A Journey Through Health Challenges and Resilience
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Chapter 1: Facing Health Issues
I'm making a comeback, I promise!
Just as soon as my body decides to cooperate. Recently, I spent a good chunk of two weekends in the emergency room. Two Saturdays ago, I was there for an exhausting 7 hours. By the time I was triaged, the ER was so crowded that they considered placing me on a gurney in the hallway. Thankfully, that wasn't necessary.
This ordeal began in March of last year. From March to August, I couldn't hold down any food and lost a staggering 35 pounds. My primary care physician dismissed my concerns, claiming, "There's a stomach bug going around. Everyone has it." But I knew that a stomach bug doesn’t last for 5-6 months. If there was such an outbreak, it would have made the news.
Fast forward to that Saturday: I've now lost over 60 pounds and am in nearly constant pain on my left side. When the pain intensifies, I press my fist into that area just beneath my last rib, and yes, it goes in up to my wrist. I know it sounds odd, but it brings some relief. After 14 long months, I was finally diagnosed with colitis.
However, by last Friday, I was still struggling. I had never fully accepted the colitis diagnosis. For one, they were supposed to conduct a urine analysis, but that never happened. They also mentioned giving me barium to drink for an MRI, but they did the scan without any contrast. I can't even recall what the third misstep was at this point. They sent me home with a prescription for antibiotics, but...
Colitis doesn't explain why I found blood in the toilet.
That's what prompted my initial visit to the ER. Living alone and on blood thinners, the last thing I needed was the risk of internal bleeding, especially if it meant bleeding out in my sleep. So, I kept searching for help. I had already visited two major local health providers, and neither could assist me. I even took a medical transport three hours away to the University of Maryland's La Plata campus, but they were unable to help either.
They all accepted my insurance and were willing to perform the necessary procedures. So, what was the holdup?
I'm single.
Additionally, nearly all of my family has passed away. It wasn't until my third visit, the one three hours away, that I finally received an explanation that made sense. The first two places kept citing policy. Apparently, Maryland law requires that if a patient is to receive sedation, someone must drive them to the appointment, wait, and then guarantee that they will take the patient home and see them inside.
Close enough.
So, why on earth do insurance companies offer medical transport benefits if state regulations make it impractical to use them? It’s akin to homeowners' insurance covering volcanoes when you're thousands of miles from the nearest one. It sounds good in theory.
This past Friday, I crossed state lines, like many women seeking the healthcare they deserve, and found myself in a large hospital on the coast of Delaware. They attended to me promptly. The doctor listened intently during our conversation. I recounted everything I had endured over the past year, including the tests that hadn’t been conducted at the previous facility. I underwent two blood draws, an IV, a chest x-ray, an MRI with barium, a urine analysis, and a few other tests.
The staff was courteous and professional. Unlike my previous experience, there was no chaos, and no one spoke about parking me in a hallway. The final diagnosis? Diverticulitis.
What is Diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis refers to the inflammation of irregular bulging pouches in the wall of the large intestine. Typically, the large intestine, or colon, has a smooth wall, but when pouches called diverticula form, they can become inflamed, resulting in diverticulitis. This inflammation can cause severe pain, fever, nausea, and alterations in stool habits.
If you look at the image above, you can see where I marked my not-so-perfect red circle. That's where I press my fist when the pain becomes unbearable. I've found that sleeping with a heating pad on that spot helps soothe the discomfort enough for me to catch a few hours of sleep.
I have an appointment with the gastro department at this new hospital in about three weeks. I had to leverage a favor to secure that date; otherwise, I would have had to wait until October, which felt like an eternity given my condition. Sometimes, knowing someone at the hospital's foundation pays off.
In other news, I’m still navigating the process of getting my teeth replaced. I was supposed to have my new teeth fitted a few weeks ago, but when I went in for the "final" fitting, they were all misaligned. I’m getting a full upper plate and a partial lower plate, all thanks to an anesthesiologist who inadvertently damaged several of my teeth during intubation for surgery a couple of years ago. I had just been too unwell to deal with it until now.
As I write this, I’m lying here with an eye patch over my right eye. I finally underwent the necessary surgery. My left eye was done almost a year ago, and the plan was to have the right eye done two weeks later. However, I had to endure five weeks of iron infusions because nothing seemed to alleviate my anemia. During week four, I contracted COVID for the first time. For ten days, I was bedridden, fearing I wouldn’t survive. I was already unwell; I didn’t want COVID to be the end of me.
Once I was well enough to leave the house, I completed the infusions but was still grappling with my stomach issues. It was one thing after another. Once I finally got through all of that, I resumed my plans for eye surgery and dental appointments.
Plus, I am finally MOVING OUT OF THIS NIGHTMARE. The apartment I’ve been waiting for since February is almost ready, and by the end of June, I’ll be out of here and into a much more civilized and efficiently managed complex.
It seems like I’m turning another corner in this journey.
In the video "It's Just More Of The Same," the speaker shares an experience of ongoing health struggles, emphasizing the importance of resilience and the quest for effective care.
Chapter 2: Embracing Change
In "Bruno Major - Just The Same," the artist reflects on the nuances of life's challenges, resonating with the journey of perseverance and hope.