Having moved from Minnesota to Wyoming after my accident I learned to live my life differently. Slowly started taking better care of my diabetes, was able to lower my A1C by 1 whole point. I was also learning (or trying) to learn with the new pain I had from the car accident. I refused to go on pain pills, I knew I had an addictive personality and wanted to stay off them. So, I learned what my physical limitations were. I adjusted where my pans were, bought furniture that was more friendly to my back/neck pain.
Learned when to take Tylenol and learned how long before a 40 minute car ride I should take the Tylenol. As a type 1 diabetic I was told to avoid ibuprofen because it could damage my liver. Soon the Tylenol quit working, so I started drinking a glass of wine at night. As I said I have an addictive personality, and when the wine and Tylenol wasn't enough I finally gave into my doctors and was put on Amitriptyline.
The Amitriptyline helped with the pain. It helped me to sleep at night too. In fact it helped me sleep so good that the first 3 days I slept for 18 hours EACH day. After about a month I started to feel like a human again. Sure I was still sore and could feel the dull pain, but it wasn't as bad as it was. I've always had a high pain tolerance, it seems to run in my family. Once I broke my hand and didn't go to the doctor until my hand was blue and swollen, 12 hours later. Once, while making sugar work for a cake design I spilled the boiling sugar on my hand. Third degree burns on my hand, but I drove myself to the ER that was 20 miles away. Sure, there were days I knew I was going to over do it, and there were days I did overdo it, but it was still so much better than the constant pain I had before. I was feeling so much better! I had the ability to find out who I was again. I was back on my feet and ready to experience this new town. I was feeling great!
And then........ I started getting sick every time I ate. My stomach would bloat like I was 8 months pregnant. It would be rock hard. I would get stomach cramps and be keeled over the floor because of the pain. I would start (pardon the descriptions) belching while food would come up during the same time. I had either diarrhea or constipation. It was awful!
I started eliminating foods. I already knew I was lactose intolerant, so I removed ALL dairy products. Didn't help. I then started removing gluten. I then removed tomatoes because they made me sick. After eliminating those items I was good for maybe a week. Don't remember what I ate that week, but sure wish I did now! Soon, I started getting stomach cramps again. Took note with my family of what I ate and when I was sick. It seemed like whenever I ate anything I was sick. I was in bed several times a week from the pain my stomach was in. I knew I had to see a doctor and if any doctor would know what it was it would be my endocrinologist (diabetes doctor) in Minnesota. My appointment was already scheduled for December 30th, 2019. If he didn't know I would schedule appointments in my new town, but I just had this gut feeling he would know where to send me or what to do.
Comments