It's Christmas Time
I have got back from my appointment it went really well. My husband's test came back really well, my blood tests came back with the majority of good results. My gynaecologist went through what all the figures meant. Like I said the majority of my results were good I only had 2 that were below normal and they were my Progesterone test which we knew it would be low as this is the one that controls ovulation and was the reason why I was on the Clomifene at the beginning of this year. The result was 9 N/Mol and ideally should be above 30 (I am sure that is what he said it should be). My other low result was the Anti-Mullarian Hormone (AMH) from what I can gather this measures the ovarian reserve. My result was 19 N/Mol and I think he said that a normal result should be around 40 but he did say that although this is low it is a normal low and most women that have low AMH also have a result of 19 and that it is not a disaster.
He then went on to ask us if we were happy to go onto IVF. Obviously the answer was a big fat yes. So that is it we filled out the NHS IVF funding forms which shall be sent off with all our test results. I asked how long will it be before we get to start once he has sent the referral and he said as soon as 2-3 months. I cannot believe it, that soon and we will be seeing the IVF clinic. This was our last appointment seeing my gynaecologist at Frimley Park Hospital (hopefully). However saying that my gynaecologist runs an anti-natal clinic so hopefully next time I see him it will be when the IVF is successful. My Gynaecologist said that we are entitled to a minimum of 2 cycles. Fingers crossed that we only require once.
This time next year we could be parents. I just feel so happy. In fact happy is an understatement slightly overwhelmed but in a fabulous way. We have been given a website to compare hospitals that we could choose to go with. It is important that you choose the right hospital for you, the one that just feels right. I cannot even think of any words to describe how I am feeling right now.
Admittedly since we got back from the hospital I have been dressed in my PJ’s and not moved off the sofa. This is because as well as sorting out the IVF he took some swabs and done a blood test on my husband. I was hoping that the examination would not be as painful as previous internal examinations as my Endometriosis should still be at its lowest and I have had my swollen fallopian tube removed but no it was still extremely painful and as much as I tried not to I still cried out in pain. I went shaky and it brought a tear to my eye. But at least it had been done now.
I also mentioned about the stabbing pain I am getting of which my gynaecologist said that he knows what that is straight away. I think you know what I am about to say as well. Deep down I knew what it was but was hoping that I was wrong. It is my Endometriosis already. He did have a feel of my left side to see that too was very uncomfortable to say the least. At the moment thought I could not care less the fact that I am in pain and even that my Endometriosis is still playing up only eleven weeks after my operation. Endometriosis you can just do one because not even you could ruin my mood now that we are definitely going ahead with IVF. Endometriosis just a little warning you shall not win.
I am due my period any day now. My last period was 1st November and it is now 1st December. I honestly thought that I would come on my period today before my appointment but I was wrong. I am assuming that my cycle is a tad funny at the moment due to the Prostrap injections that I was on before my operation.
2015 is going to be a fantastic year and I really cannot wait to get started. I am off work now until 5pm Thursday then I am in for a busy weekend 5pm-11pm Thursday, 9am-8pm Friday and Saturday and 9-3 on Sunday. After that though there will be 5 more days before I break up for Christmas. I am ready now I am shattered just 9 more shifts to go then 19 days off work by which time 2015 is here. I am so excited.
Oh hurry up, I cannot believe I am saying this but the sooner it comes the sooner it will go. I just wish that my period would just come already. I am so exhausted I fund it near on impossible to get out of bed this morning even after doing absolutely nothing all day yesterday, apart from going to the hospital. The stabbing pain is still there. I have had a little bit of spotting when I wipe since Friday and my breasts are sore so I know she is not far round the corner. Today’s nausea had been horrid. This afternoon I have had a bath to try to relax the muscles in my abdomen. That did not work and since I got out I have been almost sick twice. I feel I am going downhill as the day is going on. This evening we are meant to be going Christmas shopping to get the presents for the youngest children of the family. Three days off work and so far I have not been able to enjoy any of them hopefully I start to feel better by tomorrow or even by the time I am back to work as we have a very busy weekend ahead and I do not want to let anyone down.
I did say that 2015 is going to be a great year I am going to be a great aunt again next year, my nephews girlfriend is due in June. This time next year we could have 2 new family members our new baby (with any luck) and my new great niece or nephew so exciting.
I am still feeling nauseous today. I went to see my mum this morning and my sister was at home so we went out for a coffee and a wonder around town. On my way home I thought I was going to be sick again and I still feel a bit icky now. The stabbing pain is constantly there now as is my pelvic pain.
Winter is definitely here it is so cold. I am looking forward to Christmas now, looks like we may be having us two and 8 more people for Christmas dinner and then an open house again like last year as it was such a good success last year.
Still nothing, I am still waiting the pain was really bad last night. I could not get comfortable I was still wide awake at 4.00am this morning. I finally dosed off for about 1 ½ hour. When I woke up I thought that the pain had eased, and I was right up to the point of actually getting out of bed to go to the loo, then the pain came back. I stayed in bed most of the morning and then had a long hot soak in the bath to ease the muscle pain again. This seemed to work as the pain subsided as has the nausea that I have been suffering from since last night. I am now sitting on the sofa relaxing before my shift at work tonight.
I had my lunch about 30 minutes ago and yet again I am struggling to keep it in my stomach. I have a feeling that I am going to struggle with my shift tonight. But I also think my period is on her way.
She finally came, I was right Thursday evening my period came. I got through my shift Thursday night but even though I had not slept much the night before I got very little sleep Thursday night (if I got 1 ½ hours of sleep I would think myself lucky). I felt awful Friday morning but forced myself in to do my 11 hour shift. After all sometimes you feel better for going into work than just sitting on the sofa feeling sorry for yourself. I started my shift at 9:00am and by 11:30am I knew that I had made a big mistake. I tried so hard to get through the day and not to let anyone down. After all it is a busy weekend. By 12:30pm I had to admit that I could not go on anymore. The chef on duty would not let me drive home, I had gone white as a ghost. Also was we walked very slowly to her car I was almost sick several times. As soon as I got home I ran another hot bath, my second of the day as I had already had one at 5:00am that morning. I hoped that the bath would relax my abdominal muscles. Surprise, surprise guess what? It did not work.
I was now forced to take my last resort to ease the pain. I took a 30mg Codeine Phosphate, even this did not work in fact the pain seems to have got worse. I thought maybe when I am due to take my next tablet it may work better as the codeine will already be in my system. I think you know where I am going with this but the pain levels kept going up even when I thought it was not possible to get any higher. At about 1:00am this morning I decided to take 2 codeine tablets (a total of 60mg) and again at 7:00am. I am still in so much pain, even though I feel very much drugged and drowsy I still cannot sleep due to the pain levels. It is really hard to describe the pain. But what I can say is that it is not like my normal endometriosis pain.
I started feeling in pain as you know a week ago with a stabbing pain around my ovary which felt like my endometriosis. Last night this pain was joined with a cramping around my left ovary/kidney area round to my lower back. As well as going round to the front of my abdomen. This morning I have mild stabbing pains in my right ovary but it is not even half as bad as my left side. I am in so much pain, in fact I do not think that I have been in this much pain since February 2013.
As today is going on I am starting to think that this is not just my Endometriosis but something else. At 2:40pm I took my temperature just before having a bath it was slightly higher than normal not by much though at 37.4◦C (it is normally 36.5◦C). I got out of the bath about 3:30/4:00pm as I was starting to feel really drowsy. I finally fell a kip until about 4:45ish. I took my temperature again as i had woken with a massive headache, feeling sick and still very sore. My temperature was 38.1◦C but this could be because of the bath so it may not be a true reading.
I am starting to wonder if this is a water infection because it is getting really sore whenever I go for a wee. It stings and cramps up around my lower back. If this does not start to ease by Monday morning I shall book a doctor appointment to get some antibiotics.
I have just got back from the doctors and boy do I know how to do things properly or what? Mind you when I was growing up I was told that if you are going to do something then do it properly or do not do it at all. Despite the pain I survived the weekend. I was taking 2 30mg Codeine Phosphate for the pain but sometimes even this world not stop/ease the pain. Anyhow like I said I survived the weekend and tried to get an appointment with my doctor for today. The receptionist said that she could fit me in tomorrow morning. I had waited all weekend I could not go another day longer so I told her it had to be today and that I was willing to see anyone as long as it was today. She said that she will have to get the doctor to phone me back. When my doctor phoned me back I explained my symptoms and the level of pain I have been suffering. She agreed with me in thinking that it was a Urinary Tract Infection. She wanted to see me this morning and managed to squeeze me in within the hour. I done a urine sample but warned her it is a bit bloody because I am on my period. I explained to her I was sent home from work on Friday and it just felt like a normal Endometriosis flare up.
However by Saturday it started to feel different and I was going for a pee more and when I did it stung and I could feel tight cramping round my back. She had a feel of my abdomen and around my kidneys. She said I was very tender. Believe me I already knew that and did not need anyone else to tell me this. My urine test showed a lot of protein and white blood cells in it. She said that on top of my Endometriosis flare up I also have an infection and that she is a bit worried that it may have gotten to my kidneys, as the pain is consistent with an infection there. She took my temperature and it was 37.7◦C. She then asked me when the last time I had a bowel movement was. I had to think about this and said I think it was before Thursday, but could that be due to the Codeine. She said yes or that there could be a bit of pressure on my bowel. She has given me Trimethoprim and antibiotic, Paracetamol to fight the fever, I am also to continue to take 60mg Codeine Phosphate for the pain and start taking laxative for the constipation. I told her I had Lactulose and Movicol. I am to stay off work for another 2 more days as it takes about 48 hours for the antibiotics to start to kick in. if I get any worse or am not back at work by Friday then I have to go back to the doctor to get a sick note and to see what is going on. She told me to just rest and continue drinking plenty of water and cranberry juice. Hopefully I will soon start to get some relief. I feel so guilty being off work yet again, and guess what yet again it is a busy week, the last busy week of the year to top it all off. To make things worse there is no one to cover the weekday day shifts as all our causal staff are at college. I know that there is nothing that I can do about this but I still feel very guilty.
I am on day three of taking my antibiotics and I feel no different. I am still on 60mg Codeine to help with the pain. This is crazy really taking the mick now. I have not had a good night’s sleep in just under a week now and when I have had a kip it has been a drug induced sleep that actually makes you feeling more tired than you were before. Like I said before the pain is still really bad. I hope that the antibiotics kick in soon. I am going insane. Please just give me a break I have had enough now. I just want to go more than one month without actually being ill. Is that too much to ask?
Last night I took my painkillers at about 10:00pm it took a while for them to kick in but eventually they did. Then about 1:00am/2:00am I was in so much pain. I normally try to leave 6 hours between doses but there was no way that I would be able to go another 2 hours in that amount of pain so I took my next dose earlier. On the box it does say 4-6 hours between doses and I would not recommend this unless you have been advised to by your doctor. The pain dulled down a tad but came back again pretty bad at about 4:00am
The pain killers from my last dose still have not kicked in. I really have no idea what to do. I think that if it is still bad tomorrow (Thursday) I shall phone the doctors surgery and book an appointment for Friday.
As for my constipation, I hate that Movicol so I tried Lactulose Monday and Tuesday morning and nothing so Tuesday afternoon and today I have had to have Movicol. This morning I thought that it may have worked but so little came out when I went I would say that it does not count. I have had another Movicol this morning to hopefully help things move along a bit more.
I took my codeine at 5:15pm it is now 8:10pm and still I am in so much pain and it is getting worse. I can barely walk. I could not get an appointment with my doctor for tomorrow, however they did manage to get me an appointment for Saturday morning. I really wish that this pain would just do one. I was really hoping that by now I would have had some sort of relief.to be honest I feel just as bad today as I did this time last week.
Two years ago today the world lost a lovely lady, my mother-in-law. She was a really lovely woman and I just wish we could have blessed her with a grandchild from her oldest son. We took some flowers to her grave this morning. I cannot believe that she has been gone for two years, but she shall never be forgotten.
The last few days have been hell. Friday night I used the last of my codeine. Well there was me thinking that it was not doing anything at all with the pain, I was wrong. Although I was still in a lot of pain whilst taking the codeine not being able to take it was another story altogether. Anyway I survived the night and made it to my doctor’s appointment. He dipped my urine sample after I explained that on Monday I had a bad infection, he looked at my notes and described that the infection on Monday was raging. After he dipped my sample it flagged up within seconds that there was still a bad infection. The doctor said that normally a dip test takes a minimum of 30 seconds to flag something up. So after he said that I would quite happily say once again I have done this getting sick thing properly and not by half again, this urinary tract infection is a really bad one. He has upped my Movicol to 4 sachets on Saturday and then up it by 1 every day until a maximum of 8 sachets. I am on stronger antibiotics, Nitrofarantion, and he stopped the codeine, he has given me Naproxen instead. This is supposed to be kinder on my bowel than the codeine. I am to go back to see the doctor on Tuesday to see how I am getting on and if the antibiotics are working. I hope that they do.
So on Saturday I took the 4 sachets of Movicol as I was instructed to by the doctor and I dosed up on painkillers and antibiotics. I fell asleep on the sofa for a couple of hours. In the afternoon I felt really good, maybe these painkillers will work after all, one thing is for sure the Movicol worked. All that evening I had the urge for a bowel movement but nothing and yet by the time I got back down the stairs I had the urge to go again. With a limited energy supply anyway the last thing that you want to be doing is going up and down stairs every 5 minutes. I had an early night that night, before I went to bed I finally fell asleep I actually had a small bowel movement.
Sunday morning we went to get the Christmas tree 30 minutes being out and I was knackered and needed to go home. We picked a good tree and my husband nipped into the supermarket and I stayed in the car. I have had to start taking Paracetamol with the Naproxen to ease the pain. For the rest of the day I have had no energy at all and my sister came round to decorate the tree for me. Whilst I continued my constant trips up and down the stairs to the loo. I did not take any more Movicol Sunday. My bowel movements seemed to be very tar like and little but very often. My legs and arms feel so weak and heavy.
Today is Monday I woke up feeling good. My energy is a bit more I actually had the energy to have a shower instead of just lying in the bath. I had made plans to do some washing up, clothes washing and cleaning. However by the time I got out of the shower, dressed and made my way down the stairs I was shattered and had to have a kip on the sofa. I feel so weak. I think that my body is starting to fight the infection and is winning. It just needs help by me taking it easy. Both Saturday and Sunday nights I have woken up in the middle of the night dripping wet in sweat. I hope I can beat this thing before Christmas.
I was back at the doctors today. I thought that the antibiotics were working yesterday I had a little more energy than I have had lately. This morning I did not have as much energy as yesterday, but still more than I have had lately. The urine sample that I had taken this morning looked very odd. I have never seen anything like that before. The best way to describe it is like a very watery milky tea colour. The doctor said that there was still no change in the sample and that she could see that I was still in pain. She has stopped me taking the Nitrofurantoin (antibiotic) and given me Ciproflaxin instead, hopefully this one will work. I am to go back on Friday. She has sent my urine sample off to the hospital to put it under the microscope to see what and where this infection is. It really is knocking seven bells out of me.
I have my doctor’s appointment to see how my infection is going. I am still in a quite considerable amount of pain. I just hope that finally these antibiotics have started to work. I think if she says that it has not worked this time I will actually cry. Unfortunately I am not convinced that they are doing anything, however saying that I thought the other antibiotics had worked and they had not so maybe me thinking these have not worked, they have if you get what I mean. Fingers and toes crossed that they have worked and I will beat this and have a pain free Christmas.
In the post today I received a letter from the hospital. It was a copy of 2 letters saying a similar thing one to the NHS South Commissioning Support Unit who are in charge of the NHS funding for the IVF treatment (I assume). The other letter is to Nuffield Hospital referring us to them for NHS funded IVF Treatment.
Both letters give a quick intro to my medicinal history starting off with describing my Endometriosis as severe and that I was diagnosed at laparoscopy in 2009 but I had no treatment at the time. The letters then went on to my recent history describing in February 2013 my surgeon performed a laparoscopy with a right ovarian cystectomy and reroofing of a large endometrioma, ten days later I required a laparotomy and adhesiolysis for a small bowel obstruction.
After I had recovered from my surgery I was followed up by my gynaecologist. He explains how my HyCoSy scan showed a patent right fallopian tube but a left tubal blockage with a left hydrosalpinx.
In September 2014 he performed a laparoscopy with drainage of a left endometrioma and left partial salpingectomy. He explains that he did not remove the entire fallopian tube because he was concerned that a complete removal may jeopardise the blood supply or function of my left ovary. I had bilateral endometriomas that were drained. My right fallopian tube is still patent.
The letter goes onto how my husbands semen analysis is normal. My most recent smear test was on 29th May 2013 and was normal, also my chlamydia swab taken on 1st December 2014 was obviously negative.
He gives my early follicular hormone profile on 4th November 2014 showing a FSH of 6.0, LH of 2.6, Anti-mullerian hormone level was 19.48 pmol/L. Both my husband and my blood tests for Hepatitis B surface antigen, Hepatitis B core antibody, Hepatitis C and HIV testing were all negative.
At the very bottom of one of the letters was a hand written note saying “Best of luck to you both” and signed it with his first name, this little note means so much to me as it is that personal touch. It really makes me feel like an actual person than just a number. My gynaecologist really is a brilliant person. He had been very understanding and has listened to every word that I have said. I feel that he has been so supportive. I have heard of so many women saying that they have not had the support from their doctors and have had to fight every bit of the way to get heard and just feel like a number. I myself have had this at the beginning, even been accused of making it up, another time being told that it is just a pulled muscle. However I am now so lucky to have such good doctors and specialists. I just hope that this will continue as my journey continues. It is so important to have a trusting medical team when you have a chronic illness as you are constantly fighting your illness you do not want to be fighting to be heard as well.
I feel so lucky to have access to the NHS, it annoys me that people complain about it when for me it has always been there for me when I have needed it. Without it there is no way I would be able to afford half as much as what I have had to have done. I respect the NHS so much not only for what they have done for me but also close members of my family. For all those that work at the NHS doing long hours with such hard work I have two words to say to you a great big, no humongous
THANK YOU
I really cannot believe that this is happening soon we will be starting IVF. Soon we will have a family. This letter I received today really confirms it. Excited is an understatement.
It is Boxing Day I finished my antibiotics on the 23rd December. The doctor said on my follow up that the antibiotics had worked and that I was to just complete the course as I had been very ill. I am so glad to finally finish them and I could swear they made me go a tad do lally. I found it very hard to go food shopping on the 22md and 23rd December because of the pain, nausea and fatigue but although I felt I would not be able to do it I managed to do it. Christmas Eve we were getting ready for Christmas Day which I really struggled with as well because the night before I slept really well until about 2.00am when I woke up in so much pain all around my abdomen and kidneys. I went downstairs to watch films at about 4.00am I finally dosed off at about 8.00am for about 1 ½ hour. About 10.00pm that night I went up to bed, normally I go out with my husband on Christmas Eve but because I have been feeling so bad this year I chose to save my energy for Christmas Day so I stayed in and had an early night. my husband and I ended up staying awake until about 3.00am because we got chatting and ended up watching Christmas songs on YouTube.
Christmas Day was a very busy day we went to my husbands mums grave with some flowers to wish her a Happy Christmas. When we got back we had 10 for Christmas lunch. I managed to fight the nausea, fatigue and pain and lunch was a hit. In the evening we had an open house where between 30 and 40 people came round. The last people left about 1.30am. Finally we got to bed at 2.00am. My head hit the pillow and the next thing I knew it was 8.30am. I have done absolutely nothing all day today except watch films with my new foot massage and heat teddy Penny Panda both given to me by my ever so amazing, wonderful, patient and perfect husband. I have such a lovely Christmas with friends and family. I am so tired and sore now though but I really think that it was worth every bit of me struggling now. My view was that if I could get through this Christmas feeling the way I do then I can get through anything.
One thing that I was not sure about and everyone with a chronic illness goes through at some point is the question painkillers or have a drink. I chose not to take the Naproxen because I did not want to be drowsy on Christmas day (one of the side effects I have found I get with the drug). However by 10.30am I had to give in, I managed to fight the drowsiness and hide how bad I was as the day went on. I did have a glass of mulled wine and a glass or two of red with my meal. I then did not have a drink until later on once my painkillers wore off. I did look into whether I can drink with my painkillers. If you are going to drink when taking painkillers you should always check that it will not be affected by the alcohol. If I found anywhere that it was not advised to drink then I would not have touched a drop all day. You should always check with either your doctor or pharmacist about taking mixing any medication and alcohol. If I was still taking codeine for example I would not touch any alcohol at all.
He then went on to ask us if we were happy to go onto IVF. Obviously the answer was a big fat yes. So that is it we filled out the NHS IVF funding forms which shall be sent off with all our test results. I asked how long will it be before we get to start once he has sent the referral and he said as soon as 2-3 months. I cannot believe it, that soon and we will be seeing the IVF clinic. This was our last appointment seeing my gynaecologist at Frimley Park Hospital (hopefully). However saying that my gynaecologist runs an anti-natal clinic so hopefully next time I see him it will be when the IVF is successful. My Gynaecologist said that we are entitled to a minimum of 2 cycles. Fingers crossed that we only require once.
This time next year we could be parents. I just feel so happy. In fact happy is an understatement slightly overwhelmed but in a fabulous way. We have been given a website to compare hospitals that we could choose to go with. It is important that you choose the right hospital for you, the one that just feels right. I cannot even think of any words to describe how I am feeling right now.
Admittedly since we got back from the hospital I have been dressed in my PJ’s and not moved off the sofa. This is because as well as sorting out the IVF he took some swabs and done a blood test on my husband. I was hoping that the examination would not be as painful as previous internal examinations as my Endometriosis should still be at its lowest and I have had my swollen fallopian tube removed but no it was still extremely painful and as much as I tried not to I still cried out in pain. I went shaky and it brought a tear to my eye. But at least it had been done now.
I also mentioned about the stabbing pain I am getting of which my gynaecologist said that he knows what that is straight away. I think you know what I am about to say as well. Deep down I knew what it was but was hoping that I was wrong. It is my Endometriosis already. He did have a feel of my left side to see that too was very uncomfortable to say the least. At the moment thought I could not care less the fact that I am in pain and even that my Endometriosis is still playing up only eleven weeks after my operation. Endometriosis you can just do one because not even you could ruin my mood now that we are definitely going ahead with IVF. Endometriosis just a little warning you shall not win.
I am due my period any day now. My last period was 1st November and it is now 1st December. I honestly thought that I would come on my period today before my appointment but I was wrong. I am assuming that my cycle is a tad funny at the moment due to the Prostrap injections that I was on before my operation.
2015 is going to be a fantastic year and I really cannot wait to get started. I am off work now until 5pm Thursday then I am in for a busy weekend 5pm-11pm Thursday, 9am-8pm Friday and Saturday and 9-3 on Sunday. After that though there will be 5 more days before I break up for Christmas. I am ready now I am shattered just 9 more shifts to go then 19 days off work by which time 2015 is here. I am so excited.
Oh hurry up, I cannot believe I am saying this but the sooner it comes the sooner it will go. I just wish that my period would just come already. I am so exhausted I fund it near on impossible to get out of bed this morning even after doing absolutely nothing all day yesterday, apart from going to the hospital. The stabbing pain is still there. I have had a little bit of spotting when I wipe since Friday and my breasts are sore so I know she is not far round the corner. Today’s nausea had been horrid. This afternoon I have had a bath to try to relax the muscles in my abdomen. That did not work and since I got out I have been almost sick twice. I feel I am going downhill as the day is going on. This evening we are meant to be going Christmas shopping to get the presents for the youngest children of the family. Three days off work and so far I have not been able to enjoy any of them hopefully I start to feel better by tomorrow or even by the time I am back to work as we have a very busy weekend ahead and I do not want to let anyone down.
I did say that 2015 is going to be a great year I am going to be a great aunt again next year, my nephews girlfriend is due in June. This time next year we could have 2 new family members our new baby (with any luck) and my new great niece or nephew so exciting.
I am still feeling nauseous today. I went to see my mum this morning and my sister was at home so we went out for a coffee and a wonder around town. On my way home I thought I was going to be sick again and I still feel a bit icky now. The stabbing pain is constantly there now as is my pelvic pain.
Winter is definitely here it is so cold. I am looking forward to Christmas now, looks like we may be having us two and 8 more people for Christmas dinner and then an open house again like last year as it was such a good success last year.
Still nothing, I am still waiting the pain was really bad last night. I could not get comfortable I was still wide awake at 4.00am this morning. I finally dosed off for about 1 ½ hour. When I woke up I thought that the pain had eased, and I was right up to the point of actually getting out of bed to go to the loo, then the pain came back. I stayed in bed most of the morning and then had a long hot soak in the bath to ease the muscle pain again. This seemed to work as the pain subsided as has the nausea that I have been suffering from since last night. I am now sitting on the sofa relaxing before my shift at work tonight.
I had my lunch about 30 minutes ago and yet again I am struggling to keep it in my stomach. I have a feeling that I am going to struggle with my shift tonight. But I also think my period is on her way.
She finally came, I was right Thursday evening my period came. I got through my shift Thursday night but even though I had not slept much the night before I got very little sleep Thursday night (if I got 1 ½ hours of sleep I would think myself lucky). I felt awful Friday morning but forced myself in to do my 11 hour shift. After all sometimes you feel better for going into work than just sitting on the sofa feeling sorry for yourself. I started my shift at 9:00am and by 11:30am I knew that I had made a big mistake. I tried so hard to get through the day and not to let anyone down. After all it is a busy weekend. By 12:30pm I had to admit that I could not go on anymore. The chef on duty would not let me drive home, I had gone white as a ghost. Also was we walked very slowly to her car I was almost sick several times. As soon as I got home I ran another hot bath, my second of the day as I had already had one at 5:00am that morning. I hoped that the bath would relax my abdominal muscles. Surprise, surprise guess what? It did not work.
I was now forced to take my last resort to ease the pain. I took a 30mg Codeine Phosphate, even this did not work in fact the pain seems to have got worse. I thought maybe when I am due to take my next tablet it may work better as the codeine will already be in my system. I think you know where I am going with this but the pain levels kept going up even when I thought it was not possible to get any higher. At about 1:00am this morning I decided to take 2 codeine tablets (a total of 60mg) and again at 7:00am. I am still in so much pain, even though I feel very much drugged and drowsy I still cannot sleep due to the pain levels. It is really hard to describe the pain. But what I can say is that it is not like my normal endometriosis pain.
I started feeling in pain as you know a week ago with a stabbing pain around my ovary which felt like my endometriosis. Last night this pain was joined with a cramping around my left ovary/kidney area round to my lower back. As well as going round to the front of my abdomen. This morning I have mild stabbing pains in my right ovary but it is not even half as bad as my left side. I am in so much pain, in fact I do not think that I have been in this much pain since February 2013.
As today is going on I am starting to think that this is not just my Endometriosis but something else. At 2:40pm I took my temperature just before having a bath it was slightly higher than normal not by much though at 37.4◦C (it is normally 36.5◦C). I got out of the bath about 3:30/4:00pm as I was starting to feel really drowsy. I finally fell a kip until about 4:45ish. I took my temperature again as i had woken with a massive headache, feeling sick and still very sore. My temperature was 38.1◦C but this could be because of the bath so it may not be a true reading.
I am starting to wonder if this is a water infection because it is getting really sore whenever I go for a wee. It stings and cramps up around my lower back. If this does not start to ease by Monday morning I shall book a doctor appointment to get some antibiotics.
I have just got back from the doctors and boy do I know how to do things properly or what? Mind you when I was growing up I was told that if you are going to do something then do it properly or do not do it at all. Despite the pain I survived the weekend. I was taking 2 30mg Codeine Phosphate for the pain but sometimes even this world not stop/ease the pain. Anyhow like I said I survived the weekend and tried to get an appointment with my doctor for today. The receptionist said that she could fit me in tomorrow morning. I had waited all weekend I could not go another day longer so I told her it had to be today and that I was willing to see anyone as long as it was today. She said that she will have to get the doctor to phone me back. When my doctor phoned me back I explained my symptoms and the level of pain I have been suffering. She agreed with me in thinking that it was a Urinary Tract Infection. She wanted to see me this morning and managed to squeeze me in within the hour. I done a urine sample but warned her it is a bit bloody because I am on my period. I explained to her I was sent home from work on Friday and it just felt like a normal Endometriosis flare up.
However by Saturday it started to feel different and I was going for a pee more and when I did it stung and I could feel tight cramping round my back. She had a feel of my abdomen and around my kidneys. She said I was very tender. Believe me I already knew that and did not need anyone else to tell me this. My urine test showed a lot of protein and white blood cells in it. She said that on top of my Endometriosis flare up I also have an infection and that she is a bit worried that it may have gotten to my kidneys, as the pain is consistent with an infection there. She took my temperature and it was 37.7◦C. She then asked me when the last time I had a bowel movement was. I had to think about this and said I think it was before Thursday, but could that be due to the Codeine. She said yes or that there could be a bit of pressure on my bowel. She has given me Trimethoprim and antibiotic, Paracetamol to fight the fever, I am also to continue to take 60mg Codeine Phosphate for the pain and start taking laxative for the constipation. I told her I had Lactulose and Movicol. I am to stay off work for another 2 more days as it takes about 48 hours for the antibiotics to start to kick in. if I get any worse or am not back at work by Friday then I have to go back to the doctor to get a sick note and to see what is going on. She told me to just rest and continue drinking plenty of water and cranberry juice. Hopefully I will soon start to get some relief. I feel so guilty being off work yet again, and guess what yet again it is a busy week, the last busy week of the year to top it all off. To make things worse there is no one to cover the weekday day shifts as all our causal staff are at college. I know that there is nothing that I can do about this but I still feel very guilty.
I am on day three of taking my antibiotics and I feel no different. I am still on 60mg Codeine to help with the pain. This is crazy really taking the mick now. I have not had a good night’s sleep in just under a week now and when I have had a kip it has been a drug induced sleep that actually makes you feeling more tired than you were before. Like I said before the pain is still really bad. I hope that the antibiotics kick in soon. I am going insane. Please just give me a break I have had enough now. I just want to go more than one month without actually being ill. Is that too much to ask?
Last night I took my painkillers at about 10:00pm it took a while for them to kick in but eventually they did. Then about 1:00am/2:00am I was in so much pain. I normally try to leave 6 hours between doses but there was no way that I would be able to go another 2 hours in that amount of pain so I took my next dose earlier. On the box it does say 4-6 hours between doses and I would not recommend this unless you have been advised to by your doctor. The pain dulled down a tad but came back again pretty bad at about 4:00am
The pain killers from my last dose still have not kicked in. I really have no idea what to do. I think that if it is still bad tomorrow (Thursday) I shall phone the doctors surgery and book an appointment for Friday.
As for my constipation, I hate that Movicol so I tried Lactulose Monday and Tuesday morning and nothing so Tuesday afternoon and today I have had to have Movicol. This morning I thought that it may have worked but so little came out when I went I would say that it does not count. I have had another Movicol this morning to hopefully help things move along a bit more.
I took my codeine at 5:15pm it is now 8:10pm and still I am in so much pain and it is getting worse. I can barely walk. I could not get an appointment with my doctor for tomorrow, however they did manage to get me an appointment for Saturday morning. I really wish that this pain would just do one. I was really hoping that by now I would have had some sort of relief.to be honest I feel just as bad today as I did this time last week.
Two years ago today the world lost a lovely lady, my mother-in-law. She was a really lovely woman and I just wish we could have blessed her with a grandchild from her oldest son. We took some flowers to her grave this morning. I cannot believe that she has been gone for two years, but she shall never be forgotten.
The last few days have been hell. Friday night I used the last of my codeine. Well there was me thinking that it was not doing anything at all with the pain, I was wrong. Although I was still in a lot of pain whilst taking the codeine not being able to take it was another story altogether. Anyway I survived the night and made it to my doctor’s appointment. He dipped my urine sample after I explained that on Monday I had a bad infection, he looked at my notes and described that the infection on Monday was raging. After he dipped my sample it flagged up within seconds that there was still a bad infection. The doctor said that normally a dip test takes a minimum of 30 seconds to flag something up. So after he said that I would quite happily say once again I have done this getting sick thing properly and not by half again, this urinary tract infection is a really bad one. He has upped my Movicol to 4 sachets on Saturday and then up it by 1 every day until a maximum of 8 sachets. I am on stronger antibiotics, Nitrofarantion, and he stopped the codeine, he has given me Naproxen instead. This is supposed to be kinder on my bowel than the codeine. I am to go back to see the doctor on Tuesday to see how I am getting on and if the antibiotics are working. I hope that they do.
So on Saturday I took the 4 sachets of Movicol as I was instructed to by the doctor and I dosed up on painkillers and antibiotics. I fell asleep on the sofa for a couple of hours. In the afternoon I felt really good, maybe these painkillers will work after all, one thing is for sure the Movicol worked. All that evening I had the urge for a bowel movement but nothing and yet by the time I got back down the stairs I had the urge to go again. With a limited energy supply anyway the last thing that you want to be doing is going up and down stairs every 5 minutes. I had an early night that night, before I went to bed I finally fell asleep I actually had a small bowel movement.
Sunday morning we went to get the Christmas tree 30 minutes being out and I was knackered and needed to go home. We picked a good tree and my husband nipped into the supermarket and I stayed in the car. I have had to start taking Paracetamol with the Naproxen to ease the pain. For the rest of the day I have had no energy at all and my sister came round to decorate the tree for me. Whilst I continued my constant trips up and down the stairs to the loo. I did not take any more Movicol Sunday. My bowel movements seemed to be very tar like and little but very often. My legs and arms feel so weak and heavy.
Today is Monday I woke up feeling good. My energy is a bit more I actually had the energy to have a shower instead of just lying in the bath. I had made plans to do some washing up, clothes washing and cleaning. However by the time I got out of the shower, dressed and made my way down the stairs I was shattered and had to have a kip on the sofa. I feel so weak. I think that my body is starting to fight the infection and is winning. It just needs help by me taking it easy. Both Saturday and Sunday nights I have woken up in the middle of the night dripping wet in sweat. I hope I can beat this thing before Christmas.
I was back at the doctors today. I thought that the antibiotics were working yesterday I had a little more energy than I have had lately. This morning I did not have as much energy as yesterday, but still more than I have had lately. The urine sample that I had taken this morning looked very odd. I have never seen anything like that before. The best way to describe it is like a very watery milky tea colour. The doctor said that there was still no change in the sample and that she could see that I was still in pain. She has stopped me taking the Nitrofurantoin (antibiotic) and given me Ciproflaxin instead, hopefully this one will work. I am to go back on Friday. She has sent my urine sample off to the hospital to put it under the microscope to see what and where this infection is. It really is knocking seven bells out of me.
I have my doctor’s appointment to see how my infection is going. I am still in a quite considerable amount of pain. I just hope that finally these antibiotics have started to work. I think if she says that it has not worked this time I will actually cry. Unfortunately I am not convinced that they are doing anything, however saying that I thought the other antibiotics had worked and they had not so maybe me thinking these have not worked, they have if you get what I mean. Fingers and toes crossed that they have worked and I will beat this and have a pain free Christmas.
In the post today I received a letter from the hospital. It was a copy of 2 letters saying a similar thing one to the NHS South Commissioning Support Unit who are in charge of the NHS funding for the IVF treatment (I assume). The other letter is to Nuffield Hospital referring us to them for NHS funded IVF Treatment.
Both letters give a quick intro to my medicinal history starting off with describing my Endometriosis as severe and that I was diagnosed at laparoscopy in 2009 but I had no treatment at the time. The letters then went on to my recent history describing in February 2013 my surgeon performed a laparoscopy with a right ovarian cystectomy and reroofing of a large endometrioma, ten days later I required a laparotomy and adhesiolysis for a small bowel obstruction.
After I had recovered from my surgery I was followed up by my gynaecologist. He explains how my HyCoSy scan showed a patent right fallopian tube but a left tubal blockage with a left hydrosalpinx.
In September 2014 he performed a laparoscopy with drainage of a left endometrioma and left partial salpingectomy. He explains that he did not remove the entire fallopian tube because he was concerned that a complete removal may jeopardise the blood supply or function of my left ovary. I had bilateral endometriomas that were drained. My right fallopian tube is still patent.
The letter goes onto how my husbands semen analysis is normal. My most recent smear test was on 29th May 2013 and was normal, also my chlamydia swab taken on 1st December 2014 was obviously negative.
He gives my early follicular hormone profile on 4th November 2014 showing a FSH of 6.0, LH of 2.6, Anti-mullerian hormone level was 19.48 pmol/L. Both my husband and my blood tests for Hepatitis B surface antigen, Hepatitis B core antibody, Hepatitis C and HIV testing were all negative.
At the very bottom of one of the letters was a hand written note saying “Best of luck to you both” and signed it with his first name, this little note means so much to me as it is that personal touch. It really makes me feel like an actual person than just a number. My gynaecologist really is a brilliant person. He had been very understanding and has listened to every word that I have said. I feel that he has been so supportive. I have heard of so many women saying that they have not had the support from their doctors and have had to fight every bit of the way to get heard and just feel like a number. I myself have had this at the beginning, even been accused of making it up, another time being told that it is just a pulled muscle. However I am now so lucky to have such good doctors and specialists. I just hope that this will continue as my journey continues. It is so important to have a trusting medical team when you have a chronic illness as you are constantly fighting your illness you do not want to be fighting to be heard as well.
I feel so lucky to have access to the NHS, it annoys me that people complain about it when for me it has always been there for me when I have needed it. Without it there is no way I would be able to afford half as much as what I have had to have done. I respect the NHS so much not only for what they have done for me but also close members of my family. For all those that work at the NHS doing long hours with such hard work I have two words to say to you a great big, no humongous
THANK YOU
I really cannot believe that this is happening soon we will be starting IVF. Soon we will have a family. This letter I received today really confirms it. Excited is an understatement.
It is Boxing Day I finished my antibiotics on the 23rd December. The doctor said on my follow up that the antibiotics had worked and that I was to just complete the course as I had been very ill. I am so glad to finally finish them and I could swear they made me go a tad do lally. I found it very hard to go food shopping on the 22md and 23rd December because of the pain, nausea and fatigue but although I felt I would not be able to do it I managed to do it. Christmas Eve we were getting ready for Christmas Day which I really struggled with as well because the night before I slept really well until about 2.00am when I woke up in so much pain all around my abdomen and kidneys. I went downstairs to watch films at about 4.00am I finally dosed off at about 8.00am for about 1 ½ hour. About 10.00pm that night I went up to bed, normally I go out with my husband on Christmas Eve but because I have been feeling so bad this year I chose to save my energy for Christmas Day so I stayed in and had an early night. my husband and I ended up staying awake until about 3.00am because we got chatting and ended up watching Christmas songs on YouTube.
Christmas Day was a very busy day we went to my husbands mums grave with some flowers to wish her a Happy Christmas. When we got back we had 10 for Christmas lunch. I managed to fight the nausea, fatigue and pain and lunch was a hit. In the evening we had an open house where between 30 and 40 people came round. The last people left about 1.30am. Finally we got to bed at 2.00am. My head hit the pillow and the next thing I knew it was 8.30am. I have done absolutely nothing all day today except watch films with my new foot massage and heat teddy Penny Panda both given to me by my ever so amazing, wonderful, patient and perfect husband. I have such a lovely Christmas with friends and family. I am so tired and sore now though but I really think that it was worth every bit of me struggling now. My view was that if I could get through this Christmas feeling the way I do then I can get through anything.
One thing that I was not sure about and everyone with a chronic illness goes through at some point is the question painkillers or have a drink. I chose not to take the Naproxen because I did not want to be drowsy on Christmas day (one of the side effects I have found I get with the drug). However by 10.30am I had to give in, I managed to fight the drowsiness and hide how bad I was as the day went on. I did have a glass of mulled wine and a glass or two of red with my meal. I then did not have a drink until later on once my painkillers wore off. I did look into whether I can drink with my painkillers. If you are going to drink when taking painkillers you should always check that it will not be affected by the alcohol. If I found anywhere that it was not advised to drink then I would not have touched a drop all day. You should always check with either your doctor or pharmacist about taking mixing any medication and alcohol. If I was still taking codeine for example I would not touch any alcohol at all.