Deteriorating
I’m falling apart, peeps.
FALLING APART.
I had to leave work early last week thanks to my uterus.
The next day, I caught sight of my back in the mirror and noticed that a particular mole looked REALLY dark, almost black and got a sinking feeling in my stomach that I, like Izzie Stevens from Grey’s Anatomy, have melanoma and probably a 5% chance of survival.
And then on Saturday, I realized that after every single meal, my stomach would uncomfortably tighten. It’s not an intestinal thing? It feels higher, in the upper stomach? It hurt last night after dinner and then, while I sipped water. WHAT? WATER, PEOPLE.
Thanks to Google, the following are the most likely culprits for such pain:
Heartburn
Peptic Ulcer
Acute pancreatitis
Bile duct gallstones
Stomach outlet obstruction
Severe stomach ulcers caused by excess acid production
Lymphoma of the stomach
ZOMFG AM GOING TO DIE.
I don’t ever get heartburn so I don’t know what that feels like but isn’t it more in the chest? And doesn’t it involve maybe acid reflux? Or something else disgusting, perhaps bile? Anyone?
So, if I rule that out, I think I have gallstones, an ulcer or lymphoma of the stomach. Or all three.
I made an appointment at the Actor’s Clinic tomorrow at 9:30 AM. (While on the phone making the appointment, the receptionist told me that the doctor would have a med student shadowing him tomorrow, do not panic. And I was all PANIC? THAT IS PROBABLY MY FUTURE HUSBAND! YESSSSS!)
I scheduled a mole-check with the dermatologist for next week.
Thanks to my lack of health insurance, I will be paying for the latter out of pocket. It’s reasonable, I suppose, unless I need to have a biopsy and a scalpel is involved. Then, of course, the price goes up. JUST WHAT I WANTED! To shell out hundreds of dollars and have someone cut into my skin!! Oh, life, you are turning out to be everything I’ve ever wanted!!
I suppose, in the end, it would be wise to pay the dermatologist and get it all checked out JUST IN CASE. My grandfather had malignant melanoma and though my last screening was clear, that was in the summer of 2007 and I was advised to come back every six months. (HA. THAT IS HILARIOUS.) I do wear sunscreen daily but I also spend at least five Sundays every summer sitting in the sand along the Atlantic Ocean so, it could be worse, it could be better, I’m probably dying, please send money.
I also might take the opportunity to ask the dermatologist when I will stop breaking out like a teenager. I thought hormones and things calmed down when you hit your 20′s and well, I’m almost 26 and can count on a good pimple outcry at least once a month. I’ve tried products for oily skin, I’ve tried weekly exfoliation, I’ve tried clay masks, I’ve tried salicylic acid, I’ve tried to pop them, I’ve tried NOT to pop them. I’m at a loss, here. Perhaps the lovely skin doctor can help a sister out.
And also botox my forehead.
JUST SAYIN’. If I’m dying, I want to look good on my way out.
The stomach thing is more bothersome right now than the mole. I mean, I’m concerned that I have an ulcer or some acid reflux or whatever but mostly I’m concerned because it hurts to eat. And oh my God, MAMA LOVES TO EAT. I made myself a delicious salad with red peppers and avocado and tomatoes and the body REJECTED it. I tried a Macadamia Nut Luna Bar. REJECTED. I tried a smoothie with strawberries, banana, kale and flax seed.
REJECTED.
I mean. I kept eating it. But it HURT! IT HURT HURT HURT.
So, hopefully, tomorrow, I will have a diagnosis and I can almost guarantee you it will be lame and stupid and oh, how we all will laugh.
Until then, fire away a comment should you have any suggestions re: Upper Stomach Pain/Malignant Melanoma/Angry Uterus.
As far as the last one goes, I have to say that the B Complex I’ve been taking has helped considerably. If by considerably, you mean I only spent 15 minutes throwing up in the bathroom at work instead of the aforementionted two and a half hours. PROGRESS! High five!
I also recently read an article about how magnesium might help?
And as usual, I’m aware of the heating pads, hysterectomy, just have a kid already solutions.
Thanks, as always.
~Mgement.
hi there, before I finally gave up and went to birth control (wanted to avoid hormones if I could), I had good success with taking magnesium, calcium and B6. The key is to take them regularly and in high doses. I found info on the internet about how much to take but you might want to ask your doctor instead
Also avoid sugar and caffeine before your period. Makes a difference as well.
I used to have awful periods like you before BC. All the same symptoms as you. Terrible. I’m sorry about your pain!
Could the stomach pains be stress related?
I’m getting some sketchy moles checked out, too (someday…). I’m glad you’re not wasting time about it like I am.
On an unrelated note, could your UTI’s be diva cup related? Just wondering.
Thank you Vegan Vagabond! I might have Google dictate the “dosage” as well as I have no primary care physician. Thanks so much! I will try adding calcium and magnesium to the daily supplement cocktail. I’m so happy you have found peace with birth control. I haven’t ruled that out yet…in fact, I get more and more fed up with my NO ARTIFICIAL HORMONES stance as my real hormones continue to PISS ME OFF.
Abbie – This was suggested to me but honestly? I feel REALLY calm right now. I don’t have anything to stress out about so I’m kind of at a loss. We shall see! As far as the UTI’s, they are most certainly not diva cup related. I wish they were so we could solve that problem once and for all. On an unrelated diva cup note, I am SO SICK OF MINE. I almost threw it out the window last week. Not to get graphic but man, it’s a struggle to use it lately. We just aren’t getting along the way we used to. SIGH. However, I’m determined to stick it out…for now…
Oh, we are so alike, and yes very different. Here is how we are the same. I had to have my gallbladder removed 6 weeks ago beacuase after oh maybe 9 months of horrible symptoms I had the “gallbladder test” performed and guess what? Mine was performing at 2%, anyting less than 30% they recommend out,so out she came. Now the bladder thing in 1999 after 10 yrs of cronic infections I had my urethea stretched and dilated and they found polyps in my bladder so they cauterized it as well while they were there. This was all done surgically and I was home the next day and let me tell you it was the best thing I have ever done in my life. Here it is 10 yrs later and only recently, the last 6 months have I had UTI and it was 3 months out of 4 using a diva cup, so….no more diva cup, last 3 months and no more uti. I know you don’t think the diva cup has anything to do with yours but you could need the other stuff. I finally went to urolgist, and thats when I found relief. Now the uterus, sorry no help there, mine is fairly tame although I will tell you on no uncertain terms to try an IUD, God I had that removed quickly, becasue actually I was sounding like you!
Jo,
way down south
me again… I’ve been doing research (again just Dr. Google) because I’m having lots of health problems lately. Coincidently these are remarkably similar to many of the issues you’ve written about, aside from the crazy PMS.
Anyway it seems like Candida might be a possibilty for me. I’m seeing a naturopath this week. You might want to look into the symptoms and see what you think. Here’s a link:
Candida Symptoms
Jo – If possible, can YOU cauterize my bladder? Just wondering because that sounds awful but also amazing, especially if it’ll help. The IUD skeeves me out! I want to be okay with a little thing hanging out in my uterus but I’m just not! GAH!
Oooo Candida. You know, that sounds awfully appropriate, especially with the bladder infections and all? I just don’t seem to have the abdominal/intestinal troubles they speak of. BUT, always a possibility. Let me know how it works out for you!