third time's a charm

This is actually a post written by Hebs today. Dexter needed the day off to rest up for his wellness vet appointment tonight. :)

This was not supposed to be a blog addressing all of the health concerns of my pug and myself, but it seems like that's what it is turning into lately...

Just wanted to give you guys an update on what's going on with me.

I met with a new gastroenterologist yesterday morning, and wow is she amazing! What a wonderful doctor--incredibly thorough! I addressed all of the issues I've been having (bathroom issues, blood, lower abdomin pain, inability to gain weight) and she outlined a course of action. I'm going to have bloodwork done (ugh! needles!) to test me for Hyperactive Thyroid, Celiac's disease, Anemia, and to see how my blood clots. Next month I will be having my third colonoscopy and first endoscopy. Slightly freaking out about going through all this again. And then freaking out slightly more about the endoscopy part because I haven't had that done that before.

My doctor is hopeful we will figure out what is causing my problems and can determine what medications may help and what foods I may be allergic to. They will be looking at my colon, large intestine, small intestine, and even my esophagaus. Hopefully they will find the knife that feels like its been floating through my intestines!

My doctor thinks I may have an IBD, an irritable bowel disorder (not to be confused with IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, which I was diagnosed with after colonoscopy #2). An IBD (diseases like Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease) is an autoimmune disease. IBS is more related to outside influences, such as diet and stress (just to name a few causes). She thinks I may have a form of Ulcerative Colitis, coupled with an overactive thyroid. The thyroid issue comes in to play since I haven't grown in height and weight since middle school age, I have lost weight recently and haven't been able to gain it back, and have had some anxiety and feeling "jittery" for no reason.

I don't know who is reading this other than my friends and family, but if you are having any sort of "bathroom issues" I urge you to consult your doctor. It may be embarassing to talk about and to have any sort of procedures done, but if it will answer your problems in the long run, it is completely worth it! Trust me. I am the shyest person ever (I wouldn't even tell some people the name of this blog because I am too embarassed to have them read my ramblings) and was able to go to not one, not two, but THREE doctors about this over the course of 6 years. You can do it. :)