Journal entry by Connie Little —
Three years ago I was diagnosed with Stage 1 cervical cancer. I had a radical Hysterectomy. Afterwords, I was free from cancer for 18 months. After seven months into the pandemic, and seven months without a physical exam from my oncologist gynecologist, a small scar tissue the size of a pea had grown into an adenocarcinomas around the size of a grape and two smaller ones. I was immediately told by my doctor that he needed to do more surgery on Friday. This was on a Monday. Blood work, covid test, pet scan complete, I went in for surgery. I went to the James Research Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Living here in Springfield, I decided it would be much easier to receive the five weeks of chemo and radiation here in my home town at the Springfield Mercy Cancer . Everyone who worked there were supportive and kind. It was all during December and January. Then I went back to The James for the inner beam radiation known as brachytherapy. It went well. I went in for my follow up appointment with my Radiologist one month later. She told me everything looked wonderful. I was cancer free.
Seven weeks ago, I was feeling quite healthy and hungry. So being me, living alone, decided to order a pizza. I sautéed lots of healthy veggies and piled them on. This was a Saturday afternoon. By Sunday, I finished the pizza. Sunday evening my stomach was in knots . I began to vomit, and ended up having dry heaves until I gave up and called the squad for myself Wednesday morning. Three days later I went home, but nothing settled right any more. I ended up back in The ER. After taking phenergan a few times, I knew I needed to see a gastroenterologist. I was doing my own research and realized I might be lactose intolerant. (With another new idea on the side, could I also be gluten intolerant?)
I went to the store and bought Lactaid milk. I stopped drinking my Activia that had been a regular in my diet for three years because of all its probiotics. I started feeling a lot better right away. I read about gluten yesterday, and today I bought lots of gluten free foods to try.
I have to keep an appointment for Tuesday for a gastric scope and a colonoscopy. All my blood work and the two cat scans in the last several weeks have shown no new problems. Just a low white blood count. I have a good feeling I am on to something. I mean, if my Mom could survive another 48 years and a radical mastectomy, and a horrible case of Hepatitis B, and figured out for herself that she was lactose intolerant, surely I can have the same happy ending she did!
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