Update on Gastro Doc appointment 1/28/25
It went very well! I'll try to just hit the highlights.
1. I took my revised "hit list", research studies, ER reports, etc.
2. When I showed him the weight checks, he kept the hit list on his desk and
went down every single one of them himself one by one. Even the part that said "Death by food" and "Common enemies".
I told him that's how I think about them.
3. He noted that my weight is trending upward in the space of one month's time/on the low end of normal BMI but normal range regardless, that my gut is working, reduction in symptoms, energy levels already restored, and that anxiety levels normalized when I took the rounds of antibiotics.
All positive signs. 
4. We discussed my lack of testing for SIBO. He explained to me that the endoscopic aspiration of the small intestine is only done in teaching hospitals that serve medical students. We discussed the breath test process (drinking a big cup of sugar basically) and ruled that out for as I said, it would rely on me ingesting one of the very things that irritate what is now my healing gut lining and put me back at square one with overwhelming symptoms. The lack of testing is also why he can't put any teeth into a preauthorization with Tricare to get me the liquid thyroid meds. Okay, fine. I tried.
5. He's ordered a series of blood labs some of which are repeats from the scopes process he'd already tested me for such as celiac disease but doing that again for added good measure in case something has developed. Also testing Liver (enzymes?) and Pancreatic insufficiency because these are part of what produces the bile needed to breakdown fats since I have no gall bladder that would do that more efficiently. I think he's hitting whatever outstanding bases that might be in play for me. I appreciate that so much!
6. He's also prescribed a digestive enzyme (creon?) that helps break down fats. When I get the labs done I can start using it
before results are in. Sounds like a good strategy to me!
7. When he got to the "pain killer" on my list, he listened to what I described about my worst nights and then he wrote a prescription for a med that will help with symptoms I often get at night that keep me awake. If I have got it right, it's an antispasmotic. He said that I shouldn't have any bad side effects. I'm NOT going to look that up because I'll ruminate over it.
8. When I started out, my symptoms were 24/7. Now they only rise up at night which sounds like that's typically the time of the worst onset. If I eat something stupidly (too much chips--I've done it, really bad move!) and take in too much fat (or sugar) I'll get symptoms all day and night. Now I keep myself in check with regard to cheater snacks that are allowable so long as I don't go overboard. Avoiding that.
9. Keep doing what I'm doing. Take however much of the proby's I want to. Keep the FD Gard, Simethicone, and if I think I need it, keep lactase tablets. I do take lactase tablets at night if I steal a cup of tea for myself. In my mind, I'm using it as a precaution. Whatever. It can't hurt me to do that.
10. When I told him that I keep trying to understand how I got in this condition, he told me that this process started developing in me YEARS before it ever produced symptoms. That it takes a long time to get things back in line. I pretty much knew it was going to take a long time but interesting as I look back over my health history that it begins to develop YEARS in advance. That might help to explain the Afib/RVR--Food Connection, and other little hints that I only began to see in hindsight over time. The very first being that when I ate peanut butter (one of my all time favorites!) that my heart would slow down and pump harder. I had no idea why it was doing that! In fact the very first episode I got of afib was after eating peanut butter.
11. He met me with empathy and compassion. He listened carefully to what I said and was responsive. He explained things to me in understandable ways, the patient education I'd been looking for. What I appreciated most right off the bat was when he kept the hit list on his desk and went down it himself, addressing ALL my concerns, instead of me having to steer the conversation and get a word in edgewise.
I believe I was served very well especially with the actions he is taking on my behalf.
I missed the time for getting to the labs today. I had no idea they closed at 3 (!) so will have to roll that over to another day as soon as the upcoming storm moves out. Not a big deal at all.
Reward: Picked up the retinol serum on the ride home!
SO happy to have that!
If something entirely hellish happened, I break out the big guns--thus the new sofa, new chair, and a ceramic piece from Pottery Barn for C'mas, and I don't care who knows it. Tomorrow's reward is stopping by the derm's medspa to pick up some much needed retinol serum. It's the best thing I have for skin care and I've been out for I'd say 6 months. I just couldn't get there from here kind of thing. I can't wait until the appointment is over and I go home with my good skin care! See how that works?
I’m glad you had a good visit with the doctor. I was thinking about trying to out”so” you, but not sure I can do that.So, so glad you are seeing so many more good days. May this be one of the many trials we go through, where the Lord proves faithful as He always has.