Skip to main content

Extra Cheese: A Tale of Heartbreak


I’ve become the very thing I used to mock. If 5-years-ago-me  heard some of the things coming out of Today-me’s mouth regularly, I’d scoff, “Suck it up!” and take another bite of my extra-cheese pizza and gulp a drink of beer. But, oh how times have changed. I’ve been reduced to 3 questions:

“Do you have gluten-free options?”

“Can I get lactose-free milk?”

“Is it possible to leave off the sesame seeds?”

A little background: I’ve basically been in some sort of pain for about the last year or so. I got used to taking daily Ibuprofen’s, sometimes Naproxen. Some days Ibuprofen and Aspirin. And still some days both with a heating pad. That’s just how it was going to be now. I’m in my 40’s and (according to one useless Doctor’s analysis and dismissal) and I should just learn to cope as I begin my decade-long slide into menopause. Yeah, thanks.

My discomfort sent me to the emergency room 3 times. Blood work showed nothing and I was beginning to lose hope. Then, after much research, and a Dr. who FINALLY listened to me, we found one piece of the puzzle: Uncomplicated Diverticulitis. That’s what that pain is. Of course! I was given meds and it subsided…

…for awhile.

As if realizing that I was finally feeling kinda normal, my body seemed to rebel in a big way. I was either being stabbed by some invisible force or a Xenomorph was about to burst free from my gut. The level of pain accounted for either… or both. Sadly, (or maybe luckily) I know what Diverticulitis pain feels like and this wasn’t it. So, back to the Dr. I went.

Long story short: More blood work. More tests. An ultrasound. Lots of tears. I was told one of the saddest things of my life, “You have a gluten and dairy intolerance.” But bread!! But cheese!! But bread dipped in cheese!!

Sadness.

I hate this term….but it was a true “Aha moment.” I remembered how my tummy grumbled every time Matt and I would go for beers. I remembered how I would wake up every morning with an upset stomach after my nightly glass of milk. And too many other duh’s to name. Ok, this makes sense. I made an oath right then and there, in the office, to change my diet and test this theory.

It’s now 3 weeks later.

The verdict: I’ve lost 10 pounds. My skin has cleared up. I feel less anxious and most importantly, I don’t hurt. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhttttttttttt…..this is what it feels like to not feel … anything. I forgot.

So, here we are. I’m that person. I spend my free time researching gut-friendly recipes and adjusting to my new normal.

I’m telling this (TMI) story for one simple reason: these diagnoses were made by me. I took these theories to my doctors and asked to be tested. I did this several times. I made noise until someone listened. Far too often, we are dismissed. We are given a generic analysis and some “this’ll help for now” medication. It’s absurd.

Simply put: If not for my self-advocating, I’d still feel like shit.

I don’t know if this is the complete solution to my gastro problems but, it’s a big damn start and I know now I’m headed in the right direction. I have hope of being pain-free.

Please friends, if there’s something happening with you. Something that’s just not right. (Who knows better than you?) I urge you (beg you!) to not take “no” for an answer. Demand tests. Demand answers. Demand a doctor who will listen. It’s totally acceptable to be an a-hole nuisance when it comes to your health. And a good doctor won’t mind.

Here’s to a happy, healthy 2020.

XOXO
-Vanessa  Sully

Good advice.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Hectic Spring

If I sit and really think about all the things that are happening over the next few months, I will surely lose my mind. My leisurely Atlanta life is being uprooted and I'm heading to the frosty north. As scary as that sounds, I'm not terribly nervous.... yet . Anxious is a better word. "Things" have been in the works for months now, and though we're still ironing out the details, one thing is certain - change....otherwise known as the story of my life. I'm no stranger to "starting over." This will be the 4th time that I will change cities without having been there. Of course, the first one was when I was 6, but still.... I went to Las Vegas at 18, Austin at 23 and am now in Atlanta about to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of my 30th birthday. The last move was the toughest. Austin was and will always be my home. So much so, that ultimately Matt and I agree that's where we want to end up....again. Yeah, it was hard to put that aside long enough to g...
Post a Comment
Read more

5 Things I've learned so far...

1. Our baby has fingerprints already. I'm not sure why but this freaks me out. 2. Pregnancy heartburn is NO JOKE. Before this, I think I'd had heartburn twice in my life. I'm Mexican for Christ's sake! We love our spicy food. I guess I have to go easy for the next few months. Boo. 3. I can't watch "A Baby Story" without being reduced to a sobbing mess. But I find myself turning the channel for the delivery part. 4. The placenta & baby (aka alien) are about the size of an avocado right now. 5. Our baby will have duel citizenship. Cool, huh?
Post a Comment
Read more

I'm back!

A while ago, my laptop died. There was no warning, no clue that something was wrong. As suddenly as it had come into my life, it drifted away and with it, my blog, my therapy...and a little bit of my sanity. There it sat in a drawer mocking me. With every intention to get it fixed a funny thing happened - life. You know, that thing that occurs while you're busy making plans? And just like that it was forgotten ... until a few weeks ago. A friend said, "Let me take a look." And here we are. The best Christmas presents are those that are already paid for, aren't they?! So now I find myself a few years later, a little older, hopefully a little wiser, most definitely a little more tired thinking of trying this blogging thing again. It seems so appropriate that it should start at the beginning of the year. I know, I know... all aboard the bandwagon . I'm not into resolutions, really. But if I'm looking at this as a new beginning, I guess I can set some goals, rig...
Post a Comment
Read more