christinamguerrero.com ~ the official site ~
TESTING FOR FOOD ALLERGIES
AS ONE EXPLANATION FOR CHRONIC
ABDOMINAL, CHEST AND DIGESTIVE PAIN
Copyright 2018 by Christina M. Guerrero, B.A.
DEDICATION
This is for the medical professionals who viewed,
summarized, and signed the MRI and its report.
STORY BEHIND THE STORY
Agony
ABOUT THE DRAFTS
Draft Three:
Cleaned it up; almost ready for an editor.
DISCLAIMER
I am not a doctor.
This is my opinion,
based upon my own research,
experiences and observations.
This is an appeal to to doctors, nurses, and all medical professionals to test for food allergies when patients present with chronic pain of the abdomen, chest and digestive system.
As a “civilian” without a medical degree, I am not an expert about what should happen when such a thing occurs. Without a medical degree, this will be my opinion, based upon my experiences, observations and research.
If someone arrives in your office complaining about abdominal pain, accompanied by sharp, intermittent chest pain, and “feeling like there is broken glass” from their mouth to their bottom, consider the possibility of food allergies. Don’t tell them to “try yoga.” That happened to me; what did that have to do with my symptoms? Pay attention, listen to the symptoms, and determine if you can identify and eliminate the cause or causes, or determine if you can help the patient feel comfortable if the cause is not curable. If you are serious about your oath to “first, do no harm,” then do no harm, either emotional or mental or physical. Help to alleviate the suffering and consider many possibilities, including the following, before giving up.
I am telling my story because I almost died from food allergies, and wish I had been treated with better care by my doctors, nurses, and others, at a time when I needed them to be helpful and comforting.
The story goes way back to childhood, when I would have what appeared to be random symptoms not related to illness or anything else easily explained: a grumbling stomach; severe itching; digestive problems; sharp, shifting pain in my chest; shortness of breath; loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating, and severe fatigue.
There came a time when the symptoms began occurring more frequently, and then grew worse. I sought help where I believed help would be found: at first by making a list of my symptoms, then by asking medical professionals for assistance, and then by considering their advice versus what would really work for me.
Nothing really helped.
I felt disappointed when doctor appointments turned into the quickest way for the other party to pull out their prescription pad. I would say only a few words, and ... BAM! ... the appointment was over, and a prescription sheet was dangling from yet another forefinger and thumb. Once, I was told, “Try yoga.” Before one of the most invasive medical procedures a human being can endure -- a colonoscopy -- I was told they would check me for celiac disease. I was on the table, and fading under the anesthetic with peace of mind. Afterward, I waited impatiently for the results of the test. When I asked if they had tested for celiac disease, the answer was “No.” When I asked why, the answer was, “I don’t know.” I was confused. A long silence stretched on and on. Then I said to the doctor, “I am in terrible physical pain and need someone to help me figure out why.” I don’t know why this doctor appeared to be unconcerned with integrity, loyalty, and trust. I considered legal action. However, as I considered exactly what I wanted from this doctor -- legally, medically, and otherwise -- and anyone else who might be treating me, I chose not to pursue legal action. Next, I refused medical treatment for a very long time. And after that, I made the following list: I wanted the pain to go away; I wanted to be heard and validated and communicated with in a reasonable manner, without the false promises; and I wanted to be comforted. I also decided to write this article and share my story.
After that, I took notes on my day to day habits, including food intake and sleeping and other things that might be causing the chronic abdominal, chest and digestive pain. Life continued to happen; I had to work and take care of my household; and many changes happened in a short period of time. Through all of that, the symptoms continued to bother me; just when they seemed to go away, they would start up again.
However, I still did not see a pattern.
Suddenly, one day, I found myself with shortness of breath, sharp and random chest pain and discomfort, a burning sensation on my left side that felt like paper ripping, that familiar broken glass feeling along my entire digestive track, and general fatigue.
I was working, and I felt stupid and embarrassed. I had to cut the day short, and felt as if I had let down those who had trusted me to show up and fulfill my duties. Everyone was understanding, but I was still unhappy. Also: it is nice to have money to pay the bills and for a bit of fun, instead of putting it toward doctor bills. This pain and the ongoing investigation were eating into my life and my time and my work and having a couple of dollars for a fun activity now and then.
As I drove to an urgent care facility (something I had not done in many years, fearing the same old cycle would start up again), I almost passed out. It felt like there was no oxygen in the world. It felt like something was occasionally squeezing my upper torso, then letting go. If I sat still, I felt a bit better, but not by much, because my insides once again felt like broken glass was passing through fiery flames. Almost everything inside me hurt.
When I arrived at the medical building, I almost left because I feared that once again nothing would be found, and I would once again be left with random symptoms, large medical bills, and no relief. Based upon past experiences, I knew that temporary relief was at least three weeks into the future. That did not sound like a fun way to spend my time.
At the urgent care center, I explained what was happening. I felt as if I were being taken seriously, but also felt stupid. In order to truly understand what was happening, someone would have to look inside me while I was having the symptoms. Reluctantly, I stayed there, and grudgingly tolerated all of the questions and tests, and then carefully considered their advice.
Then I had to take a few days off. The pain was unbearable.
During that time frame, I reluctantly agreed to an X-ray and an MRI.
While waiting for the results, I decided to stop eating -- cold turkey -- a long list of foods that did not go well with a sore stomach, and which I also suspected might be contributing to the digestive discomfort of “broken glass passing through fiery flames.”
When the X-ray and MRI results were ready, I scanned the papers, and I was not surprised. There was evidence of inflammation possibly related to food allergies (my interpretation of the results, not the doctors’), including pericarditis, which had never been mentioned before -- ever -- despite my person having been thoroughly imaged within the most recent few years. There were a few things mentioned that I already knew about. Everything together -- like evidence at a crime scene splattered from floor to ceiling and everywhere in between -- suggested an allergic reaction to something from outside the body. Sections of my body were scenes of past and present fights with allergens. Again, this is my interpretation, not the doctors’.
Meanwhile, the long list of foods, now eliminated from my diet, was tempting yet potentially poisonous. I had eaten those foods all my life. Could they possibly be causing the problems?
It took several weeks for me to feel better on my new diet. Gradually, my insides went from feeling burnt and broken and fiery, to somewhat smooth and comfortable. This took much longer than I anticipated. I can only imagine what the offensive foods were doing: touching tissues that would only swell and reject them, and not absorb; harming rather than helping; speeding up my death process rather than nourishing me and allowing me to thrive. I remembered various times in my life when I would feel hungry despite having a big appetite and eating well; when I felt like I could not get enough of certain foods; of having random weird cravings not easily attributed to lack of vitamins or illness; when I felt tired and sad and hungry rather than energetic and happy and full after meals; snacking when I really did not feel hungry; feeling terrible pain while eating; and several years in a row, when I could barely eat anything without groaning in agony. I believe that all of these issues indicated a potential food allergy: If I were well-nourished by foods that were good for me, shouldn’t I feel satisfied and full and healthy, not unsatisfied and empty and unhealthy?
When I felt well enough, I tested my theories. Sure enough, certain foods brought about moderate or severe allergic reactions. I felt disappointed because some of those foods taste damn good.
While going through this, I wondered: why had no one ever suggested an allergy test? Or an allergy elimination diet with the help of a doctor or dietitian? This is what was actually suggested, from a variety of sources as I suffered from worsening pain that eventually led to worsening fatigue and difficulty focusing: “Try counseling.” “Have you considered yoga?” “How about group therapy?” “Maybe you’re not getting enough sleep.” “You’re having a panic attack.” “Stop complaining.” “Your stories don’t add up.” “You’re making this up, and staging it, so it coincides with random events.”
That is NOT how to talk to someone who is in pain. I was already emotionally and physically fatigued; the offensive words offended me and added insult to injury.
I think this is what happened: The pain and fatigue and pericarditis were a result of the allergies and I think there is a link between food allergies and pericarditis. An allergic reaction can kill. The body inflames and swells and tries to drive out the enemy. The digestive tract is compromised. Other tissues become inflamed, including those around the heart. Once the tissues around the heart swell, the heart will become compressed, and it is difficult to breathe and move. I remembered several times through the years, when I was clutching my chest and crying or groaning while eating. That was because my inflamed organs were grating against the damaged tissues around my heart. My stomach and lungs were bumping against my spleen and heart, and in that tiny space, nothing was going to give. I remembered groaning and crying in agony, and being asked multiple questions including “what is WRONG with you?” and “tell me your symptoms” in a creepy whispery voice by a medical attendant in a hospital setting. But I had explained ... and explained ... and explained ... and my suffering was not validated or relieved. It was hell, and I imagine in hell, they DO hear your screams and moans of pain and suffering, but they make it clear: they don’t care and they just want more of your pain so they can laugh at it. Oh yes, I heard laughter. When I was in pain, I found no relief. There is a particularly disturbing aspect to pain that ebbs and flows with your beating heart: you can feel the life slowly leaving your body, and this is alarming.
Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals: does this sound like the best way to treat someone who complains about chronic abdominal, chest, and digestive pain? Do something that will comfort and heal. Help your patients. Reminding them about yoga will not be enough. An extensive allergy test might have reduced the amount of time I was in agony. Would it have been expensive? Perhaps. But there are many options available for the patient in terms of paying for goods and services, and many options available for the doctors in terms of being reimbursed for their goods and services. Everyone can work with the accounting office, and/or insurance companies, and/or patient advocates to find a solution that will be comfortable for, first of all, the patient.
Once the offending foods (and a few non-food allergens) were removed from my day to day life, I gradually felt better. Nowadays the symptoms return if I have even just a little bit of what I determined to be allergens.
As for the pericarditis, I was surprised to see that on the reports only because it should have been caught sooner. When I researched the diagnosis and considered my symptoms, the description was spot-on, up to a sensation of “paper ripping” in my chest and being unable to find a comfortable sitting position due to the sensitive, aggravated pericardial tissues rubbing against each other. I remember a day when I thought another human being was somehow subletting my chest and violently tearing a sheet of paper down my left side. At that point, the pain was severe; and I was short of breath, and could not carry more than five pounds without moaning in agony. The radiologist considered this “mild.” I don’t want to know what “severe” involves. While testing my allergens, I experienced a direct link between eating those foods and the familiar pain of pericarditis. I realized I had experienced pericarditis on a regular basis through the years, and did not even know it.
After reading the results, testing my theories, and considering the history of my symptoms, I concluded that my abdominal, chest and digestive pain appeared to coincide with the ingestion of allergens.
All of this is only my opinion. A licensed medical doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, or other medical professional might look at my experiences, test results, and experiences and arrive at different conclusions with different solutions.
In conclusion, please listen carefully to anyone complaining about chronic abdominal, chest, and digestive pain, and consider a complete allergen test as one way of determining the cause or causes of that pain.
Christina Guerrero has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Spanish from Franklin College of Indiana. She is a journalist and writer.
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