Headaches

Since last Monday I have been having this headache on the right side of my head only and on Monday night it got really bad. They don't get better if I have panadol or ibuprofen, only with panadiene extra which then causes other issues.

So yesterday I went to the doctor and he checked everything and sent me off for a blood test, to see if there was something wrong with the vain on my temple, I can't remember what the problem is actually called.

Anyway I should get the results back soon other wise he thinks it is just a migraine and should go away soon. I hope its soon cause it is very annoying and is driving me nuts!!

Oh and we leave on Friday for a holiday and so I would very much like it too be better for that!!

Charlotte;)

Blastocysts Update

I thought I'd give you all a general update and total history of my Blasto.

I was tested around January this year for Blasto and it came back positive, I was treated with Flagyl, the normal antibiotic that is given when Blasto is detected. This was my second dose as I had already had one dose about November last year as the doctors had no idea what was wrong but thought they would just give it to me in case. I was never re-tested for Blasto until about July when I went to a Naturopath.

After being tested at the Naturopath and it coming back positive again we had the option to go to my GP and get treated or have herbs from the Naturopath. Mum chose the GP option and I was given a double dose of Flagyl this time. This time and the previous 2 times I never had any side affects and these tablets did nothing. Mum asked for me to be re-tested after finishing the Flagyl and again it came back positive.

My mum then found a clinic in Sydney who have successfully treated Blasto before. She spoke to a lady from their who gave us the name of a doctor in Brisbane. Mum tracked that doctor down and I went to see him. He gave me a script for the Centre for Digestive Disease first protocol and I started them.

These tablets made me so very sick, I was nauseas, I had achey bones, my stomach pains were terrible and I was just so sick. I had 2 weeks off school and finished that course. This was August.

I then waited the required 4 weeks and was re-tested, I found out in the last week of term 3, in the middle of exams that I was still positive.

After finishing this first set of tablets I felt so much better, I could eat some foods containing gluten that I wouldn't have been able to before, day to day my pains were a little better and overall I felt a little better however my pains were still there and I could not continue to live like that.

I then started the second protocol from the Centre for Digestive Diseases in the school holidays thinking they too would make me terribly sick. They did not have any effect on me until I had finished them. We think this is because I started this lot of tablets a lot healthier than I did the first time. My nausea severely increased and still has not gone back to the normal amount I have and I felt really tired. I still have not fully recovered to how I was feeling before this second set of tablets however Im feeling pretty good.

I sent away the sample to be re-tested yesterday and should get the results back this week. If I'm still positive I have an appointment with a doctor in Sydney in January to discuss further treatments and if it's negative I'll be re-tested to make sure it is not a false negative.

And that is my little journey with Blastocysts, if you have any questions please leave me a comment.

Charlotte;)

It's the weeekend...finally

This week has felt like it has gone on forever!!

Monday I had a doctors appointment at the hospital, this is the doctor I have been seeing since January (I think) but she's not to good. Lets just say the appointment was a total waste of time and I won't be going back to her. She knows nothing about Blasto. and said that if I just excersise my stomach pains will go away...I wish!!

Yesterday I got into our pool to teach one of my mums friends daughter how to do tumble turns and I did a little bit of freestyle and it didn't hurt my stomach. I tried to do polo (the stroke you do when playing water polo) but I couldn't physically lift my head out of the water while I swam. This I probably because I have lost all of my core muscles.

This weekend I'm finishing my english essay which is due on tuesday, working on my Home Ec pyjama pants and journal and hopefully having a sleepover with L, E and M on Sunday night because Monday is a student free day!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Charlotte;)

Last day

Today is the last day of holidays:( and the last day of my Blastocysts tablets:)

This term, term 4 is only 8 weeks long!! But in this term I have 2 English assignments; one written and one oal, 1 student free day, an awards night, 1 year of being sick, graduation for the year 12's which means a very long mass (I missed the one last year but I have been told its sad and boring), 2 Home Ec assignments; one practical and one written, a computers exam, an English exam, Science exam, Social Science exam, Maths exam, Religion exam and a Business exam. I will be busy, stressed, possibly definitely overwhelmed but I know I  can do it, I know I will get through it and I know I can do it well. I want to wish myself and all other students out there all the best of luck for the last term of this year. All I have to do is think of the lovely looong holidays after this year is finished and soon enough I'll be in year 10!!

Today is also the last day I'm on the second set of tablets to treat my Blasto. These have been nowhere near as bad as the last lot but I have had increased nausea and 1 other side effect. Today and yesterday have definitely been the worst day so far but even they have not been that bad. I'll get re-tested in 4 weeks and if it comes back positive there is another set of tablets or some type of drugs to take again. I have an appointment with a doctor in Sydney at the Centre for Digestive Diseases in January which was the earliest I could get in and if I still have Balsto. by then we will go and see him. Hopefully all goes well but I'll keep you all updated.

Charlotte;)    

Day to Day

I had my appointment with the doctor who treats Blasto on Monday afternoon. He was happy with the progress I've made.

I am now eating more gluten and lactose containing products and have had no side effects which is great!! On Sunday night I even had an ice cream with no pain and then on Monday I had a normal muffin and a piece of normal chocolate slice (not very healthy, I know) and had no reaction.

My stomach is also less tender (or something like that) , when you poke it it doesn't hurt as much as before the treatment for my Blasto. Which is another good sign.

I know have to wait for 3 more weeks and then get re-tested. I'm not feeling to good today but the treatment not only tried to kill the bad stuff in my stomach it also killed the good stuff in my stomach, so now I just have to wait for everything to settle down and see if my pains are still here. Hopefully not!!

Yesterday and today and I have no school, so I'm working on the SEVEN assignments I have due!! I've finished one, maths, which is due tomorrow and the rest I've done a bit on but I've got alot of catching up to do as well!!

I hope everyone is having a good week!!

Charlotte;)

Neutral

I had my doctors appointment with a doctor who treats Blasto. today. He was nice and went over my illness thus far. He said he has treated a few people for Blasto. before and has had a few successes with his regime of medications.

I believe he was a bit wishy washy and I don't want to get too hopeful that he can get rid of my pains.

He has just treated his daughter for this and said she felt immediate relief. My mum thinks this is the problem and that he will fix me but I'm not to sure.

I don't feel negative about this appointment but I don't feel very positive either. I have some hope but only time will tell.

I don't start the actual medication until late next week as I have to start some special probiotics before taking the actual medication. After a 10 day course of the actual medication I have to wait another 4 weeks before they can re-test me for Blasto.

I'm hoping this is what is causing my pain and I am on the road to recovery but I'm not sure!!

Have a great week!!

Charlotte;)

Markets, Strawberries and Koalas

Yesterday (Saturday) we took our Japanese student to the Eumundi Markets. We didn't buy anything but still had a good time. After the markets we went strawberry picking. I had some of the strawberries today and they were delicious.

Today we went to some different markets for breakfast. These are our regular markets where we often go for breakfast. After this we went to a Koala Sanctuary where they had all different types of Australian animals. We watched a bird show and a sheep dog show and saw koalas, kangaroos, platypus', wombats, sheep, goats, many types of birds and dingos.

Two great days, which hopefully showed our student a little bit of Australia.

Something unrelated, tomorrow I have a doctors appointment with a new doctor who treats Blastocysts. Hopefully this will be a good appointment and this may be what is causing all of my pain!! This past week my pain levels haven't been to bad apart from Wednesday but I've been really fatigued. That's really annoying and I have also had a lot of nausea which is also annoying. Nausea sucks, especially because it makes my stomach pains worse. Hopefully this week will be better.

Have a great week and I hope you weekend was as good as mine!!

Charlotte;)

Results

My stool sample that was taken last Friday to see if I still had Blastocysts after my fourth dose of flagyl came back today.

And I still have it!! Yep 4 doses later and I still have Blasto. some of my doctors think it's what is causing my pains and other believe it's totally not related.

My mother has found a clinic in Sydney which believes that Blasto. causes many symptoms I have including dizziness, severe fatigue, concentration issues, weight loss, nausea and of course pain. They have a mixture of drugs that has had many successes with Blasto. sufferers. She has let my GP know about this and he is looking into it but we are hoping to find a doctor in Brisbane who knows about this.

If anyone knows anything about Blasto. could you please let me know??

Thanks Charlotte;)

Tomorrow (and mish mash)

At 9 I have a dentist appointment for 2 fillings. The first 2 I have ever had...I am sooo scared!!
Then at 11:45 I have a doctors appointment with my GP because they have found a parasite in my stomach called Blastocystis. This parasite is very hard to eliminate as it hides in the intestinal mucus and sticks and holds on very hard to your intestinal membranes. Hopefully this will go away and relieve some of my pains but the doctors believe that this is not the main cause of my pain.


Today I spent the day with my Uncle and my 2 adorable cousins, A is 5 and N is 2. The oldest is a boy and he loves to wrestle with me!! He is in prep and his school is beside mine. The youngest a girl, she is loving and kisses everyone and is just so cute. She loves to dance and has just learnt my name. I love the pair of them and just can't spend enough time with them.


I love babies and children and I love spending time with young ones. When I am older I want to have 4 children, ideally 2 girls and 2 boys but I don't really mind as long as I have at least 1 girl. I love to look at all the cute baby clothes and I love love love looking at prams!! Weird I know but I love it. I have always dreamt of being a mother and often think about what type of mother I would be and how cute my children could be. 


I think the thought of my future including my future children has kept me going through this illness. I know I can't give up because I long so bad for my future children. I can't wait to be a mother and hopefully a great one at that. 


I hope every one has a great week!!


Charlotte;) 

Doctors

So after being sick for probably 1 month my mum decided to start counting the doctors I saw as kind of a joke. I thought that would be a great idea and kept up a good count until about March this year. I think I am now up to about 50 different doctors over the past 7 and a half months.

I remember seeing:
Multiple GP's
Paediatrician
Paediatric Surgeon
Many Paediatric Gastroenterologist
Paediatric Endocrinologist
General doctors at the hospital
Persistent Pain Doctor
That's all I can remember for now!!

Speaking of doctors I have an appointment at the hospital with the persistent pain doctors this afternoon. Hopefully they can help, I have seen them before and they put me on some new medication called Gapapentin which has made no major change to my pain but I'm always willing to try anything!!

I also had an appointment at the physio yesterday. I really like her and she is trying to get me back to water polo by the end of this year!! I can't wait to see what happens!! I have all of these exercises to do which is great cause I haven't done any thing since last October! Luckily I haven't lost all of my fitness and the exercises are not to hard.

Can anyone recommend any other doctors that could help!?!

Charlotte;)