I've been a Christian for almost 6 years now. (I'll give my testimony in another blog.) In these past 6 years, I've never really learned much about spiritual warfare. Over the past month, I have really felt spiritual warfare in action. I have realized my husband and I have really been under attack since the day we were married. My husband is a new Christian and us marrying has strengthened our faith like I never knew was even possible. We are on fire for Jesus!
The day after our wedding, I woke up sick with a sinus infection. We traveled to The Bahamas and I was sick the entire time. We had fun still, but I had no energy at all. On the flight home, because of the sinus infection, my ears would not clear. I had so much pressure in my ears and head all I could do was cry. They would not pop!!! Once I got home, I was completely deaf in my right ear. I went to the doctor for this and he gave me some medicine to try. It finally cleared up within a week.
Then September 7th, the day before our 1 month anniversary, I had HORRIBLE abdominal pain and bloody stools. I've had this in the past, never this bad however. I've never had a diagnosis other than irritable bowel syndrome. We went to the ER. They did a CT which showed possible inflammatory bowel disease. They gave me medicine and sent me home. My GI doctor was not on call that night. I talked to him 2 days later, and he said I should have been admitted. He got me in for a colonoscopy. Biopsy results showed Ischemic Colitis. This means I needed more testing to figure out why, at my young age, I would have something like this. After that episode, I came down with strep throat 1 week later!!! So, the next 3 months were spent in the hospital and doctor's office. I had ultrasounds, arteriogram, tons and tons of lab work. Everything came up inconclusive, no reason why I should have this.
I have had problems like this ever since.... Here is something that will help explain what I have for those of you that don't know...
The day after our wedding, I woke up sick with a sinus infection. We traveled to The Bahamas and I was sick the entire time. We had fun still, but I had no energy at all. On the flight home, because of the sinus infection, my ears would not clear. I had so much pressure in my ears and head all I could do was cry. They would not pop!!! Once I got home, I was completely deaf in my right ear. I went to the doctor for this and he gave me some medicine to try. It finally cleared up within a week.
Then September 7th, the day before our 1 month anniversary, I had HORRIBLE abdominal pain and bloody stools. I've had this in the past, never this bad however. I've never had a diagnosis other than irritable bowel syndrome. We went to the ER. They did a CT which showed possible inflammatory bowel disease. They gave me medicine and sent me home. My GI doctor was not on call that night. I talked to him 2 days later, and he said I should have been admitted. He got me in for a colonoscopy. Biopsy results showed Ischemic Colitis. This means I needed more testing to figure out why, at my young age, I would have something like this. After that episode, I came down with strep throat 1 week later!!! So, the next 3 months were spent in the hospital and doctor's office. I had ultrasounds, arteriogram, tons and tons of lab work. Everything came up inconclusive, no reason why I should have this.
I have had problems like this ever since.... Here is something that will help explain what I have for those of you that don't know...
Ischemic colitis
URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000258.htm
Ischemic colitis is a sudden swelling (inflammation) of part of the large intestine (colon) that occurs when there is a temporary loss of, or reduction in, blood flow to the colon.
Causes:
Ischemic colitis mainly affects people over 50. Many of them have a history of peripheral vascular disease.
Other risk factors include:
Atrial fibrillation
Blockage of the large bowel
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Congestive heart failure
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Irritable bowel syndrome
Low blood pressure
Past aortic surgery in which damage occurred to the artery that supplies the colon
Rheumatoid arthritis
Use of medications that cause constipation
Symptoms:
Abdominal pain
Blood in the stool (may be bright red or maroon)
Diarrhea
Fever
Vomiting
Exams and Tests:
Colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy
Computerized tomography (CT scan)
Treatment
Treatment for mild ischemic colitis often involves:
Antibiotics
Liquid diet at first
Fluids through a vein (by IV)
Pain medications
Severe ischemic colitis that leads to gangrene is treated with:
Antibiotics
Replacement of blood volume
Surgery to remove the affected bowel area
Outlook (Prognosis):
Most cases of ischemic colitis are mild and will improve on their own. They do not need surgical treatment.
The death rate is high when gangrene occurs because there is not enough blood supply.
Possible Complications:
Gangrene of the bowel
Hole in the intestine (perforation)
Inflammation of the lining of the abdomen (peritonitis)
Sepsis
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of ischemic colitis.
Prevention:
Being aware of your risk may allow early diagnosis and treatment. Absolute prevention may not be possible.
Alternative Names:
Colonic ischemia
References:
Hauser SC. Vascular diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 146.
Update Date: 1/20/2010Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Mediicne, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The next thing to happen was my daughter was found to have an enlarged liver. We spent another 3 months running tests on her. Again, her tests were inconclusive as well. No reason why her liver is enlarged, we are just going to the doctor every 6 months for a checkup.
Literally 3 hours after we got home from her last doctor's appointment when they said she is OK, I came down with appendicitis. Classic case exactly. My husband was out of town, so I called him and he came home and we went to the ER, again. Also, this was our 7 month anniversary. CT did not show anything abnormal, but my appendix was not visualized. So, I was admitted and the surgeon came in and told me surgery was really the only option. Surgery did fix it, the pain went away. I was sick for a week after that.
1 month after that, again on our 8 month anniversary, we found out I was pregnant! Things were great for a while, then trouble started, as you've read in the previous blogs. Thursday is where I left off....
Thursday I was fine, no pain really. Then around 10pm, all of a sudden I started getting this HORRIBLE abdominal pain. Similar to the September episode. Brandon was out of town. I called him because I really didn't know what to do, I was hurting so bad. By this time, the pain was so intense I couldn't move or breathe, or hardly talk. So, Brandon called 911 and I had to go by ambulance to the ER. I did not want to do that at all. Luckily, Sarah met me there because Brandon was out of town. She helped wheel me around the ER. Brandon eventually arrived and the process of waiting and testing began. The CT showed the same thing from September. Inflammation of my entire colon. The ER doctor was the same one I'd had when I had appendicitis and bleeding the week before. He was excellent at knowing what to do. He called my GI doctor and got me admitted. I was admitted to my "home/4CD." I love my coworkers and they took very good care of me. I just couldn't believe all of this was happening. I just had a miscarriage and now THIS!? So many things happened during this hospitalization...I could not have gotten through this without the strength of Jesus and the power of prayer from friends and family. I started reading the Word 24/7. Here is a passage that really got me through this and was really speaking to me:
Ephesians 6:10-18 (New International Version)
The Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000258.htm
Ischemic colitis is a sudden swelling (inflammation) of part of the large intestine (colon) that occurs when there is a temporary loss of, or reduction in, blood flow to the colon.
Causes:
Ischemic colitis mainly affects people over 50. Many of them have a history of peripheral vascular disease.
Other risk factors include:
Atrial fibrillation
Blockage of the large bowel
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Congestive heart failure
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Irritable bowel syndrome
Low blood pressure
Past aortic surgery in which damage occurred to the artery that supplies the colon
Rheumatoid arthritis
Use of medications that cause constipation
Symptoms:
Abdominal pain
Blood in the stool (may be bright red or maroon)
Diarrhea
Fever
Vomiting
Exams and Tests:
Colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy
Computerized tomography (CT scan)
Treatment
Treatment for mild ischemic colitis often involves:
Antibiotics
Liquid diet at first
Fluids through a vein (by IV)
Pain medications
Severe ischemic colitis that leads to gangrene is treated with:
Antibiotics
Replacement of blood volume
Surgery to remove the affected bowel area
Outlook (Prognosis):
Most cases of ischemic colitis are mild and will improve on their own. They do not need surgical treatment.
The death rate is high when gangrene occurs because there is not enough blood supply.
Possible Complications:
Gangrene of the bowel
Hole in the intestine (perforation)
Inflammation of the lining of the abdomen (peritonitis)
Sepsis
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of ischemic colitis.
Prevention:
Being aware of your risk may allow early diagnosis and treatment. Absolute prevention may not be possible.
Alternative Names:
Colonic ischemia
References:
Hauser SC. Vascular diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 146.
Update Date: 1/20/2010Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Mediicne, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The next thing to happen was my daughter was found to have an enlarged liver. We spent another 3 months running tests on her. Again, her tests were inconclusive as well. No reason why her liver is enlarged, we are just going to the doctor every 6 months for a checkup.
Literally 3 hours after we got home from her last doctor's appointment when they said she is OK, I came down with appendicitis. Classic case exactly. My husband was out of town, so I called him and he came home and we went to the ER, again. Also, this was our 7 month anniversary. CT did not show anything abnormal, but my appendix was not visualized. So, I was admitted and the surgeon came in and told me surgery was really the only option. Surgery did fix it, the pain went away. I was sick for a week after that.
1 month after that, again on our 8 month anniversary, we found out I was pregnant! Things were great for a while, then trouble started, as you've read in the previous blogs. Thursday is where I left off....
Thursday I was fine, no pain really. Then around 10pm, all of a sudden I started getting this HORRIBLE abdominal pain. Similar to the September episode. Brandon was out of town. I called him because I really didn't know what to do, I was hurting so bad. By this time, the pain was so intense I couldn't move or breathe, or hardly talk. So, Brandon called 911 and I had to go by ambulance to the ER. I did not want to do that at all. Luckily, Sarah met me there because Brandon was out of town. She helped wheel me around the ER. Brandon eventually arrived and the process of waiting and testing began. The CT showed the same thing from September. Inflammation of my entire colon. The ER doctor was the same one I'd had when I had appendicitis and bleeding the week before. He was excellent at knowing what to do. He called my GI doctor and got me admitted. I was admitted to my "home/4CD." I love my coworkers and they took very good care of me. I just couldn't believe all of this was happening. I just had a miscarriage and now THIS!? So many things happened during this hospitalization...I could not have gotten through this without the strength of Jesus and the power of prayer from friends and family. I started reading the Word 24/7. Here is a passage that really got me through this and was really speaking to me:
Ephesians 6:10-18 (New International Version)
The Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
So, this leaves me to know that we are under spiritual attack all of the time. That week was one of the toughest EVER and we made it through. My husband is amazing, always right there when I need him. God is working hard in us and for our good. He put us together to help and encourage each other, raise Caitlyn and our future children by His Word, spread His love and truth, and He knows we are working our hardest to glorify Him! Satan knows that also and is trying to stop it.
GOD IS BIGGER!!! The Lord is my strength and I will not waiver from His truth. Ever.
