Pain can be hard on your body. Sure, it’s a good indicator that something is wrong… but pain can really mess with your body’s normal function. Maybe you have trouble sleeping, or maybe you lose your appetite.
It seems like pain is one of those signals that overrides some of the other noise going on in your body — like the rumble in your tummy that says you’re ready for another meal.
To be honest, I hadn’t thought much about it until it became a personal problem.
I’ve been experiencing a lot of pain lately from the region of my mysterious growths. Sometimes, it feels like my usual monthly cramps in my stomach, lower back, and thighs. Sometimes, it feels like I’m being stabbed somewhere below my bellybutton. NOT FUN!
The pain was bad enough one day last week that I went to the doctor. I was thinking I’d caught some sort of stomach virus or intestinal virus that was making me extra-miserable on top of the constant crampy feeling. But after an exam, the doctor thought both types of pain were thanks to my yet-to-be-determined growths.
She sent me home with instructions on when to hit the emergency room (if I spiked a fever) and a prescription for some heavy-duty painkillers.
Once the medication kicked in, I suddenly realized that I was starving. I’d been nibbling on bland, stomach-friendly foods in fear of a virus, but apparently it wasn’t enough fuel for my body. But the hunger signals were drowned out by the pain signals. Once the pain was dulled down, I could check in on the signals from the rest of my body.
There’s another thing pain can do to your stomach: nausea. I remember breaking my finger one time, and it hurt so badly that I nearly threw up. The jolt of pain in your system can turn everything upside down for a little while (including your stomach). Sometimes, it’s too much and you just pass out.
If pain is interfering with your appetite, then it’s time to think about your pain management plan. Whatever you’re doing may not be doing enough! Talk to your doctor if you feel like you need help managing your pain.