Well, Ostomates, there's been a slight snag in my health, and I'm not sure what to make of it. I haven't shared my story yet, but I figured now is a good time.
I suffered many years, most of my life, with constipation. Nothing ever helped me, including doctors. You'd think being in Massachusetts I'd have a great selection. Wrong.
After years of this constipation, I had a baby and got the depo shot. I'm not sure how many women have been subjected to this torture, but my body didn't appreciate it. I gained 30 lbs almost immediately and had mood swings from hell. Soon after, I began having chronic symptoms of appendicitis, minus fever/blood counts. This went on for years. They acted as if I was crazy. All of their imaging was coming back “clear.” Odd, considering I felt like I was dying.
Years down the road, when that baby of mine was now 12, I started suffering massive pains in the area of my liver. At that time, I was a heavy drinker and had been for a long while. I was convinced I'd done damage but didn't stop yet.
I was able to see a gastroenterologist who gave me a couple of colonoscopies over the years, but they never saw much but a polyp. They said gastritis at one point, and then IBS, and ANXIETY, of course. I also got a CT/MRI of my liver around the time that pain started, and it showed so many cysts they couldn't count them. Yet they told me nothing to worry about. In fact, in their opinion, I literally had nothing wrong at any point. It was all in my head….
As time went on, I started noticing an issue with my left breast. Within the last 2 years, there's been increasing pain and distortion. I went for a mammogram once a year for the last 3 years. I was called back last year and had a breast MRI.
There is a point to all of these random pieces. The hospital where all of these tests took place is the major hospital in my city. There are very many residents relying on the expertise of doctors and radiologists. However, these people have utterly failed.
In December 2023, my gastro's office wasn't answering their phone for 3 days! I finally got fed up with leaving messages and found a different gastrointestinal doctor. This saved my life.
I saw her on a Thursday, was having a colonoscopy that following Monday, and was diagnosed by Thursday. All the while, I've had many scans!! Ultrasounds, MRI, CT scans. No one saw that!! And no one would give me a colonoscopy!!
So then, of course, I get diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome and end up with a total colectomy/total hysterectomy.
During this surgery, would you guess what they found? I had fibrous obliteration of my appendix!! Symptoms are the same as appendicitis!! For 20+ years!! Talk about validating!
Then I see an oncologist who says they're worried about my liver and bone lesion. He physically read the images himself. I have liver-related symptoms such as white stool and pain. Luckily, I was able to have him book me a bone scan for the lesion. That's upcoming. And for my liver, I'm seeing my angel gastroenterologist.
But now, I have rock-hard lymph nodes in my armpit. I'm not sick and haven't been sick. My breast is killing me, and now I'm worried.
I looked at the breast MRI I had 1.5 years ago, and to me, my left breast clearly looks different. And when I search the image, I get Paget's breast cancer.
How the hell can one hospital neglect so many images!!!! How is it that I can see these things, and they cannot?? What's the point of wearing the badge if you're not actually doing the work??
I am scared. Anyone else have any experience with anything like this?? I know I've been rambling; I apologize, just so much in my mind. As soon as my husband saw my armpit, his face fell. Like he knew it's not good. And I have that feeling, too.
I'm going to try and stay positive!!
