Whine -- Worried about my health

[KBecks]

I've been having some, um, bathroom problems, which I had chalked up to poor nutrition and general post-baby stuff, but now that its been a while, I'm going tot see the doctor on Monday. I just dread having to go in and talk about poop, especially since I don't see my "normal" doc much (I have seen my OB all the time).

Read WebMD last night and I'm quite worried about colon/rectal cancer, although that's probably unlikely, and they point out that most people have poop problems at one point or another in their lives.

So, I'll probably live. :) I hope I live. In addition to the poop issues and a few concerning symptoms, I had shingles about a month ago (although not terrible), and I had some weird flu, vomiting, diarreah combo the night before Alek's 2nd birthday -- so these things are all collectively freaking me out that there might be something more serious going on.

On the fun side, we are thinking about buying a new minivan this month, which would be neat for our holiday travel this year. But, on the down side, the van plans may be derailed, I'm going to wait to make sure that I'm healthy before taking on a car loan.

I just dislike going to the doctor, I dislike hospitals. I *need* to think positive about this, and hope for the best.

Thanks for listening to my whine. I feel like such an old lady now!!!

[kozachka]

(((Hugs))). It scary but something you need to do. Please do not ignore it for the fear of getting embarassed. Trust me, doctors have heard it all. I keep telling myself the same thing since I found a suspiciously looking mole on the edge of my nipple oreola last week-end. I need to see a doctor and my regular physician is a man and I don't feel comfortable showing it to him (silly, I know) and DH and I I've been busy at work. There is plenty of excuses but you (and I) owe it to our DC to do something about it. I hope it's nothing serious.

[punkrockmama]

Hugs to you girlie. I hope that you get to feeling better soon. I will say though, stay away from web md as no good can come of it. ;)

[JenaW]

Bathroom issues are never fun to talk about, but rarely serious. However, they aren't something you should ignore, so you are doing the right thing. I also have "bathroom issues" too, and as a health care provider myself, you would think I would be less embarassed to talk about them. If I am the provider, I am fine with any topic. It is a lot different when you are the patient though. That said, trust me when I say I doubt there is much you could say to surprise or shock your doctor. They truely have heard it all.

Good luck on Monday. I hope the experience is not as bad as you are thinking, and I hope you get some positive news.

Jera


Jera
Mom to Carter ~ 05.13.03 & Madigan ~ 09.28.04

[Radosti]

Definitely go see a doctor. However, I have to say that I had the exact same problems for a long time after the baby was born. I ended up taking at least two pills of fibercon a day and added more fiber rich foods to my diet. That helped tremendously. However, all I have to do is miss one day of fiber and I'm in pain.

Oh yeah, I am have IBS that strikes me down every week or so.

[KBecks]

Just wanted to say good luck with the mole thing -- moles are so easy to ignore, espeically when most of them are not problematic. And I hear you about not wanting to take the time for the whole doctor visit.

Karen

[Jenn98]

I'm sorry you're in this crappy situation (hee hee, couldn't resisit the pun!). Seriously, I am sorry you have to deal with this. I think it's even worse when you call to make the appointment and have to explain to the nurse on the phone why you need to see the doc. I'd really, really like to just once tell her it's none of her business and to just schedule the stupid appt! Anyway, I hope you feel better, soon.

[R2sweetboys]

HUGE hugs to you Karen! You sound so stressed right now. Try and take a deep breath and please don't keep thinking the worst. I don't know all your symptoms and I'm certainly no doc. but there are SO many other reasons you could be having these problems besides cancer. I know that's easier for me to say but it's so not good for you to go through the rest of the week with such thoughts. I know that you believe in prayer and I will absolutely be praying that you find some anwswers and that this is something very minor. In the meantime, keep researching minivans(we love our Oddy BTW :) ) and get extra hugs from DH and the boys to try and keep your mind off of this. I'll be thinking about you, and if you're up to it, please let us know how it goes. Take care,

ETA: I was just thinking more about this and again, I'm not a doc. I wanted to mention the possibility of Celiac disease.(gluten intolerance) This is NOT to scare you at all. It's actually a very manageable disease with diet alone. The reason I thought of it is I know of a friend who was diagnosed with CD right after her pregnancy. Apparently,some people are asymptomatic and the stress of pregnancy on the body can bring them out. Vomitting and diarrhea(as you'd mentioned)can be symptoms,among many others. This diagnoses is often overlooked or mistaken for other problems,which is why I thought I'd mention it to you. Again, I hope this is not taken as me trying to make you worry more and I sincerely hope I'm not. www.celiac.com and www.celiac.org have great info. You may take a look based on the symptoms that you're aware of and say "nope,doesn't sound like me". I just believe strongly that you are your own advocate and knowledge is power.:)

~Leslie

SAHM to...
Ryan 8/14/00
Matthew 2/14/03

[dules]

Good luck Karen. I know it's scary and I have some things I need to get checked out too. I know I need to when I start thinking like you - not wanting to take on a car payment etc. {{hugs}}

I thought of Celiac too. Also Irritable Bowel and Crohn's, among others. There are lots of things it could be that are very manageable (but hard to manage if you don't know you have them). I hope it all turns out to be minor.

Mary

[MegND95]

Something completely random here. While I was pg with #3, I suffered from very frequent bouts of abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarreah. I went in several times to have it checked out, and every time my symptoms were written off as pg related. When the symptoms continued after the baby was born, I finally went to the Dr. but was very apprehensive, thinking it was just a bug, and I did not want to bother anyone. I was getting dehydrated and was nursing, and that is what drove me to seek help (again). Turns out, I had a perforated appendix, and it had been opening up, leaking infection into my body and then healing itself. This was going on for over a year, and while I was lucky it never ruptured, especially during my pg, I should not have allowed myself to suffer as much as I did.

Sorry for the long story, but I have two points! Don't be afraid to seek help, however nervous you might be. And maybe your situation might be like mine? Losing an appendix is not too terrible ;)

Wishing you good health!

[lizajane]

very possible that you have irritable bowel syndrome exacerbated by the stress of kiddos! so it could be not a big deal at all. try hard not to worry too much about what is going on... the more you worry, the worse it will be.

[aa2mama]

Hopefully it will turn out to be something minor, but you are doing the right thing by going to see a doctor for it.

[candybomiller]

As someone who has suffered through constipation issues pretty much all her life, let me tell you this: "Go to your doc!" And stay away from webmd.

I'm not sure if this is the exact issue you're going through, but what has really helped me is staying away from "bulk-forming" fiber. When they say bulk, believe me, they mean it. I can't understand why someone who is suffering from constipation would want to big up BIGGER poop so that when they finally do go, it rips and tears.

That might have been tmi. Sorry.

If you want to talk anymore, feel free to email, or pm.

[maestramommy]

((HUGS)) Kbecks. It's no fun when your health is like this. It sounds like your immune system is just a little under right now, which could just be more post-baby stuff. Here's good thoughts that it all blows over soon!

[kozachka]

Good luck with your doctor appointment tomorrow.

[ribbit1019]

Having had a colonoscopy at 28 a couple of weeks ago, you have my sincerest of sympathies.
Good news is I am healthy. :) I wish you the same!

Christy
Wife to Richard
My Waterbabies
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[BaileyBea]

I'm so sorry you're going though this. I went through a really tough time after DS was born with these types of problems. Then again recently w/DD.Body chemistry changes so much when you give birth. It does a number on the system.

It's a good idea to go see a Dr. I had some bile production issues since I had my gall bladder out and my body was having some "issues." I suggest eating yogurt, banana and a probiotic each morning. That helps clean out the system a bit.

I have some other suggestions but I'll PM you off line. Hang in there!

Nancy

[Wife_and_mommy]

K,

Thinking of you and hoping it's all nothing. A friend of mine swears by warmed prune juice.



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[KBecks]

Thanks everyone so much for your replies and information. It helped ease my worries a lot while I was waiting for the doc appt.

The appointment went OK -- no physical exam, it sounds like a fissure (which the nurseline also thought 2 months ago) and it may just not be healing enough.

So, I have some home-care recommendations and the name of a butt-doctor / anal specialist (ha ha ha ha ha ha -- was there a Seinfeld about a proctologist a looong time ago??) that I'm supposed to call if I'm not better in a month. I've got my fingers crossed that I don't have to go there, but I will if I have any lingering concerns and the home-care isn't working.

Thanks again so much. I am so grateful to have this community, especially to talk about poop (oh, don't we mommies know so much about poop!)

[kozachka]

Glad to hear that your appointment went OK. Hope home-care recommendations will take care of the problems. Sending healing vibes your way.