My digestive issues have moved passed minor. I’m having what I used to call a Crohn’s attack but my current doctor says that I shouldn’t. It’s not an active inflammation, it’s an obstruction caused by old damage. I’m not in pain but I have not eaten since Thursday night. I have been spending most of my time sleeping.
I was able to go to therapy yesterday and had a productive session. I brought my Medicaid recertification paperwork with me and went to the aid office for help. I have to go back there on Wednesday. I’m not thrilled with an extra trip to Harrison but I need this taken care of and want the help of someone that understands the bureaucracy.
So now you know everything I did since I last blogged. I usually discuss food but I haven’t eaten. I started watching Travelers on Netflix. It was good enough to keep me awake long enough to watch two episodes. The way I feel that’s impressive.
I’m pretty sure my digestive problems are easing up. You’re told to listen to your body, when you have Crohn’s that’s literal. I can hear bowel sounds so it’s not a total blockage. I know how my body works and that leads to what I want to write about, some ancient history.
Back in 2001 I had my most serious health issue, life threatening, and my worst experience with a doctor. I’ve had the Crohn’s disease since 1969; by 2001 we were old friends. I knew its moods. One day when I was at the market research job from hell, fighting with my evil boss, I got a sharp pain in my gut, unlike anything I had ever experienced. It didn’t go away. I had insurance and a regular gastroenterologist and called him. I knew this was different. When I went to see him we talked but he didn’t examine me. He just prescribed prednisone. I took it. I did not get better. I went back to him and told him that I think that things had progressed far enough that I needed surgery. He dismissed the idea, didn’t examine me, and upped my prednisone. This went on for weeks, during which I was hardly eating and in extreme pain. I called my internist and asked him to recommend a different gastroenterologist. On short notice I couldn’t see him, but I saw his associate. Within minutes this doctor knew this wasn’t just Crohn’s. He examined me and felt a mass inside me and immediately ordered a CT scan. I made an appointment for later that week, the soonest one available. I never made it to it. I had to go to the emergency room. I had a perforated small intestine and an abscess the size of a softball. The sudden pain I felt was the perforation. If my original doctor had taken me seriously the abscess would not have grown so large.
As I was listening to my body last night I started thinking how my doctor had not listened to me. That was malpractice. I was told that as there was no permanent damage done I couldn’t get much in a suit, I should have done it anyway. I should at least have talked to a lawyer. That doctor needed to be disciplined. All these years later it still makes me angry. I have the impression that he did hear about what happened to me. He never checked up with me or apologized. I hope that was because he was afraid of a lawsuit and not because he didn’t care. I’d like to think that he felt guilty about it.
I don’t even remember his name now. I remember all the other doctors that treated me then. His I shut out. I never liked him much and I should have switched doctors before then. That’s a lesson I have learned. I like all my current doctors, especially my GI. She listens to everything and explains her reasoning to me.
I didn’t think I’d be up to blogging today but as I spent so much time thinking about it, most of the work is done. I had plans to go out tonight to see the terrific Tomoko Omura Roots Quintet at the Cell tonight. If I feel well enough to eat before then I might go. I haven’t seen since my birthday, in July, and she’s a special one. But I don’t want to risk my health. I’m having my cataract surgery on Monday and I have to be healthy enough for that.
Tomorrow’s blog should be another health report. Till then I’ll sleep, keep hydrated, and watch Travelers. If I eat then all will be well.
Wise Madness 