CHANGES ARE GOOD SOMETIMES

As I've said in my latest post, I've been having gastrointestinal problems. It never ends.

I went to my appointment Monday and he told me to stop Fiber pills and Miralax and all laxatives and take Citrucel. He also wanted to do an endoscopy and gastric emptying x-ray.

My endoscopy appointment was scheduled for Dec 21st and gastric emptying x-ray for  Dec 6th. 

It was arranged that my sister and Mom would take me for the endoscopy since Hubby had to work at his new job

Yesterday, hubby was off and the doctor's office nurse called and asked if I would be willing to do the endoscopy in the afternoon. I said sure. They told me to be at the Surgery Center, in the same building as his office on the first floor for 11:30 am. (It was initially scheduled at a hospital I don't care for because it is so darn big and walking from Point A to Point B is like walking 5 miles.)

 We arrived and did the paperwork.  Receptionist said he was coming at 12:30. At noon they called me to the back, I had to put the big gown on and an IV was inserted. About 10 minutes later the anesthesiologist came and talked to us. (That was never done at my previous GI doctor).

Then about 12:20 Dr. Jat arrived and checked in on me. (Again, my previous GI doctor never did that). They wheeled me in the surgical room, put me on my side, put the mouthpiece in place and the anesthesiologist said I was going to feel a little burn and I was out. I was dreaming of Babygirl when they woke me up and said it was over.

Doc told Hubby that they didn't see anything bad but did take biopsies. They gave us four pictures which I have no clue what I'm looking at. I know one is my colon but no clue what the others are.

They discharged me shortly after. We were home by 2 pm and that was with making 2 stops, gas station and Sonic for my Dr. Pepper.

The whole experience was so different and nice, not having to wait for 4-5 hours. It might have just been a good day and I lucked out but I really like Dr. JAT, his staff, the Surgery Center's staff and procedures.

I am still kinda groggy from yesterday but it is all good. I'm sore when I swallow anything but that is to be expected and it'll go away.

Oh! and the Citrucel worked wonders. I don't like orange and Citrucel is orange but I will drink it because it works!! 

I like Dr. Jat although at my appointment he kindly told me to stop talking while he was reading my history. I was only trying to give him information, in my defense. 😡 After he finished reading, I had his full attention.  Everyone was nice and caring. 

I have ALL of my doctors within 30 minutes, instead of 60 minutes now. Amen!!

Until next time...Look into a stranger's eyes and say hello! Who knows you might make someone's day :)

Convalidation Ceremony.

As most of you know, I married my Hubby almost 7 years ago. We 'eloped' in Las Vegas. The marriage was not recognized by the church. According to the church laws, we were still living in sin and still married to our exes (according to church laws).

For a few years, I had been thinking about how Hubby being married to me, I was the cause of his being in sin. I also was but he was my main concern. I knew I would have to get an annulment from my daughter's father.  I hate the process as I've done it before.

Coincidentally, or maybe God was talking to me, there was an announcement in our church bulletin that there would be a workshop in regards getting an annulment. Hubby and I decided to check it out.

We learned a lot. One thing that surprised us was although Hubby and his ex-were not married in the church and she wasn't Catholic, he had to get an annulment as well because he is Catholic. We were surprised and confused but nevertheless, we had to do what was required to reach our goal. That was to be good with the Church and God.

While Hubby only had to get some documentation such as divorce decree, baptismal certificate, etc.  I had to do same AND fill out an 18-page questionnaire going back from my childhood and reliving my failed marriage(s).

If you are at all interested, you can find the questionnaire and scroll to Part 4 for the questions I had to answer. 
https://diolaf.org/documents/2017/10/DOLwebsiteNewly%20Revised%20Application-Libellus.pdf

It was hard. I had to relive the good, the bad and the ugly of my whole life until the present and write it down in story-like form. At times I was typing with tears flowing reliving the pain in my life. I thought I would have to go back to therapy after this. (Just kidding but it was ROUGH). When I finished I realized it made me do a lot of soul searching and face some things I kept inside all these years, some ONLY Father knows now. And God of course.

Father helped me step by step. I never felt uncomfortable or judged by him. He was amazed at how much I had been through. He kept telling me how strong a person I am and he was sorry I had to go through what I've gone through since my birth and then had to relive this but reminded me that there is a purpose for all of this.

After I was finished answering the questions, Father sent it in and we waited. The average time it takes to find out if our marriages are annulled is up to 6 months. It only took one month and we both had our annulments. I might explain it more if I have any requests why it went so fast.

I think Father was more excited than we were. When we received the annulments, he boasted, "Ya'll are an engaged couple now!." Hubby and I both had about the same thoughts, "Huh?" But, we were, in the eyes of the church, an engaged couple."

We then had to go through the prenuptial process which included going to an engaged couple's encounter which we did.  That is another story in itself. We then set the date for the Convalidation that coincided Father and our schedules which was October 20. I asked him how does our anniversary work now. I couldn't believe the almost 7 years we've been married would be obsolete. He said we could just celebrate two anniversaries. That's pretty cool!

We agreed to have only our parents, my daughter and her husband, siblings and one of Hubby's friends who is a deacon.

I am happy to say everyone showed up for the ceremony. A few had to leave after and forego the 'reception"  because of previous plans. But we were thankful that they did alter their plans to come to our Convalidation. You know who you are. Thank you!

I asked my brother in law to be an amateur photographer at the last minute. After seeing the pictures, don't you agree that he did an awesome job? We totally forgot to get one of Hubby and me only. Oh well! The ceremony started late, which lasted 15 minutes, but we had reservations at a restaurant we were in a hurry to get to.

So here are the pictures.

You know how parents say their kids never listen to them. This time my family didn't listen to me. Mom, a devout Catholic. said she wanted to give us something to remember our day. She was looking for an angel like she has but they were out at the Rosary House. But she found this which is beautiful. This was from my parents and sister and her husband.

Ted, my brother in law took the pictures below. He even recorded some but you can hardly hear it so I am not including those. 

Blessed Mother

The Altar of our Church. I am always looking at Jesus on the cross during mass. It gives me comfort, hope and faith.

Father Blessings

Father Reading Scripture

From Left to Right; Babygirl, Me, Father A, Hubby and Deacon Wyble.  Deacon and  BabyGirl were our witnesses.

Reception at Picante's Mexican Restaurant. They were the best!

There you go! Sorry, it took a month but you know how I am by now :)

Thanks for dropping by and until next time...have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving. 

GI Woes

Hi Everyone,

It's me again. I know it has been a while but I have not been feeling well. I know that is really nothing new but the symptoms are different. I've been dealing with cramping, nausea,  abdomen pain, alternating diarrhea, and constipation. etc. I decided to change GI doctors for a few reasons.

1. He is a great doctor when it comes to procedures. But that is the ONLY time I see him, a few seconds before he puts me under. Otherwise, I'm dealing with his nurse practitioner and I've mentioned how I feel about them.

2. Since my former family doctor changed his practice and my pulmonologist retired I've had to find other doctors so I figured I just as well get ALL of my doctors near where I live.

My new GI doctor's appointment is not until Nov 26. My family doctor has done many tests. H. Pylori was negative.

She did a CT of my abdomen with contrast. It is abnormal. 

1) A large amount of stool noted within colon aka constipation. I have a long history of constipation but not this severe. She said my peristalsis has slowed. I knew that. She told me to give myself 1 or 2 enemas and then drink Milk of Magnesia for a week. Let's just say the toilet was my best friend. I alternate constipation/diarrhea. It's frustrating

2) I have a lot of gastric distention which means bloating of the stomach when air is pumped into it. I have complained about excessive gas for months to deaf ears. They told me to take Fiber. "SIGH"

3) I have wall thickening of the gastric wall of the GE junction (Suggesting reflux-no surprise I do have Gastroesophageal reflux)

4) Thickening of the duodenum as well as the gallbladder. Gallbladder has enhancement. Last December I had a HIDA scan that was completely normal. Doc said let's see what new GI doc says.

5. My most worrisome finding is that I have "RIght liver lobe 11 mm x 5.6 mm nonspecific area of decreased enhancement. Suggestion from radiologists was to get a follow-up CT scan in 3 months.

There was more like bronchiectasis in my lung, no big surprise and part of a kidney is atrophied and has lesions.

She said there may be some kind of bacteria so she put me on 2 antibiotics, Cipro and Flagyl. Flagyl is awful but I take anti-nausea Zofran before I take Flagyl with food or my Ensure. It helps some with the side effects..

She did another stool test since someone screwed up with my other stool. Waiting on those results.

I'm tired of my organs. I wish I could replace them😃. I've lost about 5 lbs. I had reached 92 lbs.

Even with all this going on My Hubby and I have been working on getting our marriage convalidated (Pretty much means blessed in the church). More on my next post.

Just wanted to let my followers know as some have been asking.

Until next time.....Pray for violence to stop!

And don't forget to leave a comment, even if it is to say hi! Hopefully, I'll get it in my email but I will check.