Finally Some Answers!

As many of you know, I had a biopsy on my intestine and a colonoscopy (ew) back on December 23rd.  I have been having so many stomach issues over the past few years that I went to my mom's GI.  I have blogged before about how my mom has something called Celiac Disease (along with 2 others in my family) and thought I may have it too.  My family doctor took a blood test which came back negative.  However, the GI doc said that the blood test is highly unreliable and the only true way to diagnose it is with a biopsy.  The only reason they did a colonoscopy is because of the history of colon cancer in my family and the fact that I was already going to be knocked out for the biopsy.  Kind of like killing 2 birds with one stone.

But it was me that nearly killed over.

Drinking the nasty liquid stuff (64 oz to be exact) the night before is what just about killed me.  It was the most disgusting stuff I have ever tasted.  By the time I took the last gulp, I literally couldn't handle one ounce more.

I was a little nervous going in for the procedure simply because it had been so long since I had something like that done.  And I usually get very nauseous and sick when I am put under anesthesia for anything.   After showing up for my 9am procedure and not being taken back until NOON (yeah, can you believe that?!) I was kind of relieved to be able to take a nap :)

While I was in recovery, the doctor came out and talked to my mom.  I had Celiac too.  Thankfully, it was just starting to show subtly, not to the point of being as severe as my mom's.  I had what they call "scalloping of the duodenum" which is a sign of the disease.  I had a lot of inflammed areas in my stomach that they biopsied so I had to wait 10 days to find out the results of those.

I got a little emotional when my mom told me the news.  After feeling bad for so long with no straight answer, you start to just kind of give up on a solution.  Even though I would rather not have it and not have to deal with such a strict diet, it was a relief to know that I could do something to make myself feel better.  And I have the best family who have already been such a big help for giving me suggestions on the diet.  They are pros!

On Friday, I got my biopsy results.  I have something called Bile Gastritis which is a back up of bile in my stomach which causes a lot of symptoms I'd been having.  They also found a polyp in my stomach which is just being irritatied by the other stuff.  So I have to take this not-very-good-tasting liquid medicine (and a lot of it) after each meal and before bedtime. It is a medicine that is used to treat stomach ulcers from getting worse.  The good news is that they told me if I did well on the liquid medicine for 10 days, I could take the pill form! YAY!

For those of you who don't know me that well, I was the weirdo kid in the pediatricians office that would ask for a shot in exchange for having to take liquid medicine.  I HATE it.  And still do.  Trust me, if there was a quick shot for this situation, I would have already done it :)  I STILL can remember the taste of the nasty, yellow Triaminic that my mom gave me when I was little and sick.  That taste will forever be burned on my tongue :)

Thank you for those of you who prayed for me and checked in on me.  I appreciate it so much.  And if anyone has any gluten free suggestions, send them my way!