My Medical Timeline...
1999- 2003: Sporadic episodes of abdominal pain and inconsistent bowel movements. Flushing, or redness in the skin, begins to occur at various times lasting 3-5 minutes each episode
Summer 2004: (Age 24) Abdominal pain becomes more frequent and severe. Flushing in skin is now occurring at least daily, usually after each meal and during times of high stress or anxiety. Visited E/R or urgent care centers on various occasions when pain was at its worst. Usually prescribed an antacid of some sort. Was once diagnosed with Gastritis and prescribed Pepcid.
June & July 2004: Finally committed to a primary care physician. X-Rays and Ultrasound performed of the abdominal area. At that time, the liver was “of normal size and configuration” All abdominal organs were “unremarkable”. Diagnosed with Iron Deficiency Anemia. Her report has the notation: “flushing; possible carcinoid?” She was onto something and referred me to a gastroenterologist.
August & September 2004: Met with gastroenterologist several times for tests and consultations. Endoscopy and colonoscopy performed, both come back negative. Gastroenterologist does not test for carcinoid or any other possibilities. Officially diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome.
October 2004 - March 2006: Pain initially lessens, probably due to improved diet and increased exercise. During times when pain did present itself again, would normally visit an urgent care center just to be sent home with a new pain medication or antacid.
April 2006: Began seeing new primary care physician in Greenfield Indiana. Lost 15lbs in three weeks, abdominal pain was so severe that eating was undesirable or vomiting occurred afterwards.
May 2006: Abdominal ultrasound performed on 5/19, showed numerous masses throughout liver. CT scan performed 5/22, confirmed multiple hepatic masses throughout the left and right lobes of the liver. The largest measuring roughly 5cm. Liver biopsy performed 5/25. Official diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma (carcinoid tumors) received on May 31 (three days after turning 26 years old)
June 2006: First week was spent doing tests and scans to confirm diagnosis and locate primary tumor. By June 9, all tests were performed including an enteroclysis, which located the primary tumor in the small intestine (this was beginning to cause a small bowel obstruction).
