November 01, 2019

November Goals (and Jerry's Endoscopy)

I'm writing this from the waiting room of a surgery center where Jerry is currently having an endoscopy (a tube with a camera down his throat and into his stomach to check for any abnormalities and possibly get tissue for a biopsy). I am so glad that we are (hopefully) going to know what's going on. I haven't written about it, mainly because there hasn't been a reason to, but he's been having symptoms for several months now. I guess I should say "symptom", not plural, because there is only one.

Jerry in hospital bed

Probably about five months ago, he threw up completely randomly. He wasn't nauseous, he hadn't been drinking, hadn't eaten anything unusual... it was just totally random. We didn't think much of it, but we thought it was odd when it happened again about a week later.

After that, it was about once a week for a couple of months. Then it got more and more frequent, until now he's throwing up several times a day (or occasionally, not at all, but usually at least 1-2 times). He has no other symptoms, which is what makes it so odd. And we cannot figure out a pattern with his diet that would be causing it.

Anyway, he saw a gastroenterologist (specialist in the digestive tract) who scheduled the endoscopy to see what is going on. If they see anything abnormal, they'll take some tissue for a biopsy. I'm worried about it, even though I told him that I'm not worried and that I'm sure it's no big deal.

So, we'll see. Someone should be coming to get me when he wakes up.

This whole thing has gotten Jerry and I to talk about our health and how we are definitely not spring chickens anymore. Our age is not going to be on our side much longer when it comes to health risks. We really need to start thinking more about our health and being more proactive before we have major problems going on.

(Just as I was writing that, I was called back to see Jerry and wait for him to wake up. He was totally out of it. The doctor came in and said that there were a lot of spots of inflammation in Jerry's stomach, but no signs of cancer.

He took a biopsy to test for H. Pylori, a bacteria that could be causing his symptoms. H. Pylori, if left untreated, can go on to cause cancer later on. However, we are hoping that's what it is, because all he'll have to do is take antibiotics to get rid of it. We'll get the results in a week or two.

Of course, when we got home, he threw up two more times! I really hope we get answers soon.)

Which brings me to some goals for November...

Jerry and I would both like to make it a point to eat healthier food. And I am honestly craving it! I ate a lot of convenience foods that were easy to throw together during cross country season, because my evenings were so busy.

The Halloween candy at the store (and even after my kids went trick-or-treating) have not been tempting at ALL--which shows just how much my body is craving healthy foods. Jerry and the kids are on board, too. Of course, the kids got a ton of candy yesterday! But we'll at least be eating home cooked food for meals.

Anyways, I don't want to make November stressful with lots of goals, but there are a couple of things I'd like to focus on:

1) Eating healthier foods
2) Writing on my blog every day (I will explain my plan below)
3) Responding to comments on my blog and social media (which I'm terrible at)
4) Continue to do the 3-3-3 running (this is week five!)


Eating Healthier Foods

This is kind of vague, but I know if my mind what I consider "healthy" and "unhealthy". Basically, I want to eat more whole foods, fruits, veggies, and just things with real nutrition. I will always allow for a treat for my bedtime snack, of course! But I'd like to eat healthier meals. (I'm still not drinking alcohol--yesterday marked 10 months without a drop!)


Writing on my blog every day

As you may or may not know, November is "National Novel Writing Month" or NaNoWriMo for short. This is where participants attempt to write a 50,000 word manuscript during the month of November.

Now, I have no interest in writing a novel. However, I am always saying I'd like to write on my blog more but I just don't feel like I have anything to say. So, along with my semi-regular posts, I'm going to throw in some creative writing type of posts with ideas from a book of writing prompts that I have. The writing prompts are questions about myself or my life or ideas that have, etc.

This way, I won't have any reason not to write. Even if it's just a few paragraphs, it's something! So, I may write once a day, or, if I'm feeling ambitious, 2-3 times a day. I have more time to write in November, now that things are settling down.


Replying to comments on my blog and on social media

I'm REALLY bad about this. I read all of the comments, and I honestly have the intention of sitting down to write proper responses, but I usually avoid the computer unless I'm writing a blog post. I usually read comments from my phone, but I HATE typing on my phone (I type with one finger), so I wait until I'm on my computer to write longer things.

However, I appreciate the comments and feedback SO much, and since you guys spend the time writing and posting comments, I feel like the least I can do is respond! (So please don't take it personally when I don't reply--I am just really bad at making time for it, and I get distracted so easily once I'm on the computer! I am going to try my best to reply.)


Continue with 3-3-3 running

I'm surprising myself that I've kept up with it! I've done two runs this week, and I plan to do the third tomorrow, so that will be a total of five weeks down. Two more months until I hit three! I never did write a recap of week 4, so I'll wait and write a recap of weeks 4 and 5 together this weekend.


All-in-all, I think these are very do-able goals for November, and I'm actually pretty excited about it (especially about writing every day, now that I have prompts to turn to and write some off-the-beaten-path things).

Happy November! (I just realized it's Daylight Savings Time, and we turn our clocks back tonight, which means extra sleeping time--yay)


28 comments:

  1. Daylight savings isn't until Sunday morning! Also, a next step if the H. Pylori test comes back negative would probably be a gastric emptying study to rule out gastroparesis. Hope you guys get some answers soon!

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    1. Oh, geez! Yesterday felt like Saturday because my kids were off of school. You're right... extra sleep tonight! ;)

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    2. Oh! And yes, they said the gastric emptying study was going to be the next step, the doctor said, if the H. Pylori test is negative.

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  2. Throwing up is no fun! I hope the results come back soon. You've got good goals. I've slipped on my healthy eating and walking the last month, and need to set goals to get back on track. I don't have a blog, but sometimes read blogs on my phone, and it's harder to leave comments.

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    1. I haven't been eating well or exercising regularly for SO LONG--I'm glad I was able to get back to running regularly, but the eating has been SO hard.

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  3. I’m thankful no sign of cancer was present. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. I am grateful, too! I was worried about it (and so was Jerry). I just hope it's nothing serious.

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  4. I just wanted to say that it's hugely impressive you're 10+ months without alcohol! That's got to go a long way towards improving your health. I don't drink much, but I'm mindful of limiting it nonetheless. Thanks for the inspiration!

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    1. Thank you! I can't even describe how hard the first four months were--I couldn't stand it! If I hadn't posted so openly about my goal here, I would have quit the first day. But after four months, really started to see things more clearly. I'm so glad I am doing this experiment :)

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  5. Katie - I assume they looked for celiac? My son was diagnosed about 4 years ago - with just vomiting out of the blue. No one else in the family has it - or any other auto immune disease for that matter - it really came from out of the blue. Hope you get some answers soon! -Beth

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    1. They haven't checked for it, but like you, it would feel so odd to me because I literally don't know ANYONE who has that. I'm sure if this biopsy is negative, they'll start looking for other things. I really hope it's not celiac--that would be a whole new way of life for us (as I'm sure you know!)

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  6. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/cyclic-vomiting-syndrome

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    1. That is interesting! I came across it when I was trying to diagnose Jerry via Google (haha!) but he never gets nausea. The whole thing is just so weird!

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  7. The same thing happened to my husband a while ago - he would throw up with no other symptoms and it would come on without warning. We had testing done as well and nothing was found. However, he had been on antibiotics a few weeks previous to the throwing up (for something unrelated) so after a bit of research we suspected that might be it. Eventually it just stopped. Then about a month ago, after taking antibiotics for a sinus infection (and again, after being done with the antibiotics, not while taking them) it started up again. It didn't last as long this time. So we're pretty sure that's what caused it. I hope you get some answers soon.

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    1. That's great you were able to discover a pattern (with the antibiotics causing the vomiting). I have tried SO hard to find some sort of rhyme or reason for Jerry's vomiting, and I just can't come up with anything. I really hope that whatever it is, it won't be anything serous. Thank you!

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  8. So sorry you've had the added stress of an unknown with Jerry's health. I'm praying you get answers and that it's easily treatable. Poor guy!! And I love your November goals. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you. Now that we know it's not cancer, I definitely feel better. I just hope we're able to get SOME sort of answer soon!

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  9. I hope Jerry gets answers soon and goes back to the road of recovery.

    Also, great job with no drinking for 10 months especially with coaching track and health issues in the family.

    Also, I love blogs and yours is one of my favorites bookmarked to check as much as a I can. I wanted to let you know my thoughts about commenting - and you don't have to comment back unless you feel the need. I never heard of a blogger answering all of their comments - unless they have staff. Writing a blog is probably alot of work (I don't do it) - I wouldn't put pressure on yourself to answer every comment, especially since there are some people that are just negative. Enjoy Life, Write your blog, and don't feel pressure to answer every comment. We live in age now with so much social media and worrying about what people say. If it is super helpful and you got something out of it then yes but to have to comment on every comment - that's a ton of work and I am sure you would rather be doing something besides being at your computer after writing your post worrying about answering every comment. Write your book - spend time with your kids - you are an amazing person.

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    1. Thank you, Joy! I appreciate that. I'm going to try it for a little bit, but if it gets overwhelming, then I'll take a step back. And thank you for recognizing my 10 months of not drinking! It's NOT been an easy journey, but I don't think people realize that. I have a whole new respect for people who remain sober!

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  10. Vomiting is honestly my number one fear. Lol which sounds ridiculous but I hyperventilate just thinking about throwing up. I think this is my number one reason that I don’t want to be pregnant hahaha :)

    Anyways, I’m so sorry to hear about Jerry!! I’m so glad cancer is ruled out! And I hope they find a cause to this soon. I’m sending happy and healing thoughts your way!! <3

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    1. I can understand that... I've heard of it as a very real phobia. I'm afraid of something similar--fainting. It causes me so much anxiety sometimes, because I'm terrified I'm going to faint! And then if I think about it, it makes me feel even more likely to faint.

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  11. Have them check his pancreas also

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    1. Thankfully, he doesn't have any of the other symptoms for problems with the pancreas, so we'll do whatever the doctor decides next--he told us the next step will depend on the biopsy. I'm just hoping it's an easy fix and nothing serious!

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  12. My husband had what sounds like the exact same issue many years ago. He was probably 36-38. He would just randomly throw up. Like Jerry, we never noticed a pattern to it. My husband is more stubborn because he never sought treatment, but it did eventually stop. It probably lasted 9 months or so. He got to where he didn't want to go out for fear of it happening in public, so we stayed home quite a bit. No fun! I hope you get some answers!

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    1. Thank you for giving me a little hope! Jerry is getting super frustrated with it. It's been months now, and I hope we get some answers or that it just spontaneously stops. Thanks for sharing!

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  13. I was diagnosed with H.Pylori about 8 years ago (stupid bacteria!). I started having symptoms just like Jerry, started throwing up randomly, but then it got to the point, that I couldn't keep anything down (5 months straight of this). They put me on a medication similar to a Zpac. Unfortunately it will be something that always stays in his system. I occasionally have a flair up with it every now and then, but it has definitely gotten much better!! Good luck!

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    1. I had no idea that it stays in your system forever. I'm glad it has gotten better for you! And I certainly hope that it gets better for him. Hopefully we get his results back soon.

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  14. So scary! Hopefully you guys get some answers soon!

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

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