To Be Heard

It is such a great feeling knowing you are being heard, especially while sitting in a doctor’s office.  Over the course of last seven years, I have definitely had my share of Patch Adams moments where I am sitting in front of a doctor sharing my pain and I might as well have been talking to a brick wall about going to Uranus on a pogo-stick.  But not today.

As soon as my doctor came into my room this morning, I began spilling my guts and she not only listened to me but heard me.  I shared my anxieties related to Celiac and the fear of the unknown (such as if there another diagnosis around the corner?  How do I know the haven’t missed something big like Cancer?).  She never once stopped me or told me I was nuts to being afraid.  Instead she validated my feelings first before offering her professional opinion (with a hefty dose of support and encouragement).  We are going to keep trying the anxiety meds at night for now but she suggested going back to see a counselor.  I saw a professional counselor in the midst of our infertility, IVF, adoption, and hysterectomy crisis and it helped greatly so I didn’t object but rather welcomed the referral.  I will admit however that there is a small part of me that as a trained pastoral counselor that I shouldn’t have to see someone since I have a degree but to be honest, I think because I have a degree  that I understand the importance of seeing a professional.  This time, however, I will be seeing a psychiatrist versus a counselor.  So I am waiting on a referral to get an appointment.

In other medical news, my doctor was actually relieved by my Celiac diagnosis as both she and I had suspected GI issues beyond IBS for quite sometime (like 5 years).  She also took some blood work to check some different vitamin and platelet levels for the massive amounts of bruises that keep popping up (last night’s count was 35) as well as CPK levels to make sure my Crestor isn’t doing muscle damage.  Regardless, I am stopping Crestor to see if its adding to muscle pain (which is more common with Crestor than it actually causing damage) and since I’ve improved my diet and physical activity, she doesn’t think I need it anymore anyways.  So hip-hip-hooray for getting rid of one medication!  One last pill to swallow every morning! I have a follow-up in 4 weeks to get the results and also to have an ultrasound done to be sure there aren’t any scar tissues issues affecting my lower abdominal pain.

After “donating’ 6 or 7 vials of blood, I haven’t felt that great today.  I spent my lunch hour in bed trying to fight off a migraine and keep stomach cramps at bay and so far it has been successful in keeping me functioning the rest of the day.  So hopefully today’s appointment is a step in the right direction and get me on the path to good health!  I definitely feel more encouraged to endure and press on as I know there is more to life than just my illness!