Had another appointment with my surgeon yesterday

Dr. Cook was at the hospital during my 4 month visit last week so I didn‘t get to see him. When Lynn, his nurse, shared what we discussed, he did want to see me again himself so I headed back down to Hickory yesterday.

We talked about my hernia (and I showed him), my prolapsed colon (thank gosh I didn’t have to show him that!), and we discussed my concern about having any repairs done before we get to the bottom of my problem (no pun intended!). I’d had the colon repaired in 2002 and it didn’t last so I surely don‘t want that to happen this time. Our goal now is to find out what exactly is this that I have been dealing with for 16+ years? Is it really IBS or is it something more? I’m so glad that someone is finally willing to get down to the nitty gritty and help me get a diagnosis!

Just Wednesday I had multiple attacks after 2 weeks of severe constipation. It’s like someone is wrenching my insides into charley horses…the pain is so bad it makes me vomit and/or black out. I always have to let someone in the house know I’m having an attack so they can keep an ear out for me. On a couple of occasions I’ve even had what looks like seizures (diagnosed with vasovagal episodes) when I blacked out from the pain. Fun, fun! When I went to Hickory on Thursday, all day I felt like someone had taken a baseball bat to my insides. I just ache afterwards for a day or two and feel so drained.

So step #1 is a CAT scan to see if any of my colon is being affected by the hernia…adhesions, entanglement, etc. Other tests he mentioned are a colonscopy and barium enema. Oh the joy of it all!

I've also bought a couple of 2nd-hand books on vegetarianism over the past week and am definitely thinking about making the transition back again.  I know I can't rely on some of the things I did pre-op (like rice) to get in my nutrition so I'm not jumping back into it without some major planning and preparation.

Please keep your fingers crossed that we figure this out soon. My goal is to have it all done and over with (surgeries included) before my $2,500 deductible resets in July. Dr. Cook seemed to feel that was reasonable.

Oh, and he also said that my weight loss seems to be coming along well! Yippee!  Another -2 lbs. for the week this week.  Other than my hysterectomy, this is the very VeRy VERY best thing I have ever done for myself in my entire life!  Can you imagine if we get this particular health issue resolved?  I'll be invincible!  LOL