Sunday, October 23, 2011

OK, OK. I'll go see the surgeon

It's been a busy time with little energy to focus on coping with Crohn's disease. So I'm grateful the Lord blessed me to feel so well during the weeks leading up to my daughter Megan's wedding. 

I attempted a couple of times to taper down the Prednisone dose to nothing. But every time I'd get down to about 10 mg daily, the pain  and bloating would start back up, and I'd have to up the dose again. Dr. Cutler told me to take the dose that is necessary to control the symptoms. It got me through. 

The wedding day was glorious. I am so happy for the newlyweds. And other than needing to watch what I ate, I felt almost normal.

Prednisone, of course, brings its side effects. I feel hungry more often. I have to shave more, and my face and abdomen are rounder. Then there's the neuropathy in my hands and feet. I'm tapering again, and I'm down to 10 mg again tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

After I saw Dr. Cutler last month, he suggested that I make an appointment with Dr. Sklow, the surgeon who removed part of my bowel seven years ago. Dr. Cutler wants Dr. Sklow's take on whether he thinks the small portion that remained inflamed should be removed, and on if he thinks that cutting adhesions outside of the bowel is a good idea. Of course, messing with scar-tissue adhesions carries the risk of creating more scar tissue and adhesions. 

With the wedding imminent, I haven't called Dr. Sklow yet. I didn't want to deal with it yet. But now with the wedding a week in the past, I need to call and set up the appointment, and get the other docs to send Dr. Sklow my records. And, Dr. Cutler gave me an order for some lab tests that I've also neglected. One of them has to be done at a hospital, which makes it just that much more complicated to get done. But now it's time to do it. 

OK, OK, I'll get back to paying more attention to this stuff. 

I hope you are well!

Take care,

Beth

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