New PCP Visit Yesterday

I went and saw my new PCP yesterday. I filled out the patient information packet, which made checking in much easier. That clinic is pretty busy and there were only two doctors working yesterday. I waited around in the waiting room for a bit and noticed this sign:

I had to giggle.

The nurse called me back and took my vitals. She then sat me in a room and asked me a bunch of questions about my medical history. I answered all of them as truthfully as I could.

Then, the doctor came in. He was very friendly but when I told him I couldn't sleep and that I would really like something to knock me out, he refused to give me anything. It made me feel like a pill head but I have extremely bad insomnia most nights. It's like I can't turn my mind off. Anyway, he called in more Bentyl and Zofran for me with refills, in hopes that would help the spasms and nausea. The Mayo doctor cleared me to be back on Bentyl. He made me sit in his office (his office has a lab) for another blood draw, even though I brought my medical records with me from Mayo where they just DID a blood draw. The lab tech poked me about four times so I'm bruised all up and down my arm from Mayo and from this doctor's office.

He said my blood test results showed my triglycerides were high but he said since I'm sick and I probably haven't been eating much, he would retest it later. The total time I spent at the doctor's office - 3 hours.


He also gave me a medication that I've never heard of before. It's brand new and it's used to idiopathic constipation, usually used for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. He prescribed it to me so that I could see if it helped. He thinks that's where most of my pain is coming from but I disagree. Yes, it may not be helping the situation but my pain is very intense and it's right where my liver is. Here is the medicine he prescribed and I"m curious if anyone has tried it with positive results:

I'll have to let you know how this new drug works out. My pill case is getting full again.

I went to my other doctor, the one who diagnosed me with ADD, and told him about my anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. He switched me from Zoloft to Celexa, for anxiety. He also gave me Trazadone to take at night to help me sleep. I could have kissed him! So, I actually got some rest last night but I've been so nauseated all day. It's hard to function when you're so tired and in pain all of the time.

I found this article and wanted to share it because I thought it was a great read.

Gastroparesis throws your entire life a curve ball. EVERYTHING changes: your diet, your sleeping patterns, your morning routine, your social life, your professional life, your level of physical activity, you name it. I have scoured my brain and can not think of one aspect of life that does not change once Gastroparesis begins to take over. As much as you try to continue being “normal”, it isn’t going to happen. You are kicked right out of the fast lane onto a beaten up wooded path that not many people know about or care to find. You have to learn how to navigate this path and hope that you can find your purpose life. The purpose that you are meant to pursue while living through the ups and downs of Gastroparesis. You are unrolling the path by yourself and have no idea where it is going.

Read more about the article HERE.

My Weird Symptoms Today

Today, I'm feeling a bit off. I was up almost all night vomiting again and my throat is really swollen from vomiting. I can't even swallow a cracker, so my husband gave me a bottle of sore throat spray so that I could at least try some yogurt. It's somewhat hard to swallow now but at least I'm able to talk.

My symptoms today are unusual and I wonder if it's because I haven't been sleeping or the lack of food. I woke up from a short nightmare to a panic attack. I talked myself down out of it and tried to control my breathing. I felt like I was drowning. There was so much pressure on my chest.

When that was over, I felt extremely nauseated. It's always worse in the mornings but this was worse than I've felt in a long time. It is almost like the vomit is stuck in the middle of my throat, burning it more. It's not coming up and it's not going down. Eventually, I swallow it down. But, even with the Zofran and Phenergan, I'm still really, REALLY nauseous.

My skin has also been clammy and sweaty today and I keep sweating. I've had to change my shirt twice. It's a cold sweat though, so when I take a shower and get out, I'm still cold. Also, I'm running a low fever (that goes away with Tylenol or Ibuprofen) and I ache everywhere, mostly to the left of my right shoulder blade. I guess I may have jerked wrong during my nightmare... but I'm not sure. I guess it's possible that I could have pulled a muscle vomiting, too.

I also have confusion and loss of time, which I've had in the past, the night before my first 8 day hospital admission. The confusion part bothers me. I don't remember doing certain things and I get distracted a lot easier than I used to, and I get confused easily. It makes me feel stupid. I also do things that I know better than doing but do it anyway and then forget about it, like posting stupid things on Facebook. It's strange. I know that's probably not a symptom but I thought it was urgent enough to be mentioned.

Additionally, I lose track of days and track of time. I had to buy a pill box with the times on it so that I wouldn't double dose on medication, trying to remember if I took it or not.

I have absolutely no appetite today, whatsoever. The image of food makes me ill but I know I need to eat something. I have to make myself eat, which is the hard part. The last three days, I've eaten smaller meals (usually yogurt) five to six times a day. It's really, really hard to eat so frequently but I am trying to make an effort. Also, I've started walking after eating. I want to feel better but I just feel so miserable right now.

My fraternity brothers are coming over tonight to watch a movie with me and keep me company. I really could use the distraction. It's been a long week and the week still isn't over. We're going to either watch a sci fi/ fantasy movie, or a comedy, or both. We haven't decided yet.