Two days ago I began a regime that has culminated to this very morning. In 4 hours I will be allowing a man to boldly go where no man has gone before. A man I don't even know.
It started about 10 years ago, to what I just assumed was lactose intolerance. I cut out all dairy and things seemed a little better. From there, as things got worse, I continued to cut out anything I thought aggrivated my stomach. But as time when on, things continued to spiral out of control. With no medical coverage, I was forced to eat Immodium, and "deal" with it.
Almost 5 years ago, it got bad enough I started seeing a doctor for my issue. He started me on a bucketlist of psychiatric medicine, as I also had insomnia. For 2 years I was a pharmaceutical guinea pig. Suicide, anxiety, and depression headlined my prescriptions. But nothing provided relief.
Finally, I found Dr. Andrew Perry, who specializes in internal medicine. He started with mental issues, but quickly learned it was physical. He started running tests for internal issues, like blood work and stool samples. Everything came back normal. As everything got worse, he attacked the problem with a more potent cocktail of anti-anxiety, anti-cramping, and a diuretic. This provided some relief for a while, but ultimately we maxed out strength there and I was pulled from work.
My job performance suffered greatly. Embarassed to tell anyone my issue, I silently took my reprimands and write ups, until I started getting demotions. I came clean with my boss, and while she understood, she couldn't help out around the work site to lessen my work load. I was on the verge of getting fired, when my Doctor pulled me from work.
Seven months unemployed later, my wife is leaving me (this is too much stress and she can't see her dreams come true with me around), she wants the kids, and I am sitting here writing this up anxiously awaiting a colonoscopy. Which, my Doctor is hoping, will give us what we need. IBS, Crohns Disease, or Ulcerative Colitis, are what we have narrowed it down too. No matter what, just added stress to an already shitty ending. (Pun Intended)
In case you don't know, there is prep before a procedure as regal as this. Low fiber diet 2 days before, nothing to eat the day before. But you do get this wonderful drink, that must be consumed at 15 minute intervals. Its a bland, flavor like alka seltzer, but with an odd texture. The taste isn't unbearable but you begin to hate it. You spend the night on the toilet, clearing away all debris, so the camera can fit nicely, make tight turns, and the Doctor can see everything. The next morning, you wake up, drink some more laxative, and wait. Nothing to drink 2 hours before procedure. So here I wait, procedure in 3.5 hours. When I get an answer, I will let you know.
