A Blessing in Disguise

It all started at the age of three. I was diagnosed with  CVS (Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome) by Dr. David Fleisher. They equate CVS to a migraine of the stomach. It starts out as a minor sore throat or stomach ache then I start vomiting upwards to every five minutes. By this time, I become dehyrdated and the only solution is direct admission to the hospital for rehydration and medications to abort the vomitting. I was in remission from ages 10 to 12, but CVS returned at puberty.

 Things started to get very difficult in 2013. After being released from the hospital, I still would be vomiting. It came to the point that the nurses could not get the IV started because I have been poked too many times. We decided to try the hospital in Mason City. While I was there they noticed my calcium was high. They did some imaging and found out that I had an enlarged parathyroid. Unfortunately, the hospital did not have an endocrinologist . My mom called Dr. Fleisher to ask him what we should do. He arranged us to be transported to Iowa City. I was transported by ambulance. While in Iowa City, they did an endoscopy. Instead of treating the parathyroid, they treated the symptoms and said to take vitamin D then come back in six months. 

Since we did not want to wait six months, we tried a different approach. We went to Wisconsin to see another CVS specialist. While I was there, I became sick and had to be admitted to the hospital for 10 whole days!  I became homesick and I literately begged them to release me. It was so nice to finally be home! 

 When I got sick again, we decided to go to our county hospital. While I was there, a nurse practitioner from Mayo Clinic asked my parents what was going on. They explained and he asked if we have tried Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. I remained at the county hospital for over two weeks and during this hospitalization I had an nasogastric tube inserted, which was very miserable. Due to a disgusting circumstance, they took the NG tube out and inserted  a PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) line, to receive nutrition, as I had lost 31 pounds of weight due to months of vomiting .They did some blood work and my calcium was high again, so Mom did some research. She read an article that summed up what I was going through.  Mom & Dad met with the Dr. to discuss the possibility of hyperparathyroidism, but the Dr, did not agree with this diagnosis.

 When I was released, I was referred to Mayo Clinic. They did lots of tests. On the last day of testing, they reviewed the blood work and noticed my calcium was extremely high, so I was admitted to Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester. While I was there, the endocrinologist visited several times and concluded that indeed it was the parathyroid. Upon being released, they scheduled a time to have some imaging done on my parathyroid. When the  results came back, the surgeon, who literally reviews hundred of parathyroid images, was shocked with the clarity of the enlargement of seven times the normal size! This was a direct answer to prayer as MANY were praying for me!

      
We had the option for surgery as soon as the next day or a month later.  Of course, we chose the next day. After the surgery, my calcium level was back to normal within an hour. Also, the Dr. looked at the endoscopy and noticed some irritation in the stomach and determined gluten sensitivity. Through out this whole ordeal, I was experiencing hallucinations, voices in my head and drug withdraws. So, you may be asking, how on earth can this be a blessing? Well, if I had not been so sick, the doctors would not have found out it was my parathyroid and more than likely, I would still be sick!