QuestionHello. My name is Angie. I have had a chronic bowel disorder since January of 2004, I have seen 4 different doctors now, I have no insurance and can't seem to get any answers. The doctors believe I have the possiblility of having Crohn's Disease, I have severe diarreah, severe adominal cramps, attacks of night sweats, joint pain and some vomitting and my mental state is shattering at this point.
But one of the main issues during my CT scan, it was discovered I have two hepatic hemangiomas, one of them is 2.5 cm in the left lobe, the other is 4.5 cm in the periphery of the right lobe. I have been on the pill for 19 years now, one form of Necon 1/35-28 or another. I started taking the pill at the age of 13 because I had severe pain and heavy bleeding from my periods. The severe pain is back and now along with the stress and pain of the possibilitly of Crohn's and the finding of the hemangiomas, I don't know what to do.
I do smoke, around a pack of day normally, but with all this added stress, I have been smoking even more. I have been taking several different meds, Donnatol, Toradol, Bentyl, Motrin 600, Zoloft, Vicodin and now Pamine. I can't find a doctor who can or will answer this question for me about the pill!! I realize if these liver tumors get larger it could interfere with my liver function. My gynocologist of 19 years quit his practice, now I am lost. The family practice doctors don't give me any answers and the GI I started seeing said my hemangiomas are trivial? I realize since I do not have health insurance most doctors don't want to help me. I have been denied to be seen at a few of the BETTER clinics around my town, so I am stuck seeing these doctors I feel really aren't interested taking the time or just aren't qualified, I don't know, but at this stage in my life, I am 32 years old, no insurance, laid off of work and the idea of getting pregnant with a bowel disorder is a frightening thing for me. I don't know what side effects I could face from stopping the pill after this long and I am afraid the abdominal pain will increase, especially during menstration.
I have quit taking all the meds prescribed, the Zoloft gave me even worse diarreah, the Bentyl and Toradol made me vomit and have high fevers and dizzyness, the Donnatol did nothing, the Vicodin did wonders for the pain and diarreah, but the docs won't refill for fear of addiction. I started taking the Pamine 2 days ago, still have pain and diarreah, and this med makes me feel so tired and lightheaded.
I had my small bowel follow thru x-rays done last week, in hopes the Crohn's or whatever is wrong with me can be confirmed, I was advised to take the Pamine until then and keep on the pill and smoke "if I want to" ?
I know this is a long question with a lot of history and I appologize but I am at my wits end and I am scared. I am also sorry if I have asked the wrong volunteer, this is all new to me, I don't know where else to turn. I can't afford to see any more doctors or take any more tests without insurance. :-(
Any advice PLEASE?
Thank you,
Angie Woodrum
AnswerI'm very sorry about your illnesses. I hope you can find some help. I can't spend too much time answering your question now, but I will get back to it later. My recommendation is to quit the pill. It will be better in the long run. You've been on it way too long.
