Daignosis by group consensus
Hi, ladies!
Yes, I have been absent a lot. Both from the forum and from the bike. :(
For the last 2 months-ish, I have been experiencing digestive problems unlike anything I've had before. I am often nauseous in a kind of overwhelming, but not urgent way. This can sometimes just not go away for days, although it does peak and valley a bit. I also often have what feels like pinching in the area that that several medical professionals say is my gallbladder.
I have had a full abdominal ultrasound and all of my organs appear normal.
My diet is quite balanced, with a lot of emphasis on vegetables and fruit, protein chicken, eggs, sometimes beef, pb on multigrain, canned tuna, and occassionally salmon or other sea foods.
Although I do enjoy butter on toast, I don't eat a lot of fatty foods. When cooking with oil, I always use olive oil. The cheese I buy is always low fat. I can't remember the last time I ate a deep fried food.
I could probably eat more whole grains and nuts, although every bread product is always multi grain and I do snack on cereal bars and the like.
My dairy is fairly limited as I do find a bit of lower abdominal discomfort if I eat a lot of dairy.
As I go day to day with this strange new condition, I do not sense a pattern at all with which foods make me feel worse or better. I do find that I can't handle going more than about 2 hours without eating something. This week I am trying to limit the something I eat to very very small portions, just to try something different. My snacks throughout the day will vary from vegetables, to fruit, to cereal bars, to sometimes nuts, to high cocoa chocolate, to whatever I brought for lunch (veggie lasagna today), to a boiled egg, etc, and several cups of tea - either earl grey or green, usually.
During this stint, I admit I have bought 2 small bags of chips here at work. They did fulfill the craving and I did not notice a particularly bad effect from them.
The strangest part of the symptoms is that it is all so high in my abdomen. I used to have several foods that made my lower abdomen bloated and uncomfortable, but this is all much higher than that, making me think it is stomach/liver/gallbladder area, as it seems more focussed on the right than the left.
I walk about 5 km per day, to and from work. On days when my belly is a bit more intense, that walk home takes a lot out of me and I need to rest when I get there.
Intense rides, core work, weights, all seem to be out of the question as I am so wiped out, and they seem to make my belly even more bloated and uncomfortable.
None of this is what I would actually call pain, so I have been a bit in denial about how serious it is. However, I realize now that it is keeping me from doing the things that I love and that keep me in shape: mountain biking, weights, kickboxing, power yoga, etc. So now I am intent on solving the mystery instead of pushing through it.
My doctor has me on a prescription antacid for the next 4 months. He said that I may start feeling better well before then, but to take the antacid throughout to ensure that I heal properly. We tried this instead of pursuing a diagnosis, because the next thing to do would be a scope which really kind of freaks me out. I have, though, decided that I will puruse the scope if the antacid does not show marked relief within 3 weeks.
Other facts:
This spring I changed jobs and cities, and spent four months camping at other people's houses, away from my husband, 2 dogs and 2 cats. During that time, I did not exercise enough, nor eat the way I prefer to. I gained about 10 pounds - not excessive, but not great.
Currently I am about 6 pounds heavier than I would like to be if I have strong muscles....considering the muscle loss I am bound to have experienced in this time, I'm proably 8-10 pounts above where I should be.
In my opinion this has not been dangerously fast weight gain, and by generous and realistic charts, I am still in the healthy range of weight for my height. Most people still think I look pretty good. :p They are not me, though. heh
I feel better when I burp a lot.
My taste buds have changed. Suddenly I enjoy earl grey tea. And scallops. I never used to.
That's what I can think of at the moment that seems odd and strange and/or could provide some insight into what I am experiencing.
I have made a decision to keep to very gentle exercise, but to try to be consistant and do something every day, in addition to the walk. All of thought of so far is gentle road rides (I went for 1/2 hour yesterday), and restorative, relaxation yoga (not the power and strength yoga I was doing). This is difficult for me as I have to dig deep to find or invent the me that still loves my body when it is not powerful and strong!
Sorry for such a long post, but I'm hoping that some of you may have some ideas about what I should look at, be tested for, consider to try to find out what the problem is.
If you have any ideas for me, let me know!
By the way, the new city and new job and new house are all really good and the whole family is happy about it all. I don't miss my old house, city or job at all!!
Thank you once again for your help and support! Have a great day!
~Teresa~
