The First Official Digital RV trip may be postponed
I thought I’d better pop up a post regarding my rapidly approaching departure date. It looks like it’s getting pushed out.
Since Dec. 04′ I’d been pretty sick. An abscessed tooth started me on a journey with the medical community I’ll not soon forget. My direct experiences with physicians really started in Feb of 05′, and the experience hasn’t ended. The journey has included mis-diagnosis, mis-direction, questioning my own mental stability, and becoming depressed with the whole situation. That’s a mouthfull.
Failing to find medical solutions to my symptoms, high white count, and extreme abdomial pain I decided to believe my prior physicians. Maybe I had a severe problem with anxiety. I sought counselling & used a great series called, “Attacking Anxiety & Depression.” While the counselling and program helped, I still didn’t feel right. After feeling sick for more than 6 months anyone might get anxious. I’ve learned to convince myself that my physical pain was just my anxiety. Bascially, I now know how to ignore actual pain! With the counselor and my new coping skills I decided to try again with the medical community though, as I thought there was still something there.
I questioned myself for quite some time I finally decided to find a new physician. It was not just anxiety as my initial team of inept doctors thought, I was sure of it. Almost immediately I found help. Turned out I’d developed a pretty bad ulcer. I was given a great medication called Protonix. Within 3 days I felt better than I had all year.
Since that “turning point” in November I’ve continued follow ups with my new physician. We got me off medication I didn’t need, ruled out things, and started investigating my initial complaint. Severe abdominal pain and an elevated white count that has existed from Feb of 04′ through to today. That’ll get ya anxious, believe me!
This week, 1 year after my first visit with a physician about my pain, I had a CAT scan of my abdomen. Something my prior physicians never felt was necessary, but that I wanted and kept questioning. I got the call last night. I’ve got a large mass in my colon. We don’t know what it is yet, but I’m scheduled for my first consult next Thursday to plan out what we’re going to do. Wish the consult was sooner. 
Bottom line, I was left with some type of tumor in me for the past year, and it took leaving 1 medical group and switching to another. 3rd world medicine is practiced in our country. If you question your physician, find a new one. Go with your gut! I wish I hadn’t let the first group get me down and convince me that my pain was in my head.
My initial plan to hit the road was to hook up and head out on February 20th, the 5th anniversary of our 2001 Appalachian Trail Hike. I’m sorry to say that’s not looking realistic now. However, I promise, I will be hitting the road this year come hell or high water (or high gas prices too). I’ve literally lost a year to bad medical services, self doubt, and a dash of depression. While I’m feeling much better, I know once this issue is addressed the old Rich (a.k.a. Gadget) will be back in full force. Shame it took so long to find a doctor who actually listened to my complaint. But so glad I found him!
So, you’ll find me here blogging and working on the forum more. And working on selling more copies of the Digital RV. If I can’t be out yet, at least I can help other RV owners use technology. Who knows, maybe you’ll write a blog from the road to keep me entertained! If you do, please let me know where it is so I can link to you and follow along. 
I’m looking forward to meeting you all on the road this year. Oh, and I’ll post a new page later with the whole saga for interested readers. I know it’s not Digital RV type stuff, but it might be interesting.
I forgot to mention. Anyone who has ever experienced anxiety or panic, feel free to get in touch. You’re definitely not alone, and it’s not uncommon. It can occur for more reasons than you know. Drop a note any time.
Comment on February 10, 2006 @ 9:07 pm
Rich,
Best wishes in solving your medical mystery. Having gone thru the experience of diagnosis, treatment, and post-op with lung cancer, I can relate to your experiences. It’s quite true that the range of emotions and concerns attendant to persistent maladies can wear on your brain and affect you physically. I was completely surprised how much my brain took over after I was diagnosed with cancer. When asked by my pulmonologist whether I had pain in my testicles or head, lo and behold I said I did. All that was just my brain taking over and creating symptoms where none really existed. Amazing!!
About the medical system, I learned quite a few things mostly by accident, the good kind not the bad kind. First, it’s better to have a young doctor who is able to admit that there are some things that he or she knows. So, that doctor will ask for tests that others more sure of their answers might ignore. My young doc asked for an x-ray when none of the symptoms seemed to lead to an easy explanation. Second, having more tests may be preferable to getting a second opinion on the same test. In my case, I had two biopsies because the first didn’t show the cancer that the x-ray suggested. Had I had another opinion on the same biopsy, the conclusion might have been the same. The second biopsy, however, produced the cancerous cells. Third, get a bold, brash, cocky, top-flight specialist. Your health shouldn’t rely on second-rate docs or docs unsure of their skill. Having access to a university teaching hospital is probably where you’re more likely to find the docs who know their stuff and are always on the cutting edge, pun intended. My thoracic surgeon turned out to be one of the best in the world. He even operates on gorillas!!!! I’m lucky enought to live near UCSF, one of the best teaching hospitals in the country. You’ve got a few great ones down in Boston.
Once again, kind regards and best wishes.
Comment on February 16, 2006 @ 10:33 am