Update #1

Hola!

I received my colonoscopy reports yesterday, and they said I had something called ischemic colitis. After doing some research, we found that that is a problem that old and fat people have, not young and healthy girls. So I called to make a follow-up appointment with the GI doctor for Friday, but also called to make a family doctor appointment.

I met with the family doctor (Dr. Melinda Midgley, who is AWESOME) this morning to see if we could start to find what is going on. You guys, this doctor is awesome. She served a mission in New Zealand, so she is all for helping me get back to the mission. She is located at the new hospital in Lehi, and it was day 2 of the practice being open, so everything was new and running for the first time. And I was the only patient there at the time, so it was nice and open. Dr. Midgley was able to spend 2 hours with me discussing everything. Tender mercies left and right. We talked about my whole past and my whole current medical history.

Here is what she said: I have headaches every day. I have never considered them migraines, but she said they are medically defined as migraines because of the symptoms. Who knew?! I have heart aches at times, which I have considered as anxiety things. I also found out that I have that ischemic colitis because of the birth control that I am on (or was on). The BC Pill I was on is a progesterone and estrogen pill and estrogen is a blood clotter. Here is her theory: I had what is called the perfect storm. She believes I had the flu or some stomach bug, and with the birth control and other medications I am on and a few other things just  all worked together to cause this. What she said actually happened is I had a stroke in my colon. (I'll say my prayers of gratitude that it wasn't a clot in my heart or head -- which she said is very possible if I don't get this under control.)

So, here is the final verdict: She believes I have a genetic blood clotting disorder where my blood clots too much. The current main problem with this is that I am on a medication that clots my blood.
Here is what is being done: I was switched to a different birth control pill, one that is progesterone only (called the "minipill"). I am also going to do a blood test called a hypercoaguable workup to give a definite confirmation on if this is the case.

Future implications: I will be home for at least 2 months, hopefully not more than that. And for way down the road, if this is a blood clotting disorder, then I will need to be careful when I am at the point in my life where I want to have children, because if it is this disorder and I don't get any help or anything I could miscarry babies that I want. So I am so glad that we are figuring this out right now! The Lord's hand is in absolutely everything.

Thank you all for your support and prayers. I feel them all coming my way. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you all!

Con Amor,
Taylor