I realized that I really missed Trader Joe's peach salsa.
A lot.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Medical Update
More blood work tomorrow! I'm not excited about this one....
Today the gastro called. I tested negative for Celiac. This means that I'm not allergic to gluten. I also tested this out by eating rye crackers. (I bought ones that had rye flour and salt as the only listed ingredients.) Basically I think only wheat is my issue. This means that I don't have to keep eating wheat. To be properly tested for the gluten allergy you have to be eating it. Otherwise the necessary endoscopy will be inconclusive. So, starting today, I won't be eating wheat for at least a month. We'll see how it goes and what happens.
The gastro said that my ANA (anti-nuclear antibody) level was elevated. It's an indicator for a whole bunch of auto-immune diseases (including Lupis) and other stuff. So today I had a physical and saw a rhemetologist. He's ordering more blood work, but doesn't think anything is wrong with me. The ANA can show a "false-positive."
So, I have some results, but I'm still waiting on Wednesday's blood tests...
Today the gastro called. I tested negative for Celiac. This means that I'm not allergic to gluten. I also tested this out by eating rye crackers. (I bought ones that had rye flour and salt as the only listed ingredients.) Basically I think only wheat is my issue. This means that I don't have to keep eating wheat. To be properly tested for the gluten allergy you have to be eating it. Otherwise the necessary endoscopy will be inconclusive. So, starting today, I won't be eating wheat for at least a month. We'll see how it goes and what happens.
The gastro said that my ANA (anti-nuclear antibody) level was elevated. It's an indicator for a whole bunch of auto-immune diseases (including Lupis) and other stuff. So today I had a physical and saw a rhemetologist. He's ordering more blood work, but doesn't think anything is wrong with me. The ANA can show a "false-positive."
So, I have some results, but I'm still waiting on Wednesday's blood tests...
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Allergist and Blood Work
Last night I went to the allergist. He said that wheat allergies are rare and don't usually cause most of the symptoms I'm having...however, he also thought that if anyone could develop an asymptomatic allergy to wheat it would be me. I'm allergic to so many things that he wouldn't be that surprised if the tests came back positive.
Now to the tests...
I was going to drive myself to the lab/blood center. It's only 1.5 miles away and I usually wake up early. Luckily, my mom decided she would wake up and take me. I went online and made an appointment for 10:15. It took a while to get the insurance all straightened out and the nurse had me start drinking water because she wanted a urine sample for one of the test. In the time I was drinking the liter of water, my body temperature started to decrease, which wasn't that big of a deal because I had a sweater with me.
There were six tubes that I had to fill. That turned out to be a huge challenge. When the nurse inserted the needle into my vein, nothing happened. No blood flowed out of my body. Apparently the tubes have suction, so they're supposed to help the blood flow quickly as to fill the tubes as fast as possible. This wasn't happening with my arms. Yes, my blood pressure is really low, and yes, I was probably somewhat dehydrated from fasting for the blood work. Even so, the tubes were not filling fast enough and I started to tremble and shake because I was getting colder. The nurse had to switch arms and try to find a better vein. She did, but it still took 1/2 an hour to fill the tubes. She would fill one part way and then start another. Then she would go back to the partially-filled tube to try to top it off a bit more.
When we finally left, I ate a cereal bar and drank more water. When we got home I couldn't eat anything so I got on the sofa and covered myself with four blankets because I was still really cold.
I made it through the afternoon, then my mom called to see if the gluten test results had come in...they hadn't. So, I had some pretzels after dinner and now I'm sitting on the couch with a stomach ache and a headache.....and so goes another day of this torture.
Now to the tests...
I was going to drive myself to the lab/blood center. It's only 1.5 miles away and I usually wake up early. Luckily, my mom decided she would wake up and take me. I went online and made an appointment for 10:15. It took a while to get the insurance all straightened out and the nurse had me start drinking water because she wanted a urine sample for one of the test. In the time I was drinking the liter of water, my body temperature started to decrease, which wasn't that big of a deal because I had a sweater with me.
There were six tubes that I had to fill. That turned out to be a huge challenge. When the nurse inserted the needle into my vein, nothing happened. No blood flowed out of my body. Apparently the tubes have suction, so they're supposed to help the blood flow quickly as to fill the tubes as fast as possible. This wasn't happening with my arms. Yes, my blood pressure is really low, and yes, I was probably somewhat dehydrated from fasting for the blood work. Even so, the tubes were not filling fast enough and I started to tremble and shake because I was getting colder. The nurse had to switch arms and try to find a better vein. She did, but it still took 1/2 an hour to fill the tubes. She would fill one part way and then start another. Then she would go back to the partially-filled tube to try to top it off a bit more.
When we finally left, I ate a cereal bar and drank more water. When we got home I couldn't eat anything so I got on the sofa and covered myself with four blankets because I was still really cold.
I made it through the afternoon, then my mom called to see if the gluten test results had come in...they hadn't. So, I had some pretzels after dinner and now I'm sitting on the couch with a stomach ache and a headache.....and so goes another day of this torture.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Doctor Update
Gastro: doesn't think anything in wrong with me. checking for parasites (because I asked) and gluten....I'm waiting for blood results.
Gyno: doens't think anything in wrong with me. More blood work. Did another pregnancy test.....didn't really trust the Spanish one. No, I'm not pregnant. Put me on some hormone pills.
Allergist: going tonight, update to come.
Gyno: doens't think anything in wrong with me. More blood work. Did another pregnancy test.....didn't really trust the Spanish one. No, I'm not pregnant. Put me on some hormone pills.
Allergist: going tonight, update to come.
Living with my parents (again)
Having to come home early has been interesting. For the first two days my mother tried to feed me constantly. I finally put a stop to that. I'm also able to eat more because I'm eating less wheat and I've been eating it at night. I'm so tired that I can fall asleep even if I haven't fully digested the wheat product. (I was not able to do this in Spain.)
Basically, I spend all of my time on the couch. Sometimes I watch TV, but mostly I just sit and do nothing. I try to take care of the dog, but that's a major challenge because she is constantly sliding backwards off her rug onto the tile floor. She doesn't have enough strength in her back legs to get herself back up and onto the rug, so she cries and whines. I'm really bad at picking her up, so most of the time I have to get my parents to help her. Sometimes (when I'm the only one in the room) she sits there crying because she doesn't hear me typing and wants my mom to pay attention to her.
I've been giving in and eating early dinner. Last night we were finishing up dinner at 6:15, which is when I would usually be eating an afternoon snack. I think eating earlier is helping my stomach a little....so that's a good thing.
Some American things I'm getting re-adjusted to:
TV commercials. They're loud and in English (harder to ignore), although I have forgotten about most of the products they advertise.
The eating schedule. (as mentioned above)
Being in a car all the time. I haven't driven yet, instead I'm being chauffeured around suburbia like when I was in grammar school.
Foods I had missed. Flavorless marshmallows! Cranberries! Salsa! Pretzels! (they do make me really sick - but they taste so good).
There will be more to add to this list as soon as I get some sushi and go to Trader Joe's. I've already decided that all I'm bringing back to Spain is food. (And the underwear I brought home.)
Basically, I spend all of my time on the couch. Sometimes I watch TV, but mostly I just sit and do nothing. I try to take care of the dog, but that's a major challenge because she is constantly sliding backwards off her rug onto the tile floor. She doesn't have enough strength in her back legs to get herself back up and onto the rug, so she cries and whines. I'm really bad at picking her up, so most of the time I have to get my parents to help her. Sometimes (when I'm the only one in the room) she sits there crying because she doesn't hear me typing and wants my mom to pay attention to her.
I've been giving in and eating early dinner. Last night we were finishing up dinner at 6:15, which is when I would usually be eating an afternoon snack. I think eating earlier is helping my stomach a little....so that's a good thing.
Some American things I'm getting re-adjusted to:
TV commercials. They're loud and in English (harder to ignore), although I have forgotten about most of the products they advertise.
The eating schedule. (as mentioned above)
Being in a car all the time. I haven't driven yet, instead I'm being chauffeured around suburbia like when I was in grammar school.
Foods I had missed. Flavorless marshmallows! Cranberries! Salsa! Pretzels! (they do make me really sick - but they taste so good).
There will be more to add to this list as soon as I get some sushi and go to Trader Joe's. I've already decided that all I'm bringing back to Spain is food. (And the underwear I brought home.)
jet lag
I've been home for four nights and I'm still jet-lagged....It might be partially because I'm sick, but I start to fall asleep at 9ish. Then, I usually make myself stay up until 11 or so...which means I did not see Slumdog take best picture (I didn't even come close). Then, I wake up at 6:30 in the morning!!!! I haven't gotten up that early (on a daily basis) since high school. The TV in my room doesn't work (I probably wouldn't use it anyway) and I don't have the energy or brain function to read, so I just lay in bed and stare at my ugly walls wanting desperately to paint them. I've already know what color: the same green as my Orla Kiely bag....this isn't going to happen any time soon because I can't even watch TV without falling asleep. (aka I have zero energy to paint).
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