Monday, December 7, 2009

A Diagnosis and Treatment!


You know you just have those days where uncertainty about what is going on in your life, just drives you crazy with the unknown.

Last night I was feeling a bit down. Mostly because in my eyes life was going on around me, while I remained in bed resting, not much energy and still sick not knowing the 'why's' of it all. My oldest daughter went with friends to the movies and then to their homes to decorate for the holidays.

My youngest, Kailee, wanted someone to play video games with and to hang out with and watch movies downstairs.

Since I've been home and not sure what is been wrong, I've been cautious in keeping my sick self away from everyone. The only time I see anyone is the floating head that appears in between my door and the wall, inquiring if I need anything? The answer is always NO, I'm fine! Yet in reality, I'm far from it.

I'm lonely. I'm sick. I am worried about how long I'll be like this. I am sad that my favorite time of the year is slipping away, like sands in an hour glass, and through my fingers and still there is so much unknown.

That is until this morning. Poor Steve lay awake all night tossing and turning, wondering if he should take today off under the FMLA law, or go into work and deal with things when he got home. Such a struggle for him and I could feel his dilemma even this morning as he got up to get ready for work.

After he got out of the shower, he told me he was taking off as much time as needed for me to get well. We don't have any money to speak of in savings and his income means the world to us, so for Steve to say this, is a huge undertaking. We believe God will prevail in it all.

He called work and left a message and crawled back into to sleep a few more hours with me before I had to leave to drop off my stool samples back to the lab this morning. At 8am, I decided to call the doctors office to see if I could squeeze in an appointment due to any cancellations this morning, and guess what...? They had a 9:45am appointment. I told them I would take it and then I could also drop off my labs at the same time.

When I got into see my doctor my blood pressure was a bit on the high side 145/95, but I told her I was feeling much better. I had been diarrhea free for 36 hours and off the anti-diarrhea meds just as long. I also told her I cheated by having oatmeal and mashed potatoes yesterday.

She told me she knew what was wrong with me. She announced that I had an infection called C-diff, which most people only get if they have been hospitalized recently and have undergone a treatment with antibiotics lately. I did not fit the bill but she stated they are seeing more and more of it by people who haven't had any antibiotics. It's basically an infection of the colon which is what has been causing my diarrhea and pain. I will need to undergo two rounds of antibiotics and it should improve on it's own. No hospital stay or further tests required!

I will need to go in next week for blood work to ensure my infection is improving and then followup with her in about a week and a half.

All of this could have been determined with a simple stool sample that the doctors failed to give me when I was sent to the ER. That test did not get completed until I checked myself out and had given them a stool sample at 7:30pm that night.

Can you say praise God in the Highest? Can you say, Hallelujah for no hospital stays or further testing? Can you say AMEN when I say I am being healed by our great Healer in His timing?

I am still riding this storm, still having abdominal pain which the doctor said will clear up once the infection goes away as the inflammation is still present and tender. She also cleared me to begin eating normal food but advised to take it slow. So this morning I had scrambled eggs and toast.

Please join me in thanking God in our Heavenly home and for His beautiful son Jesus for keeping Their hands in my life and healing me. Thank you all for your beautiful and never ceasing prayers. May all the glory and honor be God's and His alone! Please continue to pray for Steve this morning that his employers will be understanding to his need to take some time off work despite the critical project Steve was starting on today! Please pray for Steve that he will have peace and comfort that his decision today was the right one and that his work will not retaliate against him when he returns tomorrow!

23 comments:

Wendi said...

So glad you have an answer. Hope you are feeling better soon!

Thena said...

Praise The lord you are feeling better. I have missed you.

LV said...

What a blessing. I told you in His own time, most things tend to work out. Amen! I pray this is the end of your pain and suffering.

LeeAnn@Encouragement Is Contagious said...

Yes, praise God in the highest! Our deliverer! So glad Kat that you will be feeling better soon after finding out this isn't going to be an ongoing illness.

I feel for you having colon problems. I've been disease free for 15 years now, but before that dealt with Crohns Disease and ulcers in my colon that kept me so ill for years off and on. I praise God now, because they say you never really get over having a disease like Crohns and are usually on medication the rest of your life. But I believe God is the one that healed me, because I haven't even been on medication for 15 years.

Praying for you,

Lee Ann

RCUBEs said...

There are so many resistant viruses...but so glad to know that you don't need to be in the hospital again...which is another source of infections.
Keeping you and bro. Steve in prayers. May you be back on your feet in no time! Praise the Lord...God bless you and hang in there sister Kat!

Andrea said...

Praising GOD for answers and direction. Praying GOD's will with Steve's job.
Blessings and hugs, andrea

Mari said...

This is a huge praise! I have to tell you I am kicking myself for not thinking of this. I've had several patients with this and I should have thought of it while reading your symptoms. The good part is that the medicine clears it up fairly quickly. Be aware that once you've had it you have a tendency to get it again - especially if you go on regular antibiotics. I've had a few patients have good success with eating an Activia yogurt daily, in helping to prevent it from coming back. They started it after finishing their Flagyl or vancomycin, so that's just a suggestion.
Praying those meds start working quickly and for Steve at his job, and praising God for a diagnosis.

Cathy said...

I so happy you are getting better. Our God never leaves us and always takes care of us. Sometimes he heals instantaneously and sometimes he heals through medicine and our doctors. Praise God!

Parsley said...

I'm happy you got some answers. I was concerned that your cysts might be causing your issues. Get well.

Denise said...

Praising God with you dear one. I love you my friend.

Beth Herring said...

Kat - I am so thankful and full of praise to our God! You have been prayed for many times my friend.

God is so good and I just still am praising Him for what He did for Melissa!

Love to you my friend!

Beth E. said...

Praising God for answers! I'm so glad you were able to find out what was wrong.

C-diff is very contagious, so I'm praying for protection for your family, too. :-)

Blessings,
Beth

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Amen, that is great news.

Darcie said...

So, so, so glad that you got an answer...hope the road to recovery will come quickly.

Saleslady371 said...

This is good news; so glad you don't have to be hospitalized. I'm praying for you and Steve.

He & Me + 3 said...

That is awesome that you have an answer. Praying that you are able to get 100% better and that noone else gets sick.
What a sweet husband you have.

HeartsMakeFamilies said...

So glad you got an answer. I hope you are feeling better soon.

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

I'm am so happy to hear that they figured it out my friend. I am praying for a quick recovery for you!!!
BIG GIANT HUGS TO YOU FROM ME!
Kim

Still Learning said...

YAY!!! Don't you just a diagnosis? I am so glad for you to be on the way to recovery. I pray the antibiotics work very quickly. Hope you feel so much better today Kat.

Love ya,

Jenn

christschild said...

We have an AMAZING Father!! I am so thankful you are feeling better and the healing is beginning. We can always count on God! He is the Healer of all. I will keep praying!
Blessings in Christ,
Elizabeth

S. Etole said...

Been in this situation more than once. I now take a probiotic {recommended at Mayo Clinic} called Florastor. It's over the counter and it is somewhat spendy but it helps keep things in check especially when you are on antibiotics. It might be something to check out with your physician.

Leslie said...

Hallelujah, amen!

christy rose said...

Oh Kat, I am just getting caught up on all that has been going on in your life. I have been praying for you, knowing that you were struggling with more health issues. But I did not know the details. I am so glad that you have found out the problem and the doctors are on it to get you completely recovered with the guidance of the Lord, of course. I am so glad that you are seeing a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
I am continuing to pray,
Love,
Chrity