So I finally had my endoscopy today. What a ride that was, although I haven't quite exited the park yet.
I couldn't eat after midnight last night, so I had eaten some almonds and peanut butter around 10 pm. I was willing to stay up until 12, but Bob and I were both falling asleep before 11.
So this morning I was allowed to drink clear liquids until 9:30 am. My goal was to drink as much water as possible to keep me hydrated for the FOUR hours I had to go without. I started out well, drinking 16 oz and some grapefruit protein drink. I had to go to a different doctor's appointment at 7:45, so I grabbed a refill of water and the rest of my grapefruit drink and drove to my appointment.
I finished up there by 8:25 am, so I headed to the grocery store to pick up a few things. I finished my drink and left nothing but ice in my water cup. I ran into the store, but as often is the case, it took a little longer than I expected. I got back out to the car to head home, and I had less than 10 minutes before 9:30 am! I sucked up what had melted from the ice and started driving home. How many stoplights can you hit on the way home when you're in a hurry?! Pretty much all of them...
I started chewing the ice at the lights. I was getting desperate. I turned onto my street at 9:27 am...and my phone rang. Ack! It was the doctor's office with lab results. I really wanted to hear the results, but I really wanted to get into my house and drink some more water! I got off the phone with her at 9:30, after I had been drinking 16 oz while talking on the phone. I quickly refilled my glass and sucked it down as fast as I could.
The next hour and a half went by uneventfully, and I started work. I tried not to think about my daughter gulping down water or my son running upstairs for another snack. At 12:22 pm, I got a call on my phone. It's the surgery center, and they're asking me to come in early. Okay...
So I finish up work. Bob comes home. We head off for the center. We wait around for about an hour before it gets underway, with the usual paperwork, blue gown, IV, etc. They take me away, situate me, and without even counting backwards, I am heading into the blank yellow room...
Waking up is never fun, but at least the anesthesiologist was kind enough to give me anti-nausea medicine before I went into my "deep sleep." I could barely keep my eyes open, but they were sitting me up and shoving a can of juice in my hand. I drowsily put my shirt back on, and they went and told Bob to pull the car around. The nurse helped my wobble my way to the door, helped me into the car, and homeward we went. I felt a little like they were running late to lunch, but there was another guy in there who still had not awakened.
Bob drove me home 4 1/2 hours ago, and I still feel a little groggy in the head. I still can't quite swallow right, and I still have a lot of gurgling in my stomach. But there's good news—everything looks normal. In fact, I saw pictures for myself. They literally sent us home with 8 pictures of the inside of my esophagus, etc. It's surprisingly clean and cool-looking, in a weird, science-y kind of way. They've declared my having a severe case of acid reflux. This is a good thing, but it seems a bit crazy to think that my horrible abdominal pain is just acid reflux. For now, I am back on my meds...and my lab rat diet plan. I'll tell you about that later.
I couldn't eat after midnight last night, so I had eaten some almonds and peanut butter around 10 pm. I was willing to stay up until 12, but Bob and I were both falling asleep before 11.
So this morning I was allowed to drink clear liquids until 9:30 am. My goal was to drink as much water as possible to keep me hydrated for the FOUR hours I had to go without. I started out well, drinking 16 oz and some grapefruit protein drink. I had to go to a different doctor's appointment at 7:45, so I grabbed a refill of water and the rest of my grapefruit drink and drove to my appointment.
I finished up there by 8:25 am, so I headed to the grocery store to pick up a few things. I finished my drink and left nothing but ice in my water cup. I ran into the store, but as often is the case, it took a little longer than I expected. I got back out to the car to head home, and I had less than 10 minutes before 9:30 am! I sucked up what had melted from the ice and started driving home. How many stoplights can you hit on the way home when you're in a hurry?! Pretty much all of them...
I started chewing the ice at the lights. I was getting desperate. I turned onto my street at 9:27 am...and my phone rang. Ack! It was the doctor's office with lab results. I really wanted to hear the results, but I really wanted to get into my house and drink some more water! I got off the phone with her at 9:30, after I had been drinking 16 oz while talking on the phone. I quickly refilled my glass and sucked it down as fast as I could.
The next hour and a half went by uneventfully, and I started work. I tried not to think about my daughter gulping down water or my son running upstairs for another snack. At 12:22 pm, I got a call on my phone. It's the surgery center, and they're asking me to come in early. Okay...
So I finish up work. Bob comes home. We head off for the center. We wait around for about an hour before it gets underway, with the usual paperwork, blue gown, IV, etc. They take me away, situate me, and without even counting backwards, I am heading into the blank yellow room...
Waking up is never fun, but at least the anesthesiologist was kind enough to give me anti-nausea medicine before I went into my "deep sleep." I could barely keep my eyes open, but they were sitting me up and shoving a can of juice in my hand. I drowsily put my shirt back on, and they went and told Bob to pull the car around. The nurse helped my wobble my way to the door, helped me into the car, and homeward we went. I felt a little like they were running late to lunch, but there was another guy in there who still had not awakened.
Bob drove me home 4 1/2 hours ago, and I still feel a little groggy in the head. I still can't quite swallow right, and I still have a lot of gurgling in my stomach. But there's good news—everything looks normal. In fact, I saw pictures for myself. They literally sent us home with 8 pictures of the inside of my esophagus, etc. It's surprisingly clean and cool-looking, in a weird, science-y kind of way. They've declared my having a severe case of acid reflux. This is a good thing, but it seems a bit crazy to think that my horrible abdominal pain is just acid reflux. For now, I am back on my meds...and my lab rat diet plan. I'll tell you about that later.
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