Health Happenings

I mentioned in my last post that I would bring ya'll up to speed on everything that's been going on health wise lately and things have definitely been going on! I've talked about my more recent health problems, here, here, and here. On the 26th I went to see my urologist for a follow up and left feeling pretty low. He didn't really listen to anything I said and basically decided that his original diagnosis (pelvic pain problem) was correct despite my saying otherwise. He referred me to a pelvic pain therapist for physical therapy and gave me a Valium refill. I definitely felt like I had just been written off completely. He even mentioned my urine sample being positive for blood and white blood cells for both consecutive visits but never elaborated on that issue. I headed back to work with hopes that my visit with a specialist in Washington would produce better results. The following week I got a couple of calls from the office saying that the MD wanted to start me on antibiotics to treat an infection but only if I was symptomatic. My response to that? I'm symptomatic all of the time, that's why I came into the office in the first place. So that conversation didn't really go anywhere.

My urologist at home was super nice and scheduled a CT with contrast for me in order to take a better look at what was going on structurally. Let me just say that the barium contrast solution that you have to drink beforehand is nasty. I don't think that it's as gross as everyone makes it out to be but gross nonetheless. Well, before I got the results of that test my doctor in San Antonio called me again and told me he want me to take an antibiotic daily for the next thirty days but I wasn't sure what to do because my MD in Washington hadn't said anything about taking an antibiotic. At my next visit to go over my CT results the doctor told me that everything looked fine and that I should go ahead and to the pelvic pain therapy. You can just imagine my frustration at this point. I went ahead and took Dr. Graham's advice and started the Macrobid (antibiotic). BREAKTHROUGH! If I were to see Dr. Graham at the hospital (he has privileges there) I would hug him. My symptoms have almost completely gone away. Apparently I just had a really, really, bad bladder infection that went untreated for almost a year. I am so lucky my kidneys didn't shut down! The symptoms I have lingering now I know are mostly psychosomatic, except for some remaining pain. I just got so used to living my life a certain way and that it's hard to shake those habits! I still want to pursue the physical therapy but I'm waiting to hear back if my insurance is going to cover it or not because that is not going to be cheap.

So how have things changed now that I'm able to be a normal person again?!

1. I can drink Coffee!! 

I have missed coffee so much! Yeah, I kicked the caffeine habit, yay me! but just because my brain was still hooked on it phsycially doesn't mean that I didn't miss it. and boy did I miss it! More than diet coke, more than alcohol I missed having my morning cup of joe! I didn't miss the calories though or the dairy! I did a little research and apparently both silk and SO Delicious have vegan coffee creamers. After a little more research I found the SO Delicious's creamer got better reviews and was creamier as well as sweeter with no gross after taste. It is also zero points per tablespoon so that's a nice plus! I finally have coffee and creamer back on my shopping list! Thank god I never got rid of my coffee maker.

2. Movies, meetings, hiking, kayaking, and waiting in lines aren't stressful for me anymore!!
 I used to avoid any activity where I couldn't just get up and leave to go to the bathroom any time I wanted. Needless to say that includes a lot of things both fun and not fun. Sitting in class was a terrible experience as was meetings and waiting in lines. I totally stopped seeing movies and doing most outdoor activities but no more! I back to being normal!

3. I can drink... alcohol! 
I was never a big drinker but that's not to say that I didn't enjoy that occasional glass of wine or happy hour with friends. Not being able to drink at all was really awful. I had just turned 21 when a lot of these problems began and I couldn't have even the slightest drop of alcohol without regretting it. I was able to celebrate my 22nd birthday this past weekend with out regretting it the next day! I'm definitely not going to compensate for the past year by going on a binder but it's nice to know that I have the option of having a drink (or three...).

(This is from last year but you get the idea :) )

4. Lemon water and cranberry juice are back!

I love to drink lemon water! It helps beat bloat, keeps water interesting, and is delicious. Giving up this beverage option was such a struggle! I also love Cranberry juice! Most times it has a lot of sugar so it's definitely a rare treat but I even like adding a few drops of all natural unsweetened cranberry juice to my water. It was just depressing to think that I would never be able to drink either of these beverages again without being in pain. Plus I can add cranberries and citrus to my smoothies now! 

I really hope that I'm not jinxing myself by celebrating too early but I'm feeling optimistic and not to mention healthy. I'm hoping that this trend continues and that ultimately physical therapy will take away any traces of pain :) I"m just going to keep praying that things continue to get better! 

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