Jeannine,

Sending prayers your way.

I'm wondering why the upper endoscopy and colonoscopy have to wait more than 3 weeks. That seems absolutely ridiculous. In addition to the obvious (they can't treat your medical problem until they know what the problem is, and you could be getting worse every day), you have the added stress of having to wait. Just as one small data point, when my W went to the ER last week with abdominal pain, they did the blood work and C.A.T. scan immediately, and would have done the colonoscopy also on the same day if it had been warranted by the blood test results.

I always get the feeling that you are energetic (at least, as much as you can be) when helping others, but too laid back when it comes to helping yourself. It would be totally reasonable and warranted for you to INSIST on getting these tests done sooner. This isn't some kind of elective procedure here, it's stuff that could be life-threatening.

Hey, I'm no doctor (but I'm married to a nurse, so I must be fully qualified, right? ). I'm inferring from your statements about internal bleeding that you must have blood in your stool. As far as I know, the causes for that range from something very benign to something very serious. It would be hard to convince me that it's OK to wait on these tests.

If you are worried about being confrontational or don't feel like you have enough energy to be strong enough for an argument, maybe you can enlist your H to be on your team when you visit the doc. (And if they still refuse to do the tests sooner, maybe its time for a trip to the ER!)

Quote:

I'm going to have to be a quick study on how to be ill without being pathetic and express a need for help without appearing needy.
I don't know about that. You don't seem like the whiny type or the type who fakes acting sicker than they are to get sympathy. For now, just be you, and don't worry so much about how your H perceives you.

Brian