Well, That Wasn't Helpful!

Yesterday, I went to see an Occupational Health Specialist to inquire about my disability insurance, and see if I qualified to be permanently disabled so I could get my student loans discharged.  It turned out that my doctor actually referred me to a "Work Injury Clinic".  Uh, I don't have a work injury.  Never have.  After explaining this on the phone several times, I still went, because I thought maybe she could help me anyway.  Basically, the entire 2+ hour appointment consisted of testing my ability to stand, walk, lift, bend, etc.  I was able to do everything, mostly because I hadn't eaten all day in order to be safe to drive.  At the end, she says I would be able to work part time.  I came home, and I started to think about it.  If I could get an accomodation to work from home, I could probably be able to return to work.  I really hope this works out, because I don't want to lose my job.

I thought I had lost the job but it turns out they were able to put me on administrative unpaid leave so if this works out, I can keep my job!  The only wrench in the plans is that I promised my son a vacation for his February break, especially after we cancelled our summer vacation to many tears.  It is paid for already, so if I go back to work, I need to go back for about a week and a half and then take 2 weeks vacation.  I don't know if we can get our money back, but really, I don't want to cancel it.

Here's hoping something finally works out for me!

Same Old Crap (yes, pun intended)

Well, I haven't been feeling well.  That is an understatement.  And when I have my period, everything is compounded about 3 or 4 times, so I am much worse at the moment.  The steroids have been helping, as I'm not quite in misery as much, until yesterday, when my hormones decided it was time for my monthly kick in the gut.  Even when I am completely fine, in remission and all, my period is like a mini-flare.  But now, even with the steroids and tramadol, it is agony.  I considered for a split second yesterday going to the ER, but I think I'd rather suffer than do that.

I spoke to the long term disability people the other day.  Everything for that is on track.  I hope I get better in time to save my job.  I just don't see how I can work if one week a month I'm incapacitated.  Unless I can get in complete remission, working just doesn't seem possible.

Fed Up!!!!

Last night I was up late, because I didn't feel well (shocking, I know).  So this morning I slept in while my husband and son got up and went to work & school.  Around 8:00 I came downstairs and as I was walking down the stairs, the phone rang.  It was my GI doctor.  My hydrogen breath test was negative, and my most recent blood work showed a slightly elevated CRP (a marker of inflammation).  He is putting me back on the entocort.  I was actually considering asking him to put me on predisone, so this is a better solution to my misery. I was sort of hoping the breath test would show bacterial overgrowth, as that is easily treatable with antibiotics, but no such luck for me.  Ever.  It seems my body always wants to do things the hard way.

Since the doctor called I haven't really left the couch except to go to the bathroom.  I've been very light headed today, so I've been trying to drink more (even though that means more trips to the bathroom, and not necessarily for #1).  I finally gave in and just decided to stay put, since moving around makes me even more light headed.  I am so worried about our vacation, and that I won't be able to do anything.  We considered cancelling it, but we cancelled our last vacation, and my son was so disappointed, I hate to do that to him again, so we paid the vacation off, and are now committed to going.  Maybe with the entocort I'll start feeling a little more human and will be able to enjoy our trip.  At least I can hope so.

Butt Pee Redux

It seems that I'm back to butt pee.  Lovely!  It is so pleasant and enjoyable.  Not really.  It is life sucking.  I am beyond exhausted and have been thankful for the new prescription of Tramadol the doctor gave me last week because the abdominal pain is excruciating.  I am actually considering asking my doctor to put me on predisone. But before I ask for that, I am waiting to hear what the breath test results are.  But the doctor did warn me that because I have my illeocecal valve removed there is a good chance of a false positive.

I went to Target today to get groceries and a prescription refilled. It was such a bad experience.  They were out of several things I wanted.  And the cashier was so slow, she was moving backwards.  Plus, Target has discontinued paper bags.  So not only was the cashier very slow, she paid no heed to my (multiple) requests not to pack the bags too heavy, because not only do the bags break, but they don't have any structural integrity, so my bread was all smooshed.

No Sugar, Please

I have been feeling miserable for days.  And I've been kind of busy, doctor's appointments, errands and such.  I went to the office and got my personal things.  I've had a lot of pain and diarrhea.  Not just regular diarrhea, but butt pee.  And today, I did the hydrogen breath test.  For that, I had to drink a dextrose solution.  It was so sweet, it was disgusting.  And that just made my diarrhea worse.  Sugar in general makes my diarrhea so bad.  I have to limit sweets, which isn't always easy, but today I had way more than usual.

I also had to go to Target today to pick up my husband's prescription.  I am so glad they have the bathroom near the pharmacy.  It makes it easier than running to the front of the store.  Yesterday I went to the doctor and then had to get labs and x-rays.  I was there for 2 hours.  It completely exhausted me.  I am so sick of this!

A New Year, but Same Old Crap!

I was feeling pretty good for almost 3 whole days!  I should have known it was too good to last.  Yes, I had a lot of D for those 3 days, but otherwise, I felt ok.  Today, I woke up with severe pain right in my "Crohn's Spot".  It hasn't gone away, despite several BMs.  I finally broke down and took half a Vicodin.  I don't want to be too loopy, as my mom is coming over for dinner tonight, and I still have to peel the potatoes and clean the bathroom.  I just don't have any energy to do that when I feel so awful.  If I lie down and don't move, it is almost bearable, but moving around makes it even worse.  I HATE that I can't get past this stuff.  Enough already.