August 23, 2006
Into the unknown.
All right, there are just enough people out there that know about a secret I’ve been keeping that I feel I might as well just talk about it. Ever since I was in College I’ve had persistent ulcers. Treated with medication it was under control. There were still certain things I couldn’t eat because it would cause a flair up, but nothing serious. In June I started having more persistent problems as well as acid reflux. I would vomit for no good reason and occasionally there was blood in it.
Being the stubborn arse that I am, I just put it off to ulcers. That was until after vacation when the constant heart burn, acid reflux and vomiting went of for weeks. I finally went to the doctor to have it checked out. Not being one that likes to be kept in the dark, I asked my doctor what it was and of course his answer was that it was too soon to tell. I figured that much out, but I needed to know best and worst case. He told me that the best case is that I have a really bad ulcer that is going to need immediate attention. The worst case was a malignant neoplasm of the stomach. I had all the symptoms and side effects. For those of you that don’t know what that is, it’s the big “C”, Cancer.
Just this week I went in for another follow up. I was told that he had good news and bad news. (Of course… there’s always good and bad news isn’t there?). Bad news, it’s definitely not ulcers. The good news is that there is a 99% chance it’s not cancer. Then he hit me with, “But we still don’t know what is causing the problem.” I’ve been put on a very restrictive diet for almost a month now, and I’m still having problems. I’m scheduled to have an exploratory procedure done in September so they can get a better look at my innards.
The occasional beer is okay, but if I drink more then a couple I know I’m in for a night of pain and vomiting. However, my wife and my doctor find it strange that when I drink Jack Daniel’s I have no pain, no discomfort and no side effects. Thus I’m sticking to my guns by saying that Jack Daniels to me, is like Spinach to Popeye.
Now I could lie and say that I’m not scared. Frankly folks, I’m still worried. I have a family that I have to take care of and I want to see the boys grow up and actually be able to meet my grandkids. Death doesn’t scare me, but no one looking out for my family does.
I’m not looking for sympathy, and frankly I really don’t want any. I figure this is the karmic wheel paying me back for some of the shit I pulled in my younger days. I just needed to get if off my chest. I needed to write it down, just to get it off my chest.
duuuude. Sorry to hear about the beer thing.
F'd up guts are worse than just about anything. But there's no reason to worry until after they get a scope in there. There's a bunch of things it could be, most of which are 100% treatable. Don't worry until they tell you to worry!
Posted by: caltechgirl at August 23, 2006 07:20 PMI got cha...it is scary being sick...and consumed with the what ifs when they cannot find a diagnosis...
also the fact that it takes sooo many tests and sooo many appointments to determine a diagnosis...
can be frightening and exhausting...
positive thoughts sent your direction...
Posted by: armywifetoddlermom at August 23, 2006 09:53 PMI'm going to feel really bad if this turns out to be a delayed chili injury....
Posted by: Graumagus at August 24, 2006 12:51 AMIsn't there any type of like blood tests they can run to rule in/out cancer?
Hernia?
So sorry about the beer, I know it must be killing you.
I will say a little prayer for you so you can return to your beer drinking soon.
Could it be some sort of allergic reaction to something in beer?
Posted by: Quality Weenie at August 24, 2006 06:11 AMI won't give you sympathy, but, since I care, I'll send positive thoughts your way. Seriously, dude, you have to find out why beer is now your enemy . . . perhaps its the end of the world? ack!
Posted by: oddybobo at August 24, 2006 07:32 AMActually I think medical science would be more interested in knowing why everything EXCEPT Jack Daniels screws over his stomach... it's not just beer...
Posted by: Graumagus at August 24, 2006 11:37 AMHappy Thoughts going your way that you can have beer again soon. I think I would die if I stopped eating chocolate again. I did it for my first child but not my second. It was too much... I have chocolate EVERY day. Ugh.
Posted by: vw bug at August 24, 2006 01:47 PMThat's it -- you're going on my prayer list, whether you like it or not!
Posted by: Omnibus Driver at August 24, 2006 02:33 PMIt's not just beer that effects me. Beer is just one of the many different things, like anything with tomatoes, chocolate, bagels, fried foods, breaded foods, greasy foods, yummy foods, anything mildly acidic, anything carbonated, etc.
Posted by: Contagion at August 24, 2006 04:09 PMYikes!
I hope only the best for you.
I went through something very similar and feel your pain.
Thank GOTT you finally told. I'm tellin' ya, I *HATE* keeping these kinds of secrets. I just wanted everyone to keep you in their thougths and send good vibes your way.
Whew - now. Just take care of yourself, get better and I'll make you 2, count them TWO pans of the hottest mexican manicotti I can make!!!
Posted by: Tammi at August 24, 2006 06:59 PMHave they ever tested you for celiac?
I hope they find something soon... get to the bottom of it. This sucks.
Posted by: Bou at August 24, 2006 08:11 PMIt just really sounds like you're seriously allergic to something... or a couple things.
Posted by: Bou at August 24, 2006 08:13 PMThe beer thing really makes me wonder about celiac too. This would mean you'd have problems with anything that has gluten. Basically, wheat, rye, and barley (the celiac page says they no longer consider oats to be a problem, but I'd lay off them too for now). Generally it's not a "stomach" issue, it's intestinal... but there's always room for variation.
It wouldn't be easy but it would be a diet test you could do on your own to eliminate these things and see how you feel. (as opposed to surgery where they're looking about for the unknown) You'd have to read every friggin' label, for a while until you figured out what was good and what was bad. Of course beer = bad because beer is made from wheat. But the easiest way would be to eat straight meat and vegies (use rice for your starch to help as a filler) for a couple of weeks - no sauces... and see if there's an improvement. The standard allergy diet is lamb and rice with each new thing added one at a time to see how your system takes it. Yeah it's blah...
My boss has this - it can be very nasty. But the thing is, nasty symptoms help you stay on your diet and at least you wouldn't have to give up Jack *grin*. Good luck to you.
BTW - when I say every label I mean EVERY LABEL - check everything including condiments, yes salt too because they often use fillers to keep it from sticking together. Anything not fresh off animal or vine (so to speak) is suspect. Nearly every prepackaged/premade food has got some sort of wheat based filler.
Posted by: Teresa at August 25, 2006 11:05 PMOkay, you all latched onto the beer thing just a little too hard. That's just annoying cause I really like my beer. It's definately not a food allergy. Because if it is, I'm in serious trouble because EVERYTHING except Jack Daniel's upsets my stomach.
I guess it would have been easier to do it this way, things that don't upset me.
Jack Daniels, Wheat or white bread, turkey, some cheeses, mayo, some seasonings and broth. Everything else I've eaten has given me trouble.
Posted by: Contagion at August 26, 2006 10:08 AMso basically what you're saying is you have a glass of JD with every meal? Heh. "I'll have some whole wheat toast with a slice of cheese and a glass of JD for breakfast, please?" ;-)
Posted by: Bou at August 26, 2006 11:12 AMIf I could I would, but unfortunately IHOP doesn't servie JD.
Actually the upside is that Ktreva no longer gets upset when I drink JD, I just tell her I'm medicating myself.
Posted by: Contagion at August 26, 2006 11:14 AMOh... trust me... there was NO DOUBT in my mind that you were telling your lovely wife you were medicating yourself! No doubt.
Posted by: Bou at August 26, 2006 11:17 AMI want for you an answer and a body free of pain. Get high on love from your wonderful family with a "wee" chaser of JD.
Keep us informed, you and yours are cared for by many.
Posted by: h~ at August 26, 2006 01:41 PM
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