Update Medical Status

So here I am once again. I did a disappearance act again. My Hubby dropped me off at my Mom's Sunday night so she could bring me to the doctor since Hubby had taken off the week before to be by my side in the hospital.

Let me just say this. My parents and I have been through ALOT of stuff through the years. But my mom and I are close because she has been by my side every minute I needed her to be. We've been through a lot of stuff together through the years. I cannot comprehend what I would have done without her help. I am blessed that I can count on her. I can tell she is aging and she is into a lot of things but she will drop everything for her kids, grand kids and great grand-kids. I am so very lucky to have an awesome mom like her.

Not to undermine what my Dad does for me. He is just in a different spectrum. He was the one making the money to supporting his family and taking care of my sister when Mom was busy with me. I know also if I call him and tell him I need him, he will be there. As a matter of fact, the day I was admitted to the hospital, my mom was held up with a grand kid but he came see about me, although I vaguely remember it.

Anyway. Hubby was reluctant because he wanted to be there but I told him he needed to work. He took the time off for me for three days last week without hesitation.  So the next morning Mom brings me to the Gastrointestinal Doctor's office. I, once again, did not see the doctor but the Nurse Practitioner. She only repeated what she said in the hospital. She told me to go back the next day to do a gastroscopy. She said they may need to do a esophageal dilation which I figured already.

For a gastroscopy also known as EGD, upper endoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy, a tube is inserted through the mouth into the stomach and upper intestine.

We weren't expecting it to be so soon but relieved it was. MyHubby was going to take off work again but my Mom told him she was going to be there regardless if he was there or not. I told him he did not have to be there. I would not hold it against me. He had been doing a lot of back and forth already. I told him he could just sleep at home again and go to work while mom takes me to do the test. He could come pick me up the afternoon after the test.  I know he felt like he was being pulled and didn't want me to feel neglected by him. We promised he would be notified of the results and after it was over. It wasn't like I was having surgery.

The next morning I had to be there for 10:30 am without eating or drinking anything after midnight. There was a full waiting room. I handed the filled-out paperwork the Nurse Practiticioner gave me the day before. We waited and waited.

On the paperwork they covered themselves stating to arrive expecting to be there for most of the day. They weren't kidding!

Their process was they called you, went over the paper work, collected whatever money you may owe, tagged you with a name bracelet and sent you back out to wait some more.

When it was my turn to be tagged, I was NOT on the schedule.  To make a long frustrating story short, luckily I had the brochure with me with the date on it. They finally tagged me and sent me back out. I figured this was going to take longer because they had to call my insurance.

I blame the Nurse Practiticioner for not doing her job.

Anyway, at 11:55 am they finally called me. 12 noon they wheeled me into the room. Finally, I see the Doc for a few seconds while the Nurse inserted my IV. (She had to stick me twice, I am so tired of being stuck!) The anesthesiologist came explaining he is going to push some sedation medication into the IV and I'll fade out. He put the syringe into the IV port and the next thing I knew I was waking up at 12:36 pm. There was a clock I could see so that's how I know the times.

The test resulted in a few findings:

1)  Confirmation of gastritis, inflammation of the stomach lining.
2)  Esophageal ring: Not stricture: A narrowing at the end of the esophagus that was inflamed.
3)  A small hiatal hernia.

They dilated my esophagus and changed my Nexium to Prilosec and I will continue my Flagyl until it is all gone. I am going to see him or the NP, most likely Monday for follow-up.

MyHubby came pick me up after work. We came home and I was wiped out. I climbed into bed around 8:30 pm.

I can tell it will be a slow recovery from my hospital stay and procedure. Please pray that I get the strength and patience with myself to listen to my body and slow down as I did this morning.

Christmas was weighing on my mind. I left this morning and went to Wallyworld. I found the two Santa Gifts I needed and picked up my Prilosec along with a few items. I could tell my body was telling me to stop.

I made it through check out, got to my car, put my items in trunk, drove to Wendys, which is on my way home and picked up a potato. I came home, grabbed the bags of cold stuff leaving the other bags for Hubby to get when he gets home. I ate my delicious potato. AAAhhh!! REAL FOOD! Then I literally plopped into bed and slept for a few hours. I am done for the day.

I need to let go of my pride some and allow Hubby to make dinner tonight. You have no idea how hard that is to do.

Anyway that is where I am now as far as medical.

GI Doctor Visit and Beyond

I made it to the doctor on Wednesday. My mom came with me. This doctor is a great GI doctor. GI is Gastrointestinal for in case some of you may not know. Anyway, this doctor is kinda like Dr. D-bone (from my previous post) but he is more approachable and friendlier. His nurses do most of the work in my humble opinion. I got on the scale and weighed 72.4 lbs. My blood pressure was high. They said probably because of the nausea etc. He asked me a few questions and told me I needed an EGD(Esophagogastroduodenoscopy) and CT scan to find out the problem. I had lost 20 lbs in 2 years. I reminded him that I had an EGD two years ago. He said, "Well you need another one to find out the cause of your problems."  So he left and another nurse came in asked me when I wanted to do it. I asked what was available. She said, "What about tomorrow?" I'm like whoa.. My mom blurts, "Yes, that is perfect." The nurse looked at me and I agreed.

It was sort of funny since my mom just answered for me. I wasn't expecting it to be THAT soon but I went with it. She was the one going to be bringing me and taking me home since MyLove had a job and I didn't want him to miss work. The nurse gave me instructions which was at his The Berry's office at 7:30 and  nothing to eat or drink after midnight. They also told me to bring all my meds.

I REFUSE to bring my meds. I have made a list on my computer and save it on the my Flash disk. I have a list of my meds, a list of my medical history and a list of surgeries. I know my  meds and bring a copy of the lists updated every time I go to a doctor.

I didn't sleep that night. I got up with MyLove at 4:15 am. Since he was working in The Berry he dropped me off at my mom's.That part worked amazingly well.  At 7:30 am we were at the hospital. An  older white haired lady was waiting. After talking with her we found out she was having the colonoscopy. She mentioned that she has done the test yearly for the past few years. I felt sorry for her because the test is nothing but the prep is ridiculous. They need to come up with a better prep than that.

They called me to go to the back about 10 minutes after we sat down. She put the bracelet on my wrist, took my 20%  insurance did not cover and brought me to the test room. It was so freaking cold in there I started shivering. They connected me to the EKG, pulse, nasal oxygen, took my vital signs and put the IV and left me there. We waited for the doctor which ended up an hour.

The staff would pop in every once in a while telling me it would be soon. They had great 80's music! I  noticed when I moved the finger with the oximeter on it, the machine would beep. So I entertained myself by moving my finger making the machine beat its rhythm.  I also watched and listened to the staff in the next room.

When Doc came in the staff started moving fast. He told me hello. The anesthesiologist put a short round cyclinder gadget in my mouth to prevent harm to my teeth. They told me to roll on my side. The room was full of people now. The anesthesiologist was on the other side of the bed and told me that I was going to feel a little cold in my IV and all went blank. I felt like I was just sleeping, because I was but I had the light feeling of sleep if you can wrap your head around that!

All of a sudden I was gently being awaken by the nurse telling me its all over. She asked if I could sit up which I did. I sat on the bed for a few seconds then she walked me to the area where I had paid. My mom was waiting. The nurse explained what they found. These are all my problems:

1. Esophageal Ring which is narrowing of one end of the esophagus with either scar tissue or inflammation. Of course I have both. He dilated my esophagus.

2. Hiatal Hernia. He said nothing to worry about and didn't believe it was a cause or threat at this time.

3. Gastritis. Inflammation of the stomach tissue

4. Duodenitis.Inflammation of the first portion of the small intestine.

He gave me a prescription for Periactin which I assume is for the inflammation and continued my Nexium. Gave me a follow-up appointment. Also, it was liquid diet for the rest of the day. Go figure! I was starving!

He also wants me to drink ENSURE which was dreadful in my mind. The reason being that I worked as a nurse at a Elderly Nursing Home. It was my passion. I loved the old people and they wanted their ENSURE. I thought it had a bad odor.

So I wobbled to my mom's car. We stopped at SONIC for a Dr. Pepper. Then we went to my Mom's. I made phone calls, ate a little cup of ice cream and rested. MyLove picked me up around 3:30 and we filled my prescriptions and bought my Ensure and we came home.

It's ridiculous how much Ensure costs. For a 6 pack, it was on sale at 6.69. That's crazy and that was a sale. Need to figure out how to buy the Ensure at a better price. I have been looking online but no luck.

I slept well last night, didn't wake up until 10 am. I've been groggy and figured out the Periactin must be the culprit. I'm in LA-LA Land. I drank a bottle of Ensure for lunch and for supper I had two fried eggs, slice of bread and hashbrowns. I am still farting, have a sore throat and heartburn. I didn't have heartburn before but I guess it'll take time for my body to get it together.

I want to thank everyone for reading, wishing me well and a speedy recovery. I really appreciate my every one of you. It makes you feel better than both people I know and strangers turning into online friends are in it with you.