Tuesday, September 30, 2008

So more tests...

I had a CT scan of my head last week, to rule out the tumor we know is not there...I have been feeling nauseated for months and months, and my gastroenterologist wants to rule out all the possibilities, thus the head CT. There were no other symptoms, but this way he can check that block and move on.

Friday I get to nave a gastric emptying study. I will eat a radioactive egg sandwich and then lay in a machine for an hour and a half while they watch how fast that egg sandwich leaves my stomach. The doc really doesn't think my stomach empties too slowly, but that is another cause of nausea and another block to check off.

Later in the month I have an abdominal ultrasound, I think to check out the gall bladder, but I am not sure. Another block, another check mark.

He also prescribed an anti-nausea med, but I took one dose and felt like I had been sedated. It made me a little nervous how sedated I was. Of course, being a massive control freak, I am bugged about being sedated anyway.

I also have another sleep study this month, wherein they will decide which CPAP machine and which pressure setting are the right for me.

And really terrific...I don't get any kind of bill or statement at all when I am seen at the Air Force hospital, and when I see a civilian provider the entire cost is covered. (There is a hoop to jump through, I have to get an authorization before I see the civilian provider, but mostly that's not a problem. With the huge exception last year, when the doctor's office and the local Tricare office -- Tricare being the military health insurance -- and the regional Tricare office yanked me around for a couple months over whether or not I was going to get the drug infusion to treat my Crohn's disease. But so far, the military hospital here has been AWESOME.

I don't think the doc's gonna find a reason for the nausea -- he's already done an endoscopy and saw no problems -- but I am hopeful we can at least find a drug to suppress it already.

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:17 PM

    Oh sweety (((hugs))) Veronica takes Maxilon for her nausea..I don't know what the US equivalent would be.. I will get back to you on that.. xxx Kim

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  2. I don't know for sure how you feel about prayer, but I want you to know you are in mine. Keep listening to the doctors and take care of yourself. God can give you the strength to get through all of this with peace. And I'm send you a hug too a tight squeeze ya hug. (((hug )))

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  3. I hope you get well real soon, Julie, big big hug from me too!

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  4. ((((Julie)))) I hope it all gets sorted out soon. There is nothing worse than not knowing what is going on when you know something is wrong.

    Oh, and since you have a good sense of humor... your head CT showed nothing there, huh? That explains a lot. :)

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  5. Anonymous9:58 PM

    Ugh, nausea is just no fun. I do hope they get to the bottom of it or at least give you something to make it better.

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