Hiya... I don't know if any of you guys remember me - I haven't been on here much at all for a long time. Been struggling alot, for quite a while now, it seems... :) I asked Quix a question yesterday, and she wanted me to post it here on the main forum, so here goes, lol.
Have any of you had any issues with gastric emptying? I had my stomach scoped a couple of weeks ago, because I was having ALOT of trouble with my food getting stuck at the end of my esophagus (I mean stuff like scrambled eggs and mashed potatoes) and having a great deal of pain in my central chest. I had initially written that off to the MS Hug that started this whole nightmare, but then gradually the swallowing issues got worse and worse and I was forced to address them.
The EGD showed 2 ulcers in my stomach, and he had to dilate my esophagus, as it had developed a significant narrowing. (For the record, if anyone suggests this procedure to any of you, my suggestion is to politely decline, lol. It was not pleasant.) He started me on meds for acid reflux (which I never knew I had), and I returned yesterday for the results of the biopsies. No cancer (thank God!) and no infections - so now I have to get yet ANOTHER test to check if my stomach is too slow to empty. If so, that would probably be causing the acid to hang around too long and bore holes in my stomach and irritate the esophagus to the point of narrowing. I asked if MS could cause that and he got kinda cagey and finally said that yes, that was quite possibly the cause.
Have any of you had that particular issue? I was just curious... :) If any of you have any insight, I would much appreciate it...
Quix also wanted me to update you guys on how I'm doing - you know how I ramble, so I will try to keep it short, lol! I am hanging in, but fighting on alot of fronts these days ... :) Still on Tysabri ... had my 14th infusion last week. Discussed the PML issues with my neuro, and we are tentatively staying the course for now, but the situation is very fluid at this point. Lots of issues cropping up these days ... recurrent UTI's, skin issues, the stomach issues, frequent low grade temps, etc. The fatigue is bad, the balance/swaying is ramping up again, there are numerous other old things cropping up, and some new, unsettling things as well, that we are keeping an eye on. Both my neuro and my family doc are watching me very closely - I am so very blessed to be in such good hands. I know I am very fortunate... :)
But that is why I don't participate here much these days. Most days, I am not on the computer much, either due to the fatigue, or to the issues I have been having with my hands. I transitioned into long term disability a while back, and it looks like I should have a decision from Social Security in the next few weeks. That has been a very difficult issue for me emotionally ... :) Never in a million years did I think I would be in this position at this point in my life - but I truly feel that God has His plans, and He knows what He is doing.
This journey is teaching me many things, so I can't really complain. I am still blessed in so many ways in my life. I am finding that the more complicated things get, the more at peace I become ... sounds crazy, but it's true, lol. My faith keeps becoming stronger and stronger, and that has been such a wonderful thing.
Hope things are going well with all my old friends here, and hello to all you new folks ... :) And to you new guys - this forum is an awesome place, and these are some of the finest people you will ever come across. This group is a wonderful family - it has helped me and supported me so many times and in so many ways ... so I want to say thank you to all of you once again....
Bye for now,
Rita