Pain Chronicles: Persistent RLQ Pain

Going on for probably a year now.

Gastroenterologist has suggested colonoscopy--and really, I'm just too lazy to go thru all that trouble, plus the indignity of the diagnostic scoping itself. Plus: the inevitable "HANGRY!" of being on clear liquids (and no dairy--UGH).

Appendicitis ruled out, given no fever, no hershey squirts. Just intermittent, acute, sharp pain.

We speculated a while ago it could possibly be an ovarian cyst, since, HELLO! I have PCOS. But this pain is much different than the searing, TAKE MY BREATH AWAY PAIN that comes from a cyst bursting. 

Reading a bit today about the possibility that this might actually be lactose intolerance brought on by my gastric bypass. I'm nearing four years post-op, and only in the last year or so has this pain presented itself.

This a.m., while eating my usual "first intake" which consists of pretzel thins and two Baby Bells, the pain kind of amped up a wee bit. Granted, I woke up with it. As of late, I've taken to eating cheese as a late night protein dense snack. I suspect I might have to curtail this, or cut myself down to one serving of cheese a day. Despite the fact that yogurt and aged cheeses have a much lower volume of lactose in it (due to the bacteria cultures involved), it does not 100% eliminate lactose.

So, doing a differential diagnosis on myself, my first diagnosis will be a mild case of lactose intolerance. My second diagnosis would be something unusual like an adhesion resulting from my adenomyosis. And my third diagnosis would be intermittent appendicitis (not all appendicitis results in an exploding appendix). 

Going to discuss this perhaps at the next visit to the doctor, as I have to follow up about my vaccinations given our plans for a trip abroad in 2015, and I want to make sure I'm up to date on all my shots.

Pain Chronicles: Facet Joint Injections

As per the consultation with the physiatrist, I have an appointment set up with one of their associates, for a consultation to discuss facet joint injections. I'm hoping it will help. Anything to keep me moving, or moving MORE than I am, I am supportive of at the moment.

Appointment is two weeks from now. 

Hurry up and wait.

MRI of Thoracic Spine

Verbatim from report dtd 9/27/14:

Impression:
Diffuse spondylitic changes. Bulging T1-2. Left paracentral disc herniation T2-3 and posterocentral disc herniation T3-4. 
###

Tomorrow I see my neurologist for a follow up regarding my migraines and to get a refill on my Frova. I also will be taking along hard copies of all three reports from all three MRIs, and I'm hoping that my neuro and chiro can work in tandem with one another regarding possible plans to address/treat my pain issues.  I'm also going to back burner my query about testing neuro-chemistry re: my depression, as my B1 seems to be helping. For the moment.

In December, I will be seeing my gyno for my annual exam, and I'll take along a hard copy of the lumbar MRI report and disc, and hopefully he can find out more information from the imaging center, if possible, regarding the uterine involvement.

Unrelated/related note:

Someone with whom I've been cultivating a friendship with, who was a social worker in the past, has been jokingly accusing me of being a hypochondriac. Couple this up with other shit, like asking leading questions, then when I answer, he drones on about being a narcissist and a hypochondriac. It's happening with more regularity, and isn't something I can ignore. I find it appalling actually.

I've been avoiding him for several days now, and he keeps calling my desk (and hanging up). I really have nothing more to say. But I fear/feel it's going to get confrontational. So it's with this in mind that I decided to (I hope, succinctly) peck out my thoughts, print it  up, and folded it up tightly. I plan on having it in my pocket so if running into him is inescapable, I can pull this out and say something glib like, "Have a good night," or whatever. It's essentially a "FUCK YOU BOMB," because I've been too damned Churchill-ian* in my responses in person, thus far. It simply says: Since you are not reading the cues on my face or my body language, perhaps reading words on a page will articulate this best:

When you call me a hypochondriac, I do not find this funny. I find it damaging and insulting.

When you say I am not depressed, I find it damaging and presumptuous.

When you laugh about this, I find it damaging and mocking.

I need my space.

My normal route is to do what I call a "slow fade to black," where I limit my contact and put the person on the periphery to such an extent they eventually fall off my radar entirely.  Given I have not determined if I want to cut him off entirely, I figure this might be useful to inform him what's going on, and depending on his response (if any), might determine whether I move forward or not. All I know is, it's not funny. And no, I do not reciprocate in kind.

*Re: Churchill-ian-- There is a quote that is attributed to Churchill:

"The height of diplomacy is telling someone to go to hell in such a way where they actually look forward to the trip." 

I suspect I've either been too nice, or perhaps my look of shock is being misconstrued as laughter. This is not laugh-worthy.

I further rebutt: Being more aware of my body on a bio-mechanical and/or bio-chemical level than an average person does not make me a hypochondriac. However, someone who laughs at my pain & depression makes them a sociopath in my book.