact that all the people I've loved and who loved me have already died. And also because I believe that I've been crazily, stupidly lucky in my life, for a reason that I truly can't fathom. All I can say, 5454 is hang in. No platitudes, no "it'll get betters" nothing like that. Just... hang in and cope as best you can but know that you're not alone in the (maybe) uneven trade of "tumor" for a laundry list of "other" problems.

In closing, let me just say 5454 that I do know how problematic these issues are because I have them too. I have no magic pearls of wisdom to offer in terms of solutions (after all my rambling, the only thing of importance is "Do you have any solutions to offer," and unfortunately, I don't. The only thing I can tell you is that I have what you have with the digestion and fatigue issues (and bleeding if I eat the wrong foods) and yes, they're problems, but I just try to deal with it and think not focus on it. That's how I deal with it. But hang in; that's all I have to offer, unfortunately.

Barb5454 · May 2015

LaCh said:
to 5454: your new normal
(The issue specific comments are towards the end)

I don't lurk here but I peruse once every 4 or 5 months or so. The reason I don't linger is because I find that I have little in common with the emotional/ psychological elements of the experience of cancer and I never did. In the past, when I mentioned that I felt different, it wasn't well received. There's a lot of empathy and support for people here but not that much flexibility for those who don't feel as the majority feels in response to the experience of cancer. Since I tend to just take things as they come (being the odd duck out) coupled with the fact that I had nothing to offer and no particular need, I don't come here often. That said, 5454 .... I have the same issues that you do. Eat a pea sized anything and it's as if I've swallowed a truck. No diarrhea, but no motility. It's not constipation; it's slow/ no motility that evidently includes my stomach, which (I assume) is why I eat a dot-sized morsel and feel like I've eaten a boulder for the next 12 hours. Fatigue is off the charts. No one mentioned these potential side effects from the treatment BEFORE the treatments, and it was by pure accident that I learned that 5FU and/ or mitomycin can cause gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying). I cope by over-cooking everything, eliminating many foods that, no matter what, are going to cause me problems, either high up in the journey (stomach and small gut) or lower down (bleeding). I guess the only difference is that I don't think of cancer as a different illness than, say, pertussis (whooping cough) or the flu. Flu kills people also. I never self-identified as a cancer survivor any more than I identify as a pertussis survivor, since I'm not my diseases, nor, even my experiences. Feel free, readers, to hurl vitriol at me; I no longer mind it, it's ok. These are my feelings and I make no apologies. As for the lingering effects from the treatments; yeah, well, many, many of us traded one problem, a tumor, for a series of others; fatigue, digestion, hip pain and so on. Was it worth it? That's an individual assessment for each of us. What do I do about it all? I just deal with it one day at a time, one meal at a time and in between, don't think about it. My attitide is "everybody has something." A dear friend of mine died last year from pancreatic cancer. People lose limbs, parents, children, there's Syria, Yemen, poverty, racism, the list of atrocities and suffering is beyond words, beyond understanding and beyond my ability to impact in any meaningful way. When I put my life story and my issues, my experiences, my pains and my challenges alongside what seems to me to be truly horrific lives, mine don't even register. On MY chart. In MY estimation. Don't misunderstand me; I'm not criticizing or judging or even saying "I do this, why don't you." It's not what I do, not what I think, and not what I feel. Each of us sees things through our own lens and no two people look through the same one. My comments are purely about me. No one else. I also know that the way that I assimilate the things in my life is heavily influenced by two things that most peoople don't share (or one of them anyway); my belief in the cycle of reincarnation and the fact that all the people I've loved and who loved me have already died. And also because I believe that I've been crazily, stupidly lucky in my life, for a reason that I truly can't fathom. All I can say, 5454 is hang in. No platitudes, no "it'll get betters" nothing like that. Just... hang in and cope as best you can but know that you're not alone in the (maybe) uneven trade of "tumor" for a laundry list of "other" problems.

In closing, let me just say 5454 that I do know how problematic these issues are because I have them too. I have no magic pearls of wisdom to offer in terms of solutions (after all my rambling, the only thing of importance is "Do you have any solutions to offer," and unfortunately, I don't. The only thing I can tell you is that I have what you have with the digestion and fatigue issues (and bleeding if I eat the wrong foods) and yes, they're problems, but I just try to deal with it and think not focus on it. That's how I deal with it. But hang in; that's all I have to offer, unfortunately.

LaCh

Thank you so much for your input!! It means a lot to me I'm going to hang in, just felt sorry for myself earlier this morning. You're right, there are a lot worse things out there. That kind of put things into perspective.

judyv3 · May 2015

I'm with you

Ugh, Barb - my fear is winding up in the emergency room. I'm 16 months post treatment and constipated so we are a bit similar! I think it's perfectly normal to mourn the life we had "before treatment". Sometimes I think I will punch the next person who says at least you don't have cancer. But then I remember, at least I don't have cancer! And this is the life I've got.

As far as work, I'm lucky that I work as a contractor and make my own hours. I decided when I returned to work that I would not work on Fridays in the office. I can do some work from home, when I'm disciplined and not exhausted. Some of the people where I work (I manage a 55+ mobile home community) HATE that I am not there more hours. But my health (both mental and physical) is my priority. Haha! Lately not working Fridays doesn't seem like enough time off!

And I miss eating. I loved cooking and eating all kinds of food. Now I'm just afraid. So I keep to the basics. Even with that, I gained back the 20 lbs I lost during treatment. Can't I even have that??? I just went back to my primary care physician for the first time since diagnosis. He had me go for a lot of bloodwork. My blood pressure was high, so I'm checking that at home. And I'm sure he will tell me to lose weight. NO kidding!

I just try to remind myself to find the joy in the little things in life. I have this amazing grandson (who was born with a major birth defect) and he is the light of my life. Exhausts me in the best way!

Good luck, remember we're here for you. I do understand.

Judy

Barb5454 · May 2015

judyv3 said:
I'm with you
Ugh, Barb - my fear is winding up in the emergency room. I'm 16 months post treatment and constipated so we are a bit similar! I think it's perfectly normal to mourn the life we had "before treatment". Sometimes I think I will punch the next person who says at least you don't have cancer. But then I remember, at least I don't have cancer! And this is the life I've got.

As far as work, I'm lucky that I work as a contractor and make my own hours. I decided when I returned to work that I would not work on Fridays in the office. I can do some work from home, when I'm disciplined and not exhausted. Some of the people where I work (I manage a 55+ mobile home community) HATE that I am not there more hours. But my health (both mental and physical) is my priority. Haha! Lately not working Fridays doesn't seem like enough time off!

And I miss eating. I loved cooking and eating all kinds of food. Now I'm just afraid. So I keep to the basics. Even with that, I gained back the 20 lbs I lost during treatment. Can't I even have that??? I just went back to my primary care physician for the first time since diagnosis. He had me go for a lot of bloodwork. My blood pressure was high, so I'm checking that at home. And I'm sure he will tell me to lose weight. NO kidding!

I just try to remind myself to find the joy in the little things in life. I have this amazing grandson (who was born with a major birth defect) and he is the light of my life. Exhausts me in the best way!

Good luck, remember we're here for you. I do understand.

Judy

Judy

I agree with you!! I have grandchildren too and they are what keeps me going!

I'm so thankful I am cancer free but I miss the things that I took for granted.

This has made me quite humble

LaCh · May 2015

Barb5454 said:
LaCh
Thank you so much for your input!! It means a lot to me I'm going to hang in, just felt sorry for myself earlier this morning. You're right, there are a lot worse things out there. That kind of put things into perspective.

5454

I'm genuinely glad that something I said helped. I don't generally feel sorry for myself, not because I'm virtuos; No, I can't claim any credit for it. I'm just not wired that way. But I can tell you that when all I want is a way to empty this barrel of a stomach from eating on little thing for godsake! I do tend to go, arrrrgggggg!!!! and the rest isn't appropriate for a public forum. I do, though, think it's a question of perspective, at least it is for me. (I think of a six-year-old kid in a third world country pounding rocks into dust fpor 14 hours a day and 10 cents a month, something I saw on 60 Minutes once, and I say to myself, What do YOU have to complain about?) That said, I never know how my "take" on things will be received, so it's a risk/benefit assessment every time: Say something or say nothing. I don't want to be unhelpful and feel no need or benefit in spreading my opinions around for their own sake so I'm very glad it was helpful for you.

Phoebesnow · May 2015

Barb5454 said:
Judy
I agree with you!! I have grandchildren too and they are what keeps me going!

I'm so thankful I am cancer free but I miss the things that I took for granted.

This has made me quite humble

Barb

Geez! I so get you. I cried myself to sleep during myafternoon nap yesterday. I'm so tired of being tired. I have not surfed in over a month. I only have strength to go to work. It is to the point where it's either or, I can't have both.

The stomach issues, the blockages, the burping, the gas and the pain never stops. I do eat the nuts, I grind them down to a fine paste. Without the nuts it's constipation and bleeding. I eat poached chicken and salmon, beans, nuts! Grapes skinned. That's it, I can't tolerate anything else. I'm 5'9 and my weight is 115I I can eat small meals only.

Nobody but us will ever understand

.

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch · May 2015

Empathy.

I'm so sorry that you continue to have problems, both physical and emotional.

An empathetic Registered Dietician could help you find a tolerated and balanced diet. Get a referral and before making an appointment. call available ones to see who has experience with post-treatment long-term cancer effects.

DO you have pain with intercourse that would justify your sweetheart's concern? If so, an oncological gynecologist (lots of experience with patients who have had pelvic radiation) might be able to help better than a standard gynscologist. If you don't have pain, maye a little couples therapy can help him realize that you aren't made of glass. Or at least that you're still desire-filled glass! Maybe you both could talk about becoming more adventurous and experimental in your love-making, incorporating other techniques than the usual.

There's a lot to be said for a long, firm, deep hug. And it might become something even more intimate.....mmmmmm.

.^_^.

LaCh · May 2015

Phoebesnow said:
Barb
Geez! I so get you. I cried myself to sleep during myafternoon nap yesterday. I'm so tired of being tired. I have not surfed in over a month. I only have strength to go to work. It is to the point where it's either or, I can't have both.

The stomach issues, the blockages, the burping, the gas and the pain never stops. I do eat the nuts, I grind them down to a fine paste. Without the nuts it's constipation and bleeding. I eat poached chicken and salmon, beans, nuts! Grapes skinned. That's it, I can't tolerate anything else. I'm 5'9 and my weight is 115I I can eat small meals only.

Nobody but us will ever understand

.

phoebesnow

Just to illustrate how diverse and different each person's response is to the same stimulus (chemo and radiation) nuts bind me up and make me bleed for a week and I'm guessing abrade the tissues inside because there's also pain, not unbrarable pain by any stretch, but pain. Beans are completely undigestable. My strategy is that I avoid what I must (it's a long list but I'd wager that everyone's list is long, and different) and cook the s**t out of everything till it's mush (which makes it predigested). The only thing that I can eat that's truly problem free is eggs and although I don't really care for eggs all that much, I eat a lot of them. As for the nobody but us will ever understand, I think one can say that about anything in life unless one has the same experience, but even then, each person's experience and the way in which it's experienced is different for every person. I live my life assuming that no one's going to understand me or my experiences, whatever they are, because no one does. It doesn't trouble me in the least. I accept it and just shrug it off. Understanding won't help me digest, and a lack of understanding doesn't make my digestion or fatigue issues worse, so I don't really care if no one "gets" this or not. It might be easier for me because I live alone and don't have to explain anything to anybody, about why I do this thing or that, and if I need to lie down, or do nothing for a day, or two days, or a week, I just do it, and similarly am not required to justify or explain it. It's a lifestyle that's been been a blessing, although it's "not for" everyone.

Lorikat · June 2015

Yikes!

oh my Barb! I so could have written this! I was in the hospital emergency room a couple of weeks ago so sick I was sure I would just give up the ghost. I hurt so bad in my stomach and bowels that I was throwing up even after I had nothing left. My poor husband came into the bathroom where I was sitting in the floor in my own diarreah while throwing up all in my lap.... Both bloody. Too d*** sick to reach the toilet for either one... Too sick to go to the emergency room... After about 6 hours of this he insisted we go to the ER. ANIBIOTICS, TWO BAGS OF IV FLUIDS, INTROVENIOUS PAIN MEDS, and the diagnosis? Gastroenteritis upset! REALLY? REALLY? A stomach ache?

I now live on scrambled eggs, meat, a few veggies and cream in my coffee! NO sugar and as few carbs as I can. These I seem to digest. 100%different from what the nutritionist suggested.... It's what works. I do not want to get that sick again. My regular doctor said it sounded like classis obstruction.. IDK

I MISS THE OLD ME! The one who hiked the mountain trails, shopped all day long and loved to go places. Now, after noon, I am just too tired.

This is the only place I don't pretend to "be fine". Lori

Barb5454 · June 2015

Lorikat said:
Yikes!
oh my Barb! I so could have written this! I was in the hospital emergency room a couple of weeks ago so sick I was sure I would just give up the ghost. I hurt so bad in my stomach and bowels that I was throwing up even after I had nothing left. My poor husband came into the bathroom where I was sitting in the floor in my own diarreah while throwing up all in my lap.... Both bloody. Too d*** sick to reach the toilet for either one... Too sick to go to the emergency room... After about 6 hours of this he insisted we go to the ER. ANIBIOTICS, TWO BAGS OF IV FLUIDS, INTROVENIOUS PAIN MEDS, and the diagnosis? Gastroenteritis upset! REALLY? REALLY? A stomach ache?

I now live on scrambled eggs, meat, a few veggies and cream in my coffee! NO sugar and as few carbs as I can. These I seem to digest. 100%different from what the nutritionist suggested.... It's what works. I do not want to get that sick again. My regular doctor said it sounded like classis obstruction.. IDK

I MISS THE OLD ME! The one who hiked the mountain trails, shopped all day long and loved to go places. Now, after noon, I am just too tired.

This is the only place I don't pretend to "be fine". Lori

Lori

I'm so sorry you went through all of that!! Hugs to you!! And yes going to the emergency you and they said something similar to me as well!!

I can't eat meat but am finding out living on a vegan/vegetarian diet is helping. I miss the old me too! I could stay up all night and make love all day. These a just a few things I took for granted . I have become so humbled

Barb5454 · June 2015

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch said:
Empathy.
I'm so sorry that you continue to have problems, both physical and emotional.

An empathetic Registered Dietician could help you find a tolerated and balanced diet. Get a referral and before making an appointment. call available ones to see who has experience with post-treatment long-term cancer effects.

DO you have pain with intercourse that would justify your sweetheart's concern? If so, an oncological gynecologist (lots of experience with patients who have had pelvic radiation) might be able to help better than a standard gynscologist. If you don't have pain, maye a little couples therapy can help him realize that you aren't made of glass. Or at least that you're still desire-filled glass! Maybe you both could talk about becoming more adventurous and experimental in your love-making, incorporating other techniques than the usual.

There's a lot to be said for a long, firm, deep hug. And it might become something even more intimate.....mmmmmm.

.^_^.

Ouch

I will definitely look into that! Thank you! My man and I are considering counseling . The last time we made love he hurt so bad but that was before the dr put me on hormones. I'm willing to try but I think he is afraid of hurting me.

Barb5454 · June 2015

Phoebesnow said:
Barb
Geez! I so get you. I cried myself to sleep during myafternoon nap yesterday. I'm so tired of being tired. I have not surfed in over a month. I only have strength to go to work. It is to the point where it's either or, I can't have both.

The stomach issues, the blockages, the burping, the gas and the pain never stops. I do eat the nuts, I grind them down to a fine paste. Without the nuts it's constipation and bleeding. I eat poached chicken and salmon, beans, nuts! Grapes skinned. That's it, I can't tolerate anything else. I'm 5'9 and my weight is 115I I can eat small meals only.

Nobody but us will ever understand

.

Phebesnow

the tiredness really gets to me!! There are days I'll come home from work take a 3 hour nap make dinner and go back to bed.

Good idea about the nuts. But I have problems with constipation a lot. So I have to be careful . I can't eat meat and have adapted to a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle which has helped. Before I got sick I gained weight but now slowly dropping which is a good thing haha

mp327 · June 2015

Lorikat said:
Yikes!
oh my Barb! I so could have written this! I was in the hospital emergency room a couple of weeks ago so sick I was sure I would just give up the ghost. I hurt so bad in my stomach and bowels that I was throwing up even after I had nothing left. My poor husband came into the bathroom where I was sitting in the floor in my own diarreah while throwing up all in my lap.... Both bloody. Too d*** sick to reach the toilet for either one... Too sick to go to the emergency room... After about 6 hours of this he insisted we go to the ER. ANIBIOTICS, TWO BAGS OF IV FLUIDS, INTROVENIOUS PAIN MEDS, and the diagnosis? Gastroenteritis upset! REALLY? REALLY? A stomach ache?

I now live on scrambled eggs, meat, a few veggies and cream in my coffee! NO sugar and as few carbs as I can. These I seem to digest. 100%different from what the nutritionist suggested.... It's what works. I do not want to get that sick again. My regular doctor said it sounded like classis obstruction.. IDK

I MISS THE OLD ME! The one who hiked the mountain trails, shopped all day long and loved to go places. Now, after noon, I am just too tired.

This is the only place I don't pretend to "be fine". Lori

Lorikat

That episode sounds like an obstruction to me--been there, done that quite a few times, once having to be admitted. Did they not do a CT scan on you? I think the doctor who saw you was remiss in his evaluation of your symptoms. I believe your regular doctor is spot on with his diagnosis. Whenever I have an obstruction come on now, I am familiar with the type of pain it causes--it's unlike any other pain I've ever had, so I know what's coming. I will have a distended abdomen and diarrhea and vomiting just like you did and will vomit until there is nothing left. One time my emesis was black and that could have indicated blood. I'm so sorry this happened to you and I hope this is a one-time only episode for you. However, I think once we have an obstruction, there is a good chance that we will have more.

For anyone reading this who has had similar episodes, they can be very serious and lead to intestinal rupture. If that happens, emergency surgery is required and there is a high risk of death from infection. It really is a serious situation.

Take care, Lori.

Martha

sephie · June 2015

Lorikat said:
Yikes!
oh my Barb! I so could have written this! I was in the hospital emergency room a couple of weeks ago so sick I was sure I would just give up the ghost. I hurt so bad in my stomach and bowels that I was throwing up even after I had nothing left. My poor husband came into the bathroom where I was sitting in the floor in my own diarreah while throwing up all in my lap.... Both bloody. Too d*** sick to reach the toilet for either one... Too sick to go to the emergency room... After about 6 hours of this he insisted we go to the ER. ANIBIOTICS, TWO BAGS OF IV FLUIDS, INTROVENIOUS PAIN MEDS, and the diagnosis? Gastroenteritis upset! REALLY? REALLY? A stomach ache?

I now live on scrambled eggs, meat, a few veggies and cream in my coffee! NO sugar and as few carbs as I can. These I seem to digest. 100%different from what the nutritionist suggested.... It's what works. I do not want to get that sick again. My regular doctor said it sounded like classis obstruction.. IDK

I MISS THE OLD ME! The one who hiked the mountain trails, shopped all day long and loved to go places. Now, after noon, I am just too tired.

This is the only place I don't pretend to "be fine". Lori

so sorry

lori, i hate that you went through this horrible pain and horrible experience..... i do so hope you never have to deal with this again....seems as if we have to guide the ER docs and help them figure out what is wrong with us....we have to be our own docs..... hugs to you...sephie

Lorikat · June 2015

Lorikat said:
Yikes!
oh my Barb! I so could have written this! I was in the hospital emergency room a couple of weeks ago so sick I was sure I would just give up the ghost. I hurt so bad in my stomach and bowels that I was throwing up even after I had nothing left. My poor husband came into the bathroom where I was sitting in the floor in my own diarreah while throwing up all in my lap.... Both bloody. Too d*** sick to reach the toilet for either one... Too sick to go to the emergency room... After about 6 hours of this he insisted we go to the ER. ANIBIOTICS, TWO BAGS OF IV FLUIDS, INTROVENIOUS PAIN MEDS, and the diagnosis? Gastroenteritis upset! REALLY? REALLY? A stomach ache?

I now live on scrambled eggs, meat, a few veggies and cream in my coffee! NO sugar and as few carbs as I can. These I seem to digest. 100%different from what the nutritionist suggested.... It's what works. I do not want to get that sick again. My regular doctor said it sounded like classis obstruction.. IDK

I MISS THE OLD ME! The one who hiked the mountain trails, shopped all day long and loved to go places. Now, after noon, I am just too tired.

This is the only place I don't pretend to "be fine". Lori

if this happens again I will

if this happens again I will ASK for a CT scan. People who have been through this kind of rad/chemo really have to stay on top of their game. My blood pressure was 60/40 when they released me. All that was said was 'boy that's low'! And I have the very best insurance... Can you imagine if I didnt? in one month I go onto medicare but am NOT dropping my Federal insurance. MDA is a preferred provider under my federal HB program. Lots of $ to keep but, oh well! (my BP is usually 120/70). So take care of yourselves...

mp327 · June 2015

Lorikat said:
if this happens again I will
if this happens again I will ASK for a CT scan. People who have been through this kind of rad/chemo really have to stay on top of their game. My blood pressure was 60/40 when they released me. All that was said was 'boy that's low'! And I have the very best insurance... Can you imagine if I didnt? in one month I go onto medicare but am NOT dropping my Federal insurance. MDA is a preferred provider under my federal HB program. Lots of $ to keep but, oh well! (my BP is usually 120/70). So take care of yourselves...

Lorikat

If your pain is anything like mine when I have an obstruction, you will be able to identify it immediately. If I ever have to go to the ER with that type of pain, the first words out of my mouth will be "check for an intestinal obstruction."

I can't believe you were released with a BP that low. I'm sorry your experience was so unfortunate.

Martha

Reality finally hit me

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