gastroparesis & halloween!

In all of my blogging, I'm not sure if I threw out the official medical term describing my diagnosis. It is gastroparesis... for all of you web-savvy folks, you can check out a description on web md or some other fabulous website. :)

I continue to eat and throw up... with occassional victories of toast, milk, or a spot of tea. I'm also really good at keeping down "fruit by the foot". I'm not sure what kind of bizarre things that says about my stomach's ability to judge healthy eating... but whatever works!

I've been getting out more, and am trying to get into work a few hours a day. I'm still pretty worn out, but am excited to embrace life outside of my house!

To all trick-or-treaters, we have really yummy caramel twix bars... you are all invited to come and knock on my door. Marcus and I would love to see your costumes.

We're planning to carve pumpkins tonight, so make sure that you all comment on my expert carving skills ;)

hugs,
brelin

the saga continues...

I began on my new medication on thursday last week. the doctor said that it will take about a week before i will feel any positive effects from the medication. so i'm hoping to feel good this week sometime... it's in my plan. :) at this point, i am still vomiting about 10 or more times per day. I did keep some toast down last night, so we can celebrate that!

i heard from the doctor, and my capsule endoscopy was normal. they didn't really expect to see anything, so i guess that it's good to be normal.

i got to watch the 50 students get confirmed at church yesterday! it was totally awesome! yay for Jesus, and the ways that He continues to work in their lives and our lives too!

we are trusting God for healing... and for wisdom for the doctors.

i continue on my IV therapy at home. I am getting a liter of fluids a day through my picc line, and that is helping keep the dehydration away.

some people have shared that they've been reading the blog, but can't leave comments without making a "google" account. please feel free to email me at brelin@shlc.org I will get the comments there too!

many blessings to you all this week!
love, brelin

the adventures continue...

I'm still doing about the same... we're looking forward to the day when I have energy again, and digestion is happening without thinking about it.

My brother and sister are visiting from college today, and I'm pretty excited to see them.

I continue to vomit, whether I eat anything or not, but I did manage to keep one piece of toast down last night. YAY!

We're trusting God through all these adventures, and are really eager for the day when I wake up and don't throw up any longer.

I got to hear the 10th grade faith stories on Wednesday... they were great! Nice job to all the students! You guys were so wonderful in sharing how you're really doing! yay!

Tons of hugs,
brelin

the new doctor

Marcus and I went in to see Dr. Patterson at Virginia Mason today. He was helpful in discussing my options, and he mentioned a couple of new drugs to try out at home. We ordered the first medication from Canada and will be starting that tomorrow. He also let us know about a drug study that is being done in Edmonds for a medication called cisapride that I used to be on in college. It helped my symptoms quite a bit back then, so we're hopeful about that possibility.

In the meantime, we're going to keep praying and are hoping that this will all be over soon. He didn't want to start TPN or PPN (nutrion supplements) because my weight is not all that low at this point...

We also are checking into some other hospital options in case we need to go that route instead.

brelin

the mayo clinic report

i just heard from the mayo clinic. there is a 4-6 month waiting list to get into the motility dept of the gastrointestinal center. i can have my doc here write a letter to them saying that my case is more medically urgent, but she said that the majority of people are in the same boat i'm in...

i'm pretty frustrated/disheartened/sad/discouraged...

on a positive note, it's a beautiful day in seattle... the sun is shining... and i'm trusting that God has an answer for me somewhere... and hopefully sometime soon.

brelin

capsule endoscopy take two

I swallowed the camera pill again today. We forgot to take a picture before I swallowed it... shoot. :) I had a minor emotional meltdown this morning, but am feeling better again.

I continue to vomit everthing known to man... if I don't eat or drink anything, I just throw up stomach acid. I think that's the most frustrating thing of all.

Dr. Mohan (gi specialist) has increased my IV fluids to 1 liter per day, instead of just 500 ml. I'm hoping that will help with my cramping.

I have an appointment to see Dr. Patterson (another gi specialist) on Wednesday--we're hoping that he will order TPN or PPN (bags of nutrition with fats, proteins, etc) The home care nurse can give that to us if the doctor orders it... but she warned me that some docs want to hospitalize patients when they first go on nutrition therapy.

We are continuing to do okay... I'm pretty exhausted--but I'm trusting God for strength to make it through.

The bible verses that keep running through my head and heart is from Romans 5... "And not only that, but we* also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. "

amen.

the saga continues

Nothing new to report today... I am still vomiting, and still praying a lot.

brelin

mom & dad come to town

It's Saturday now, and I've had a bunch of adventures today. My parents came to visit... Dad's been reading a lot, and Mom has been cleaning everything to pass the time.
We tried to go to the post office today, only to learn that we were at the wrong location... shoot.

I'm still vomiting everything imaginable. I heard from the nurse today... she said that my capsule endoscopy (the camera pill) has been re-scheduled for Monday morning. The good news is that I don't have to do the prep again... the bad news is--i have to re-do the dumb test.

I'm getting IV fluids at home each day, which is seemingly holding the dehydration at bay for now.

We're really looking forward to the Mayo Clinic phone call on Monday.

Keep on praying...

brelin

the date stamp...

oops. i'm slightly technologically impaired and posted the incorrect dates...
on thursday the title was "same old, same old" and today, friday's entry is "hmmm"

just thought i'd clear that up if there are any questions. :)

hugs,
brelin

hmmm...

I spoke with someone from the Mayo Clinic this morning... I asked if they had received all of the information they needed, and if there was anyway to find out when they'll be contacting us about an appointment. The lady on the phone was really nice, and let me know that the gastro dept. from Mayo will be calling either today or Monday. We are REALLY looking forward to their call.

I finally passed the first camera pill last night. (yay!) We have contacted our doctor in Bellevue to let him know. I'm pretty sure they will want me to reschedule the test for sometime next week. We called our regular doc again last night to let him know about my progress (or lack there of) and they suggested that i be re-admitted to the hospital for iv fluids and nutrition therapy. I really want to stay at home... so we are working with the doctors to see if there are any other options.

Our power did end up going out yesterday, but it came back on a few hours later (praise God!)

I think that's all the news for today...

keep on praying... i know God is listening!
brelin

same old, same old...

Another day rolls on...
I am still vomiting a kazillion times a day. I'm not keeping food or liquids down at all. I've even tried not eating or drinking anything at all to see if that would help the nausea, but then I just throw up straight stomach acid.

(Sorry for those of you who don't want to read about the intimate puking details, but I thought I'd let you know how I really am.)

Carol (Marcus' mom) stayed the night yesterday with me, while Marcus was at work. He's home today, and I think we're going to put up all of our fall decorations. We're having a crazy wind storm today, so I'm praying that the power doesn't go out... I'm not really up for any more adventures then necessary.

I have to pass the first camera pill before they can re-do the test. I swallowed it on Friday, but there is still no sign of it...

We are still waiting to hear back from the Mayo Clinic. Our doctor's office here has faxed the necessary paperwork to them, so the Gastroenterology Dept. will review it at Mayo, and then contact us about scheduling an appointment.

Please pray for patience, and renewed strength...
Hugs,
brelin

intro to brelin's crazy medical adventures

I thought it would be smart to create a blog that people could come to and read about my progress and the crazy medical journey that I am currently on.

First of all, I want to thank all of you for your prayers for Marcus and me. We really treasure your kind words, your notes of encouragement and your willingness to help out in whatever ways you can.

Since September 7, I have been vomiting daily. I have been admitted to the hospital twice, and have been to the ER 5 times now. They have run almost every test known to man. On this past Friday, I had a capsule endoscopy. I swallowed a pill camera that took pictures all the way through my stomach and small intestines. Unfortunately the machine malfunctioned, so they have to re-do the test again sometime this week.


We are working on being seen at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Our specialist here has exhausted his treatment ideas, and has suggested we go there.

I got a picc line (a semi-permanent) IV site put in yesterday and am on IV fluids here at home. It's great that I can stay hydrated without being in the hospital.

We trust that God is working in and through this situation so that He might be glorified. We are weary, but trust that God is holding me tightly in His grip so that we might lean on him more and more.

keep those prayers coming...
brelin