Hi there. Elyssa, again. This one is pretty funny, actually, once you get past the initial sharp intake of breath. Strap in.
For over a year now, I have suspected the presence of a tumor on my large intestine, just above my left hip bone. It has changed size and shape, been firm and cool, squishy and hot at different times. It has baffled myself and multiple practitioners--sure, my auto-immune symptoms tend to be severe in certain categories, but they certainly do not line up with <the C-word>.
As my fear around this "growth" built, so did my supporting symptoms. Constipation, discomfort in the area around the "growth", painful gas, general trepidation. But, no weight loss, no extreme fatigue, no intense nausea, etc.
A consult with my chiropractor last week kicked my butt--my constipation was starting to head towards impaction, and once that gets established, your treatment options start getting more and more limited. A trip to the health food store for some magnesium citrate and a "you know what you need to do" talk with one of my most trusted wise women, and I was home, trying to make some magic happen. Two days and some sleepless nights later, and I decided it was time to go to the ER (I'm uninsured).
The events transpired perfectly. The wait was so long that I had time to lay my emotions aside and come to terms with being there (3 traumatic births, and multiple panic attacks have led to a rather unhealthy avoidance of the hospital). I did not cry or blubber to the doctor, which would have been embarrassing. I still wasn't a good patient, but we got where we needed to go together.
He ordered a CT scan. Never had one of those before. I felt like an alien leaving the mothership... it was weird. Less than half an hour later, I was back with the doctor.
Not a tumor. Not a kinked bowel. Not a diverticulitis gone wrong.
Not even related to my digestive system at all.
It was my kidney.
My em-effing K I D N E Y.
So, back in 1992/1993, when I was in my mother's womb, the bottom of my kidneys just fused together, making a horseshoe shape. No idea why. They sit lower in my abdomen and fan out instead of hugging my spine like the 499/500 other people.
Most people never find out they have it. And, even if they do, besides increasing your risk for nausea, gastric obstruction (ha!), and kidney stones, hardly anything happens. Only one in a million and a half cases are fatal, so almost none, also good news.
So, let me tell you -- I am as light as a friggin' feather right now! I ate chocolate today, and I am going to make myself a nacho bowl for dinner (no cheese, and I forgot the avocado, so basically just regenerative organic corn chips, ground beef, and butter lettuce, but ya'll. I am stoked).
I almost let fear-induced decision paralysis win, but I looked my brain right in the frontal lobe and said "I am not going to let you fck me over."
And, friends. I am so very glad I did.
Let this be a lesson to 'ya!
'Til next time...