Today is day 3 of my 10 day course of Prednisone. AND IT'S WORKING.
This is not to say that I am feeling completely OK yet--ironically, the steroids cause my headaches to flare up. But they are so far tolerable. I have the jitters, insomnia, and a weird metallic taste in my mouth, but SO MUCH BETTER than a 2 week+ Migraine. Hands down.
I see the Neurologist on Monday (afterwards--Sonic Run! woo!). We're going to discuss what to do about the rest of my Migraine attacks--I'm not leaving without a suitable rescue med.
I saw Dr. Awesome Tuesday and FABULOUS news--she agrees with me--she does not think I have Gastroparesis either. His only basis for this diagnosis in our minds is "retained fluid" in stomach. Not food or pill fragments, common for those with GP. Nevermind that I honestly don't fit the profile at all for someone with GP. She especially warned me not to get the Botox injections until we know more—partly because we’re not sure, and partly because she’s genuinely afraid that I may have some reaction (I’ve become allergic to 2 meds in the past month, for a total of about 8 or 9 medications @@).
So I am going back to the Gastro and see if there isn’t some other way to test for GP other than the routine GES, since I am allergic to Erythromycin and have dyskinesia from Reglan. At first I was willing to use the reglan, but one dose of phenergan brought out some strong dyskinesia movements. So I don’t think I want to risk it : / I’ve been reading about other ways to test for GP, so even if he can't do it, I'll find someone who will.
I don’t want to offend the GP, but it felt good to get validation from my Dr. about my doubts. I was afraid I was just in denial. Her thoughts were the fluid might be due to my Lortab* use (narcotics), though it seems most of my symptoms began with a month-long stomach flu and now seem MUCH better—I’m able to eat more types of foods without getting sick (I had CRAB LEGS for dinner last night!!!). And she knows the battle I’ve had with diarrhea for the past year and just doesn’t think that slow motility is my problem. She’s thrilled the probiotics are helping me more than the prescriptions. I've had a great week, stomach-wise. Even the steroids only bothered my stomach for a day (Dr. A's concern).
While the Migraine from Hell has occupied the majority of my time, I have been terrified that I had GP. I joined an amazing support group online and it was scary what I was reading--what I thought my life was going to become. I mean, we're talking multiple surgeries, feeding tubes, multiple organ transplants....and I just do not feel THAT sick.
That being said, I know I'm not out of the woods yet. Not celebrating yet. But at least there is a whisper of hope that I don't have one more chronic illness knocking at my door.
*Yeah, don't get me started about the FDA talking about banning Vicodin. I've been interviewed by my local paper. Not freaking out yet, and I see Dr. Awesome next week, so we'll discuss it then.
This is not to say that I am feeling completely OK yet--ironically, the steroids cause my headaches to flare up. But they are so far tolerable. I have the jitters, insomnia, and a weird metallic taste in my mouth, but SO MUCH BETTER than a 2 week+ Migraine. Hands down.
I see the Neurologist on Monday (afterwards--Sonic Run! woo!). We're going to discuss what to do about the rest of my Migraine attacks--I'm not leaving without a suitable rescue med.
I saw Dr. Awesome Tuesday and FABULOUS news--she agrees with me--she does not think I have Gastroparesis either. His only basis for this diagnosis in our minds is "retained fluid" in stomach. Not food or pill fragments, common for those with GP. Nevermind that I honestly don't fit the profile at all for someone with GP. She especially warned me not to get the Botox injections until we know more—partly because we’re not sure, and partly because she’s genuinely afraid that I may have some reaction (I’ve become allergic to 2 meds in the past month, for a total of about 8 or 9 medications @@).
So I am going back to the Gastro and see if there isn’t some other way to test for GP other than the routine GES, since I am allergic to Erythromycin and have dyskinesia from Reglan. At first I was willing to use the reglan, but one dose of phenergan brought out some strong dyskinesia movements. So I don’t think I want to risk it : / I’ve been reading about other ways to test for GP, so even if he can't do it, I'll find someone who will.
I don’t want to offend the GP, but it felt good to get validation from my Dr. about my doubts. I was afraid I was just in denial. Her thoughts were the fluid might be due to my Lortab* use (narcotics), though it seems most of my symptoms began with a month-long stomach flu and now seem MUCH better—I’m able to eat more types of foods without getting sick (I had CRAB LEGS for dinner last night!!!). And she knows the battle I’ve had with diarrhea for the past year and just doesn’t think that slow motility is my problem. She’s thrilled the probiotics are helping me more than the prescriptions. I've had a great week, stomach-wise. Even the steroids only bothered my stomach for a day (Dr. A's concern).
While the Migraine from Hell has occupied the majority of my time, I have been terrified that I had GP. I joined an amazing support group online and it was scary what I was reading--what I thought my life was going to become. I mean, we're talking multiple surgeries, feeding tubes, multiple organ transplants....and I just do not feel THAT sick.
That being said, I know I'm not out of the woods yet. Not celebrating yet. But at least there is a whisper of hope that I don't have one more chronic illness knocking at my door.
*Yeah, don't get me started about the FDA talking about banning Vicodin. I've been interviewed by my local paper. Not freaking out yet, and I see Dr. Awesome next week, so we'll discuss it then.