Hello. How are you? I’ve not been keeping well. It’s been THREE grueling weeks of pain and discomfort for me and I’ve been to 3 doctors who keep on guessing and giving me different diagnosis and meds each time. I am tired of being in pain, being immobilized and powerless at home when I needed to tend to my children after work. I want to be there for them after work.

But lately, I’ve not been able to and I’ve missed important events, I’ve been a bit unproductive at work and at the blog front.

I have been trying to figure out a stomach/GI issue that I have been dealing with for the past couple of weeks. When it started a couple of weeks ago, it only occurred every once in a while. Then it started happening a couple times a week. Well, in the past few days, it has been occurring every day and has become progressively worse.

It’s easy to say this painful condition has almost taken over my life.

I’ve seen doctors and have been on medication but nothing seems to help so I took the matters to my own hands. But you know what happens when you consult the internet doctor? It magnifies the worries and speculations. The possibilities are endless like sweets on a buffet tray: I could have as simple as hyperacidity to GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or parasites (Giardiasis…yuck!) to SIBO (Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) to Diverticulitis to Ulcerative Colitis to Candidiasis to a more scary Autoimmune Diseases of some sort.

I am baffled because I’ve been eating clean and there’s nothing I can pinpoint as to what triggers it but lately, my stomach reacts to nuts (I used to snack on these), almond milk (I use this in my morning smoothies), coconut (oh no, God don’t let me become intolerant to coconut!! I LOVE anything with coconut!!) and this – CHOCOLATE. You know it’s time to panic when even a small piece of chocolate wreaks havoc with your life. I ate a small bar yesterday and felt my stomach bloat as if I am 5 months pregnant. It started with those until it doesn’t matter what I ate – I wake up with a flat stomach (I mean not bloated) but it worsens in the afternoon to evening and I come home crying asking for medication, back massage as the pain radiates through the back and a hot compress then I fall asleep crouched in pain, leaving my poor children to themselves until their father comes home. I burp a lot and pass gas (sorry TMI!). I also feel gnawing hunger all the time an hour or so after eating, so I eat again. I’ve even succumbed to eating wheat again just to try to fill me up and see if the hunger goes away…a bit but then I become bloated and my stomach become tight and painful again. Plus, I’d get headaches as that is the usual thing that happens to me when I eat something with gluten.

Has any of you experienced something horrible like this? I’ve read forums where people mention they suffer from the same symptoms for MONTHS, some, for YEARS. Today has been better with only a bit of pain but I cannot imagine living like this, living with this fear of “maybe if I eat that, I’ll be in pain” because that’s what’s happening to me right now. I cannot sit down and enjoy most food in the fear that I’ll suffer after.

And imagine if I really can’t eat chocolate again anymore. That would be the end of me. Seriously.

I will go to Rashid Hospital once and for all if the pain does not subside in the weekend. I read that they have a good Digestive Disease Unit there. I hope to find a doctor who don’t do hit or miss anymore and end this misery of mine!

* In case you’re wondering, I will still be doing my fitness challenge (I start tomorrow!) as I don’t see it as something that will make my condition worse. If at all, regular exercise should help. And I am doing it in the morning when I am always in good condition. Let’s see.

Hope you all have a great weekend! And if you know some solution, please share. Thank you!