... but I got a letter from my specialist, who's identified some slightly dodgy areas in my innertube, and thinks I may have mild Crohn's disease. On reading which I jumped around hooting.

At this stage, IIUC, Crohn's is a suspicion rather than a diagnosis. I'll find out more, and what are the next steps we'll take, when I see the doc in September

And a thousand thousand slimy things lived on / And so did I!

Initial -oscopy results excellent. More detailed results from biopsies and what-have-you will be ready in around a month, carrying with them the astonishing possibility of a diagnosis after twenty-three years.

I cannot believe what a fucking doddle that was.

Right, off to enter into the abyss of myself, or rather, let the professionals enter into it for me. Delicately phrased report on any findings later. Goddess bless and protect me. And, while I'm at it, Goddess bless and protect you lot, too. :)

With my -oscopies coming up on Tuesday, a special diet is needed: today, a low-fibre diet, and tomorrow, clear fluids only. (Actually, the doc only told me to avoid eating anything with seeds today, but I decided on a more cautious approach, 'cos I do not want to have to do this twice.) Out of the usual paranoia, I've been jotting down everything I ( Read more... )

Oh good heavens. I think I may have an intolerance to oyster mushrooms. Apparently they're high in arabitol, which can irritate the gut. I had a rather unhappy afternoon after lunching (otherwise excellent) Vietnamese vegetarian food, and I was also struck down after Chicago TARDIS last year after devouring an omelette containing the things. I may ( Read more... )

Had a great old chat with the gastroenterologist. The last time I saw him, ten years ago, I was a trembling little creature who panicked at the thought of needles or operations. This time we were both "Bring on the -oscopies!" He wants to have a good rummage around in my innertubes and see if he can find out what's broken: I'm having what the ( Read more... )

In between catastrophising about my obviously imminent demise, I've been reading up on the vitamins and minerals I'm lacking, and I have a rather embarrassing suspicion that in fact my diet is deficient in them. It's been a long time since I thought about my nutrition in any other way than "Is this low GI and low fat?", and I'd just assumed that ( Read more... )

Feeling a bit more positive this morning, after allowing myself a good wallow yesterday. I was only eighteen when I first fell ill with my tummy troubles. It took six months to get a sort of diagnosis, and twenty-three years on we still don't know exactly what's wrong with me. In my tender mind, visits to the doctor became linked not to hope and ( Read more... )

I have anaemia, plus B12 and vitamin D deficiencies, despite all the supplements I've been taking. The likely explanation is that the dodgy bit of my innertubes is becoming even dodgier, failing to absorb certain nutrients, no matter how much I gobble them. I have to go see the innertube doctor and take a jillion vitamin D tablets ( Read more... )

Saw the endocrinologist. My long-term average blood glucose is OK (HbA1c = 7.1), my triglycerides and cholesterol are OK, my kidneys are undamaged, and I've lost five kilos in six months. In short, diabetes is under control at the mo. Yay me ( Read more... )