Orange Story: Stomach Pain

 One day shortly after starting my medication, 2:30 am brought doubled-over stomach pains.  It wasn't until my husband put his hand on my back that the pain eased up enough for me to go to sleep.  I'm sure he was praying for me, but his hand also calmed me.  It didn't feel great the next morning, but I could still function.

The next day the pain was immense and intense and debilitating.  I had to call in sick.  My stomach hurt so badly it brought me to tears.  I couldn't stand or walk for long.  My husband read that someone described the pain like a person was twisting their stomach like you wring out a cloth.  I agreed.  I skipped my pill that morning hoping I could get a handle on the pain for a day.  It felt like it was compiling and getting worse.  The first day the stomach pain came, then went.  On this day, it just stayed.  It went through waves of differing intensities.  It hit me hard after lunch yesterday.  I couldn't function.  I called the office and barely uttered I wasn't feeling well.  Thankfully, within minutes the counselor brought the cavalry and shooed me home.  It takes quite a bit to keep me from teaching.  This pain fit the bill. 

Here I was taking medication that was supposed to keep away episodes that could steal functions from my body.  While the medication was doing this good thing, it was causing debilitating pain in my stomach that kept me from all daily functions.  This is such a difficult battle to fight, to maneuver around and to find a way through. 

What makes us keep fighting?  What makes us look for a way through the pains and difficulties that won't leave us alone?  What makes us willing to keep moving forward through the obstacles that won't leave us alone? 

For me, it is simply worth the fight?  It's worth fighting, knowing that I will win and have victory over my situation again.  I will be able to look back on the battle and stand in awe of my strength and know that nothing will ever be able to take me down.