This week has brought more gas, more pain in the ileal-cecal valve. The sad news is I think this area has narrowed the last year in my hookworm experiments. I only wish I found this therapy years ago. My stools are firming up mostly, unless I eat something that doesn’t agree with me. Which is a lot, I’m afraid. Even things on my diet.
Yesterday, day 35, the area where the hookworms entered, itched. It’s been itching a little the last few days, actually. A little red dot appeared, but it’s gone again. I wonder if the worms are laying eggs now, and this was an immune reaction. Perhaps the increase in gas is caused by this as well?
I’ve been kind of depressed that this is all the health I’ll get. If my inflammation is down, nearly normal, then why do I still have loose stools in reaction to wheat bread? If the ilium is quite narrowed, will I ever have normal bowel flora again? Will I be eligable for the balloon dilation, or will I eventually need another surgery?
And the worst fear, have the hookworms done all they are going to do, and this is the best I will ever be? Actually, the worst fear is the hookworms will stop working, redosing will not work, and I will be left with Tysrabi, a narrowed ilium, and hopelessness.
I’m due to get my period in 4 days, so doom, gloom, and depression have arrived. The good news is mucus is way down, I had a solid stool this morning (but they are chunks, and not large logs. I’m afraid my log days are over.) I’ve been getting up at least once a night the last few nights, and then go a couple more times in the morning. Then one or two little drips in the afternoons. WAY less then before. The pain is still pretty much gone, unless there is a lot of gas.
I also have to note that I had two, wonderful days last week. On Friday, I did a landscaping job that I started 2.5 weeks before. The first time I felt feverish, weak, heart racing, tired. I had to rest for the next few hours just to recover. I could barely finish the yard work, it was way too much physical activity.
This time, I worked with happiness. Mowed the lawns, pulled weeds, took down a huge vine, and raked a lot of leaves. I was tired, but could move through the work with ease. I hauled the very heavy bag of wet leaves on and off our stroller which I pushed home. And then put all the tools away, pushed my daughter in the stroller up the hill to school, got groceries, pushed and walked her home, and still had energy and was happy. There were fleeting moments of perfect clarity, where I felt pain free and full of energy. I have to add that I had a strong cup of coffee at breakfast, but that alone would not have persisted for the length of the day.
So I am going to try to get past this PMS week. Order my equipment, take my egg count. If I never get better than this, I will try to be happy with my gains. I’m back on my diet, didn’t buy a loaf of sourdough at the store yesterday. My daughter’s got the flu, so I’m trying to take it easy. I started back on my VSL#3 a few days ago. Part of me is just waiting for the next month’s blood test, afraid that the inflammation will be back up and the worms dead.
I guess the hookworms aren’t a permanent depression cure. Alas.
I’ve been a little slow in my microscope and beaker purchasing, so will probably have to wait a week or two to start egg counting. Will try to order the equipment today.
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