Answers

Doug and I were at the hospital this morning before most of the staff.  We were registered and in the GI department  by 6:45 a.m.  Aunt Vicky was my pre-op nurse and I appreciated having her there.  She was able to make me feel relaxed and have a specialist start my IV.  Doug and I were both surprised that she not only found a vein easily, but actually got it started in my hand.

Earlier this week I had trouble sleeping as I was very nervous about having an endoscope.  I couldn't envision having a tube put down my throat into my stomach.  I was sure that I would panic.  I also had become more and more worried that they would find a mass or the opposite - nothing.  The first would be devastating and the second would be frustrating.

They started the procedure at 7:45 a.m.  Although I felt a lot less anxious my blood pressure was still pretty high.  Overall, however, the scope was nothing like I expected it to be.  The worst part was the spray in the back of the throat to numb the passageway.  It tasted terrible, but soon after that the medicine to help me relax kicked in and I do not remember much about the procedure.  I do know I coughed several times, but mostly just remember waking up to the sound of, "Do you want your Diet Coke now?"

The doctor had already talked to Doug by the time I returned.  The nurse relayed the same information to me, but it didn't really register until later in the afternoon.  They had given me a medicine that causes amnesia, so it took awhile to process the day.  The doctor found gastritis and polyps related to the gastritis.  He took a biopsy so that he will know best how to treat it.  He also found a hiatal hernia.  He had not decided what he would do about that until the Bravo testing is done.  The Bravo is a small capsule that is left in my esophagus for forty-eight hours.  It collects data while I push buttons on a transmitter that monitors my symptoms.

It was nice to get some answers today.  I know that there will still be testing to go through, but at least we have a place to start.  I slept off and on today.  I felt rotten, but the sleep did help.  I plan to go to school tomorrow as we have ISTEP testing.  I may have to have Mom take me, but I think once I get there I will be fine.