Our Own Best Advocates

Four years.

Four years of stomach pain...doctors' appointments...tests...scans...medication...

And frustration.

For four years, I've been dealing with the mysterious, unexplained issues that have pretty much reduced eating to a chore and not a pleasure anymore.

I found an old blog post from over a year ago, "I've Been Diagnosed With...", that somewhat discussed my issues. And my frustration.

ARGH.

A few months ago, my sister had a gallbladder scan that discovered an under-functioning gallbladder. While talking to her about it, an epiphany came to me that I was pretty much having the EXACT same symptoms as she had that led to her test.

So, when I visited my doctor - AGAIN - for the umpteenth time this past June, I casually suggested that perhaps a gallbladder scan was in order.

The doctor looked at me like I'd grown three heads, and while the thought going through his head was most obviously, "I don't see an M.D. after YOUR name, do I??!!", he actually said, "Well...I suppose if that's what you want....??"

In his best skeptical voice. As in I obviously didn't know what I was talking about.

No, it's not what I want, you moron, but if it can help identify a problem....

So, the gallbladder test was done, and it was uncomfortably painful, and the results are in....

My gallbladder is off-the-charts. Hyper. Over-active.

Hyperkinetic biliary dyskinesia, officially.

And the pesky, over-achieving gallbladder must come out.

Gee, doctor. Too bad we couldn't have discovered this FOUR years ago.

Anywho, I am scheduled for surgery in the morning, and although part of me is very-much relieved that finally, FINALLY, some relief is in sight, I can't help but be a little bit aggrieved.

Lesson learned in all of this...don't be afraid to push a bit for something in order to get an answer.

I don't give a hoot if there's an M.D. after my name or not...we have to be our own best advocates sometimes.

Peace.