Being Tested

For those of you that read last night's blog entry, you know how I typed away about not being anxious or worrisome. Rather to turn it all over to God when you felt those feelings trickling in. This is truly something I've struggled with for my lifetime. It started with being afraid at night to sleep because the house might catch on fire. Then, I used to break out in a rash as an adolescent when it would thunderstorm really bad. Even as a teenager, I still worried. So much that Maw Maw Brown always had this picture hanging in her house (I think it was like Home Interiors or something) that was titled "Let Go and Let God." She ended up one day just pulling it off the wall and sending it home with me because she knew how much I needed it. It hung on the wall for a long time at my Dad's house when I lived there and really needed it during my parent's rocky times. I still have it and really should hang it up again even if it is "country blue." (remember that color!?) :)

So, anyway, after posting that last night, I got a phone call from my gastroenterologist today with some bloodwork results. To make a VERY long story as short as possible, I went to become an established patient at a new GI doctor a week or so ago. I ended up leaving with a gallbladder test scheduled, a gastric emptying study scheduled, and 4 tubes of blood being sucked out of my arm. (ouch!) I drove home telling Paul how I was so pleased she was so thorough, but really I felt fine and didn't need ALL that! Especially the crazy tests she came up with! Like celiac disease and vitamin B12 deficiency! Celiac patients are often malnourished! If you've seen me lately, I hardly look malnourished! I must with shame admit I didn't pray about those tests because I honestly kind of feel like they never happened. (Well, the gallbladder and gastric emptying one haven't happened yet.) I was SURE the results would be fine, but I thought oh well it can't hurt to have them documented as negative.

Sure enough today she told me I have really low vitamin B12. For right now I take an oral supplement to bring it up, and tomorrow I truck it on up to Piedmont for more blood sucking to see why I have the deficiency. Depending on those tests, I might have to start doing injections (shots) of the vitamin. Seriously. I just turned 30, remember? Give me a break! :)

Then, I tested as a positive genetic carrier for celiac disease. What??? So, now next week I drive once again up to Piedmont to be put to sleep and have a tube stuck down my throat all the way to my pretty little small intestine to have a biopsy done to see if I truly have celiac disease. (I hear eighty to ninety percent of people who are positive on the blood test do have the disease.) Then, if so I have to go on a LIFETIME strict diet. Gluten-free. Know what that means? You can google it. :) The good news is that I learned wine and three musketeers are gluten-free! So, at least we've got the staples covered! :)

Sounds complex and simple all at the same time, huh? That's what I said. Just a diet and a pill worst case. But, there are other things that creeped into my mind today. First, it's genetic. So, if I have it I have to test the boys I think. Which they do have their history of GI problems and they sleep very well, so I immediately panicked. (Low B12 often goes along with fatigue.) And, both disorders I mentioned above go along with an increased risk (so I read...haven't spoken directly with my doctor yet) of gastric cancer and intestinal cancer especially if not treated correctly or soon enough? How long have I had this? Since my stomach hurt as a kid? Or was it triggered as it often can be by pregnancy and childbirth? Wait, do I even have it? Colon cancer already runs in my family and polyps, too. Now this? And, if the boys have it while I did catch it early they would have to have special birthday cakes and special foods to take to school events and everything! I mean it could be SO much worse, but still you want to protect your little ones from EVERYTHING!

Wait, do you hear the anxiety and worry? Yes, you do. It (was) there. I am working really hard here. Giving it to Him. He has always taken care of me and my family. He's not done with me yet or them. He sent me to this doctor for a reason. Either to save me or my children's lives. Or...to remind me of last night's blog entry.

Let Go and Let God.

God bless you.