Health Update for the whole family.
Between Monte and myself the doctor bills are soaring. We have pretty good insurance so thus far things are bearable but it hasn't been fun.
The results are in from my blood test and really there isn't much to say. My
B12 is low, my
ANA is a little high, and my white blood cells are in the normal range for someone fighting an infection. But other than that...well, there is nothing really wrong. The doctor wants me to take 1000 mcg of B12 each day. A normal dose is 6 mcg a day so she's pumping me up with the stuff. I also just finished my two week course of Prednisone (the steroid) and I'm almost finished with my Gluten Free diet.
The prednisone worked wonders. Within two days of starting the medicine my joints fell unbelievably better. I could walk again. I have started exercising a little each day and I'm awake and getting things done. It feels so great to sleep again and to get little tasks done around the house. I think Monte is much relieved as well. We have been getting along better too. It helps to be feeling better.
The only thing I'm afraid of is the chance that the joint pain may return when I'm off the medicine. I took my last dose yesterday. The doctor says my blood is clear of any major diseases such as Lupus, Lyme, Rheumatoid, or Celiac but if the joint pain comes back I may have to see a specialist. I don't want to have to do that so I'm hoping that everything stays great.
This Gluten and Dairy free diet has been difficult but rewarding. I have to plan my meals out better and I have been eating a lot of fresh fruits, vegis, and meats. My stomach aches have stopped and my bowls feel great. All in all it has been very good for me. I may stay on the diet a little longer because my body has been responding so well.
Monte and I went to
WholeFoods Grocery. I have never really been there before but it was fantastic. They have a whole range of gluten free foods and we bought rice pasta which fixed my craving for pasta that I've had the last week and half I was on the diet. They have so much fresh stuff and everything we bought there has been absolutely delicious! We even splurged on spinach, ricotta cheese stuffed beef tenderloin that we had for Sunday dinner. It was the most expensive piece of meat I've ever bought but it was soooo wonderfully delicious.
Besides the Gluten Free diet we have also tried to introduce a Low Residue diet these last couple of days for Monte's sake. That means no ruffage, or high fiber foods, spicy things, things that make you have gas, or lots of dairy. Our meals have been very interesting between my not eating wheat and his not eating fiber.
For those of you that don't know, Monte suffers from some bowls problems of his own. He had a colonoscopy back in April but then we moved to Texas and the doctor here decided to do another one which took place yesterday morning. The doctor in Utah told Monte that he had Chrohns disease but the doctor here informed us yesterday after the procedure that he's sure it's not Chrohns. He believes it's a bad case of
Ulcerative Colitis.
Neither diagnosis is good but Ulcerative Colitis is a little better cause even though he'll have to be on medication for the rest of his life or have his colon removed at least the disease is kept solely in the colon. Chrohns tends to affect all the intestines and is harder to control with medication.
With Monte's permission I am able share a bit about his condition on the blog here so that his family will be updated. But I promised him not to share anything too personal or embarrassing. (I wonder if pictures are embarrassing?) I find medical things of such interest but if you are squeamish...I warn you that I am about to post a couple pictures from the colonoscopy.
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A Healthy Colon (pictured to the left via internet search) is smooth, pink, and you can see the ridges around a pretty good size opening.
Monte's Colon (pictured below via his colonoscopy yesterday) unfortunately was so swollen and inflamed that the doctor almost decided to abort the procedure so as not to injure the colon any further. You can't even see the ridges and there were bumps and blood inside.
We are still waiting on the results of the biopsies. The doctor wants to make sure there is no underlying infection stemming on the inflammation. If there is no infection then Monte will start a course of Prednisone of his own to help
reduce the inflammation and he has already started an expensive regiment of pills to get the Ulcerative Colitis under control. When he started these pills back in Utah he qualified for financial help because he was so poor. The pills were almost free. But now, because he has a good job, the pills are no longer free so we have to figure out some way to pay for them. Even with insurance they are a couple hundred dollars every few months. Now I understand what is meant by middle class health care is the most expensive.
Well, that's the update on the health status of our little family. I'm feeling so much better and happier. We're just keeping our fingers crossed that everything stays good. Monte had a bad flare up last week but he had his colonoscopy yesterday and has started medication and has an appointment with the doctor again for next week. His spirits are pretty good too. I think he's more disapointed about having to take medication every day for the rest of his life than dealing with the bowl problems. Though, I am of the other thinking...and am very glad that the doctor has given him medicine. I don't like to see him in pain every evening.
