Meeting My New Gastro Doctor At OSU Hospital

This week has been nothing but being sick and going to doctor appointments and having more tests done.

On Tuesday July 10, 2012 my good friend Dawn took me to my first appointment to see my new Gastro Doctor at Ohio State University Hospital in Columbus.  I was so sick the entire time and so weak Dawn had to push me in a wheelchair through the hospital because I couldn't walk very far.

I see my new doctor and he looks and listens to my stomach and intestines.  Puts me on a higher dose of the Crohn's medicine I'm already on, has about 15 vials of blood drawn to test me for anything and everything he can think of.  Then Schedules me to have a CT Scan of my abdomen. And has me sign papers to have all my records and test results from my last Gastro doctor released. 

My friend Dawn is so much like a Mom to me, and she has so much love and compassion for what I'm going through, Because both of her children who are around my age have been diagnosed and fighting Ulcertive  Colitis for some years now which is like Crohn's Disease.

I thank God for Dawn and her husband Gary, I couldn't ask for better friends and spiritual parents.

Now lets go to today...

Luckily my appointment for the CT Scan today as in the afternoon so Jeremy despite me being sick all night did get enough sleep to make the over hour drive back to OSU hospital.  I wasn't as sick as I was on Tuesday, but that all quickly changed when they had me start drinking the barium for the CT Scan.  I told the woman I get sick every time because they make me fast for 6 hours, no water or food. So I can't take my medicine to help my stomach. 

The moment that stuff hit my stomach, I was sick. They wanted me to drink 2 full bottles of that stuff, I told them they'd be lucky that I got 1 down me.  I got 1 1/2 bottles down and started throwing back up.  They weren't happy that I only drank that much and started saying that they won't get a good enough reading.  But hey what am I suppose to do when they won't let me take my medicine.

So they went ahead with the test any way, and I was so sick they gave me a barf bag and then the guy doing the test says, "maybe your doctor should have you on medicine to keep you from being nausea's and vomiting"

I told him, "I'm already on medicine for that, but when you guys tell me I have to fast for at least 6 hours no food, water nothing. I can't take my medicine, so I'm gonna be sick"

Needless to say the guy shut his mouth after that and trying to act like he knew all the answers to my problems.

Immediately after the test was over and they told me I could go, I wen to the bathroom and threw up. Then made my way back to the waiting room where I had crackers, water and of course my medicine waiting for me to take. 

The crackers, water and medicine helped some but it wasn't until I got a meal in me that my stomach started to calm down.

On our way back from Columbus when I have to go to the hospital, Jeremy and I always treat ourselves to a nice meal at Bob Evans restaurant in South Bloomfield.  It's now become our little tradition, and at times it's the only nice thing we get to do the whole day when we've had to be at the hospital. It's so worth the money spent when we get to have some time together to just relax and eat a good meal, even if it does make me sick hour later.

So now we play the waiting game, waiting for the test results to come back, and waiting to see what this new Gastro doctor will do to help me. When I find out the results I'll let you know.

Until then, just gotta keep focused on making it through today and hope tomorrow will be better.

College Degrees, STAPH Infection, and Crohn's

On June 8, 2012 my husband graduated with his Associates Degree From College. This week he began his classes for his Bachelor's Degree In Communications. I could not be more proud of Jeremy.

The only down side, is that I am still sick and fighting day to day to deal with the diseases that attack my body.

At the End of May Beginning of June I had a Knot show up on one of my breasts. Immediately I called the doctor because in just a day and a half it grew to the size of a quarter.  The doctor took one look at it and said, "It's another STAPH Infection."

I've been fighting with STAPH Infections and MRSA ever since I got Crohn's Disease.  After this current round of antibiotics I was put on to fight off the STAPH Infection. I have now in just over 2 years, been on antibiotics 9 times to fight these horrible sores. The other bad thing about these sores is, every time I get one on my body when it goes away, it leaves a scar that looks like a small bruise. 

I have numerous scars from these sores and sadly I am stuck with them for the rest of my life, and if I continue to get STAPH Infections I will just keep getting more scars.

For a few weeks after I was off the antibiotics I had been having more good days than bad.  I even got to go and visit the Chillicothe Bikers Church one Sunday and a Wednesday for their bible study.  And even got to attend their Hog Roast for a couple of hours Last Saturday. 

But during the Hog Roast I began getting sick, and had to leave after 2 hours of being there.  Ever since last Saturday I have continued to deteriorate . To the point that for 2 days this week, I have been bed ridden, and have had to go back to taking my anti vomiting medicine and pain pills to just function some what normally. The other day while Jeremy was in class I was alone and working in our bedroom to put laundry away. Suddenly I had a pain in my intestines hit me and I nearly collapsed on the floor. I grabbed the phone, called my grandma and had her to stay with me on the phone until the pain and diarrhea passed.  I hadn't had that happen in nearly 4 months, and to be alone and nearly collapsed is one of the scariest  things.

Jeremy has not had much sleep in 2 days from staying up late and trying to comfort me and help me as best he can.

I'm praying that the Crohn's is not coming out of remission already, because I don't want to be bed ridden again for God knows how long. 

I go back to my family doctor next Friday, and I have less than a month until I see my new Gastro Doctor at OSU.

Depression has been fighting me very hard lately, and I'm trying desperately to stay positive but there are days I just break down and cry out to God to help me make it through today. Because maybe tomorrow will be better.

May 2012 Update: Update From Doctors Appointment

Miranda gives an update on the latest doctor appointment

Updates From April 2012: Heart Monitors And Drums

April 13, 2012 Miranda gives us an update on her heart monitor and the various testing to be done. Easter highlights and other news.

April 22,2012 Miranda gives an update on her tests she just had.

April 28, 2012 Miranda Caverley of JMC Ministries playing drums at Crohn's/Colitis Awareness Event In Chillicothe Ohio. Miranda has Crohn's Disease and due to her illness has been unable to play drums and perform publicly in over 2 years. It was a dream come true to be able to play for an event especially an event for the disease that she has.

Miranda talks about the Crohn's & Colitis Team Challenge Event in Chillicothe, OH. How she got to make a dream come true again & play drums!

Finding Gladness In All Situations

Since my last post, my health has again taken a turn for the worst. After only 3 weeks of having the Crohn's in remission, it has come back with a vengeance. My family doctor put me on Predinsone (my second round of it in 2 months) to try and help with the inflammation and severe pain. But alas, yesterday I took my last pill and I am not getting better.

I am back to eating ensure and soft foods, which doesn't give me much energy. And so far has made little difference on my pain. The other worry now is that my blood pressure is continually staying Very high due to the pain. I've been having chest pains and my pulse will sometimes go up to 111 beats per minute just when I am lying in bed. While my blood pressure is in the 140's/90's.

Jeremy and I are monitoring my blood pressure and if we don't see changes in it in another day or so we are calling the doctor to see what he wants to do next.

Just before I was put on the Predisone, it showed on the weight scales that I had lost 3 pounds of the 5-10 lbs I had gained from my last round of predinsone. I can only pray that I haven't gained more...because that will also have an effect on my blood pressure and heart if I continue to gain weight.

So how do you find gladness in all this? It is very hard at times, but after reading the book "Pollyanna" of which I'm sure many of you have seen the movie with Haley Mills, I began to play the "Glad Game" As Pollyanna calls it. I do recommend reading the book (it's in some ways better than the movie) especially this part I'm about to share with you. If you have a kindle or the app for the kindle you can download Pollyanna for FREE. I recommend it especially since it's free.

Anyway, I was reading Pollyanna one day when the Crohn's had me bed ridden, and I came towards the end of the book, after Pollyanna was hit by a car and paralyzed. Everyone was trying to get her to play the Glad Game that she had taught them. They were trying to think of something to be glad about her being stuck in bed and not being able to walk. Now how anyone could find something glad about being paralyzed and bedridden is very hard to comprehend, but Pollyanna did.

And what she said, my me cry so hard, and even cry now....When asked what she could be glad about being stuck in bed and paralyzed, Pollyanna said, "I can be glad for the times I had my legs."

She was able to be glad for the time God allowed her to have her legs, and all that she did with them and all the lives she as able to touch and change when she had the use of her legs!

And at that moment, being bed ridden because of this disease that is wreaking havoc on my body, I was able to be glad.

Maybe one day I will be able to get better, just as Pollyanna did after having a surgery to repair her back. And then be able to go out again and be able to do ministry, play music and help in churches and my community again as I use to.

But if I can't, I can still be "Glad" for the times I was able to go out and make a difference in people's lives, just as little Pollyanna did.

I can be glad for the time I had the strength to play my drums and travel. Even though now they sit in the corner of our Office collecting dust for over a year. But I believe one day I will get better enough to sit down and play again as I use to. With all the energy I use to have. I can't imagine God giving me a gift at the age of 3 years old, to only take it away when I am 30.

I can be glad for all the times I was able to go and do puppets and teach children about Jesus and how he loves us. And I can be glad that I can still even from my bed be able to sit here and type this despite the pain I'm in. For maybe just maybe it will help someone else, to find gladness in the face of their adversity.

In my life I never imagined at the age of 30 years old I would be many days bedridden and confined to the upstairs of my home. But here I am......The journey i envisioned my life to be on was not anywhere near where it has gone. But looking back over the past 4 years I thank God for the good times and the great adventures I have been able to have before I got so sick with Crohn's and Gastroparesis.

I continue to hold out on faith that God will heal me. Whether it come directly from him touching me or from the hands of the doctors that he will point me towards to help me. God did not create me to be an invalid without a purpose. And I know some way some how he will still fulfill that purpose even through this broken vessel that I am now.

In Remission, But Still Struggling

3 weeks ago I got the results back from my latest blood test to see how good or bad my Crohn's was.....the results showed that my white blood cell count was normal and that I am in remission.

However, due to having Gastroparesis on top of the Crohn's, I continue to struggle daily with stomach pains, nausea, and diarrhea.

Last weekend however, I was well enough to go and help Jeremy as he spoke at the Delivering Hope Rally to raise awareness about homelessness and poverty. We had a table for JMC Ministries and handed out lots of Free stuff. But sadly it seemed many people showed up to criticize and instead of support us. One person took a copy of our Music Demo CD listened to it then came back and told Jeremy that the music was good, but we were not good enough to win American Idol! Then another person came up at the end of the event after Jeremy spoke and shared his testimony of being homeless and how God helped him through and how he and I started JMC Ministries. This person after taking one of our brochures was very critical of us and kept asking questions that were already answered if they had just read the brochure.

These people were suppose to be Christians but acted anything but....some friends of ours who were there helping at our table saw and heard how we were treated and were very upset that people would be that rude....However, I told our friends that after 30 years of abuse like that from people from around this area, I've grown to expect it and that if someone was Not disrespectful or mean when we went to do Ministry in this area i would think something was wrong.

As I have said many times, Jeremy and I don't have to make people look bad...Because they just open their mouths and place their foot in it and makes themselves look bad on their own, they don't need any help from us.

However, I will say that the event was a success despite the mean people, and Jeremy has already been asked to speak at a church in Portsmouth Ohio next month for another event. This one will be about the drug epidemic that has hit our area of Ohio and how Jeremy is helping people with Drug addictions through a facebook group called Straight Forward...To Help Victims Of Pill Addiction.

Just because Satan puts people in your way to attack you and discourage you doesn't mean you stop doing what God has called you to do. We have more people saying that we are doing great work for the Lord than we do saying we are bad people and not good enough to win American Idol.

Now lets come to the present....

Yesterday i could tell something was not right with my body...I was extremely fatigued and tired. I slept most of the day and then last night it hit...

Out of no where I had severe intestinal pains hit me and even went into my back. I was screaming out in pain. jeremy had to get medicine to help stop the pain and got me to bed. But sleep never came.

All night I tossed and turned in my sleep and cried out in pain. Then today the pain has continued even after taking all the medicine I can to help. And every time I go to the bathroom I hurt so bad having a bowel movement I cry.

It seems my Crohn's is not in remission any longer....I have not felt this bad in over a month and have not had pain in my abdomen and intestines either. So today I'm bed ridden, watching Anne Of Green Gables Movies and trying to continue to do Ministry work from the bed.

My prayer is that this is not a full fledged flare up (how many f words was that? Wow) and that it is only a minor one and will not last long. I'm trying to stay calm and not get upset because that can cause the Crohn's to act up more, but it's hard and especially seeing my husband staying up until 5 a.m. in the morning to watch over me praying and begging God to ease my suffering. It just brings me to tears every time...even now as I write this.

I still don't know why I have to suffer, but as Joni Ereckson Tada said about her swimming accident that left her paralized for the rest of her life...."if one person comes to Christ through this accident, then the wheelchair will be worth it all." All i can say is I hope the same for the Crohn's, Gastroparesis and Auto Immune Deficiency Disorder I fight every day.

The 6 Month Wait......Happy Valentines Day

Since I last wrote nearly a Month ago, my health in some ways has improved, and in other ways it has not.

I'm still running to the bathroom 8-10 times a day on a regular basis, still struggling with vomiting at least 2 days a week. However, I do seem to be having a little more energy than I use to have. I'm spending more days out of bed than in bed. I'm not having extreme pain as often, but I'm still having pain nearly every day but it is manageable with my pain meds and also some new bath stuff and pain relieving lotions, and pain patches Jeremy bought me. But there are still days every now and then that the extreme pain hits and I'm in bed all day. But I'm so thankful that those days are much fewer and farther in between.

Yesterday was the first time in 2 years that I was able to a movie theater and see a movie. I did start to get fatigued and my body started to ache but Jeremy just put his arm around me held me and rubbed my shoulders and neck during the movie and it helped. We went and saw the Vow, it was honestly one of the most heart wrenching movies Jeremy and I have ever seen together....The reason? Because it was as if we were watching ourselves every emotion and struggle that couple went through to try and stay together and keep their marriage intact is exactly what Jeremy and I have been going through.

These diseases that have attacked my body have nearly broken the bonds of our relationship and marriage....But they have not succeeded and the only reason is God. Every day we fight to make it through another day, and when we do we just hold on to hope that the next day will be a little better than the day before. That is sometimes the only way we make it through.

On Valentines day Jeremy and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary of the day Jeremy flew from California to ohio to meet me for the first time after we had been talking online and the telephone for 3 months. That day 5 years ago was, magic. The moment I saw Jeremy standing there at the airport I walked up to him and kissed him for the very first time and felt his arms around me, I knew....I knew that this was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with even though we had only just met face to face for the first time and we had only known each other for 3 months. He took 2 weeks of leave from the Coast Guard to spend with me, and by the end of those 2 weeks we knew we wanted to be married and spend our lives together. Just a few months later on Sept. 22, 2007 on the last day of summer Jeremy and I were married, and then just 12 days later I was in the hospital sick and that was when our journey with my health problems/diseases began.

Our life together has never been easy if it were I think I would worry myself to death that something was wrong. But here we are 5 years later still together and still in love, though very battled and bruised and at times broken. However, we are still together and we still love each other very much.

I go back to see my family doctor on Feb. 23rd for a follow up from the ultrasound test to check that ovarian cyst and also the doctor visit I had with a gynecologist. Everything shows that this cyst has NOTHING to do with all my symptoms of severe stomach/intestinal pains, vomiting, diarrhea and etc. the doctors and the tests shows that it is the crohns, and gastroparesis that is causing all my problems. And proved that my "former" gastro doctor didn't know what he was doing and that I clearly need a new doctor.

So already my family doctor's office has referred me to see a Gastro doctor at Ohio State University that specializes in Inflammatory bowel diseases. The bad news about this is that I can't get in to see this gastro doctor for 6 months!!! My appointment is in July! I'm praying this doctor is worth half a year wait and all this pain and suffering I'm going through. This will be the 3rd gastro doctor I will see in 4 years! I need a good doctor who is willing to take care of me and not shuffle me around and say "I don't know what is wrong with you" after I've paid them hundreds of dollars. I can't afford another doctor like that, and if I do have another doctor like that I think my husband is going to punch someone in the face.


My family Doctor has also taken over all medications that the "former" gastro doctor had prescribed so I won't have to deal with that gastro doctor again, until I see my new gastro doctor.

Luckily this winter here in Ohio has been very warm and mild so far. We have only had one real snow and we got 2 inches and in less than 48 hours it was all melted. I'm thankful for a mild winter because I need the lovely sunshine we have been getting. It is so depressing to be stuck inside for nearly 5 months with no sunshine.

I'm continuing to make the hats and scarves for the homeless project for next winter, and I'm also making some items to start my Miranda Dawn Creations. Right now I'm working on a crocheted summer tote bag! It's going to be so cute and I can't wait to get it done and share photos of it. I have a few more items to make for promotional and then I can start to take orders and make some money to help pay for my medications and doctor bills that seem endless at times. I'm not expecting to get rich but at least it will help a little to help pay for what I need.

I will write again after my appointment next week with my family Doctor.