Multiple health problems: Thankful & fearful what future holds

I’m glad to hear you’re doing better. Thanks for the information. I never thought about going to an ENT. That sounds interesting. I’m waiting for a callback from my doctor and I’ll discuss more options with him. This feels impossible to beat right now so thanks for giving me hope!

Clearly I'm here seeking ideas on how to better my mindset, but here's my list of things I have done that I believe has helped this far:

*Limit social media to 30 mins per week. I don't interact with post/comments that would be unrealistic if said/done in the face to face public.

*I don't entertain politics or political commercials. This has been super easy, especially during election time. "Mom, from now on you can talk about what your political party is doing to better everything, not bashing the other side. (Birds chirping)

*No longer watch murder mysteries or the news.

If I want doom/gloom/horrifying reality, I'll just stop taking my thyroid meds. For the long 11 months of gaining weight (120lbs in total) while having numerous Drs- tunnel vision, shove psych meds down my throat, as the previous years worth of repeated MRSA abscesses, forming under my just healed hysterectomy wound, it being cut back open, wound vac and home health twice, meant depression, was it, nothing else. Oh plus the last 5 of 11 months, had antibiotics added to the psych med cocktail, due to my metabolism unknowingly being shut down, how could it possibly be anything else. So, my TSH was 42 by the time a Dr said, how about blood work?!?

This was after my cervical cancer diagnosis, radical hysterectomy, the year of MRSA, and finally my radiation treatments, at the age of 33, with a 11yr old daughter and 4yr old twin boys.

That was 5 years ago, and recently spent a year rebuilding my strength and stamina back up, was back to working full time, being completely financially independent again, to helping my dad throw bags of mulch around at 8am, to a fever of 104 by 8pm the same day. It took far longer than it ever should have to figure out that I had an abscess behind my bladder, pressing against my rectum (What the heck!)

I feel like an unknowingly participant in the, "Psychological, person relationships, and financial affects research trials for those receiving good news, bad news, good news x 2, bad news x 4, good news x 1 years, rebuild mental and physical wellbeing, followed by bad news again x 6 months, repeatedly, over a prolonged period of time, has on ones over all well being."

@bebecca, good tips. If you would like to help support others dealing with a cervical cancer diagnosis, you may wish to join the discussions in the Gynecologic Cancers support group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/gynecologic-cancer/

Hi,
I too have GERD along with many other medical problems. I've had GERD for the past 25 years. After taking multiple medications with no relief, my PCP sent me to a general surgeon for a fundoplication surgery. I've had over 12 surgeries in my life and this one was the worst. It's a surgery for GERD involving the esophagus, hiatal hernia and diaphragm. I was in the hospital for 12 days and thought I was going to die. The post-surgery period was awful. Only liquids for 4 weeks and then soft food for another 4 weeks. No more soda unless it was flat, etc. I have had to keep on the diet ever since the surgery. Exactly one year after the first surgery, I had to have another because the first one failed. Another 3 months in hell and that one failed after 8 months. I'm now on the highest dosage of Protonix and have Barrett's esophagus. I have an endoscopy every 2 years. I drink flat decaffeinated Pepsi about once a week without side effects.
If you haven't been on Protonix, please talk to your dr about it. I will be praying for you. By the way, your burning mouth may be from the acids coming up during the night. I no longer have that. I still have GERD, but only about 1/4 of the time.