08 October 2007

Well I finally got the results, today, from the upper GI series and barium swallow test that I had done on Sept.24. I've had a lot of time to be worried. I've felt like I've had a 300 pound person sitting on my neck and esophagus. My throat feels so tight, my chest hurts. Then I had that dream about not being able to breath. Then I worried about lung cancer. What a way to live. Well, what I have is treatable. I think my doctor said I have (might have?) a hiatal hernia around my esophagus. And that during the test, I had 2 episodes of reflux, which can cause sore throats and chest pain. It's silent reflux. Then she said I have something called a Schatzki ring, which is a tightening of your esophagus caused by acid reflux. It's all treatable. Big sigh of relief. I took a peek on the net to look up these things, but only glanced. I think you can get too much information, self-diagnose, and really scare yourself. I have an appointment with an ENT doctor on Thursday, and am waiting on a call from a gastroenterologist for a consult to get an endoscopy. Whew. So, I guess I'll be blogging about medical stuff, but I'll try to keep it to a minimum. I can deal much better with the pain, now that I know the cause, and that it's not life-threatening.

Mom and I had a productive time together. I did some things around the house for her, then took care of her hair. We went out to our favorite Chinese restaurant for lunch. It's also a sushi place, and although I don't eat it, I love watching it being made. I think sushi is beautiful to look at. Since coming home, I've been studying up on color theory. I borrowed a cosmetology textbook from one of our apprentices, to brush up on my 'book knowledge' before tomorrow's color class at work. I thought it would be good to do.

Time to pick Emily up from practice. She's probably so hot. Another day in the 90's.

20 comments:

Leaking Moonlight said...

Cheryl, please know I'm sending good thoughts and a little prayer to you. And because you can share with such frank honesty, your journey helps me in walking mine. Thank you, and a big hug!

Mary said...

It's good to know your problem isn't life threatening. Reflux can be really frightening. When you're having a reflux issue it's hard to believe that you aren't having a heart attack. I know. I've been there. When I started taking "the purple pill" every evening the problem became a non-issue. Well the pill and a few dietary changes, that is. I'm thinking good thoughts for you.

Have a good work-week. The color class should be fun but I know it's much more complicated than it seems. You'll do well. I just know you will.

Jay said...

You're absolutely right about not getting carried away with the old self-diagnosis thing. A couple of years ago I was having some problems and when I looked it up online it kept saying MS or Parkinson's. Turned out only to be a bacterial infection that I probably got from food. Seriously.

Billy said...

Whew! Just got caught up! Sounds like you had a great weekend. Good!

Martha said...

I'm glad that things are "okay." It sounds like there's a lot going on, but what a relief to know it's all treatable. Although (and I'm just being a big doofus here), the "Schatzki ring" sounds like a wonderful piece of jewelry instead of a medical condition!

SOUL said...

i bet i am the worst ever google addict when it comes to medical issues.. and you're right... it's never a good thing.
but i can tell you this much...

(from personal experience..not google :))

i do have all those throat , reflux, hernia, and ring problems too... and i'll tell ya... BEFORE you let them "dialate your esophagus"... try meds first. cuz i went in for the upper endoscopy... woke up during the dilation... and aside from the torturous pain i felt at that moment..and for days to follow... my voice has been deeper than it was before they supposedly FIXED the problem..
and i also have had the WORST trouble swallowing..even liquid.. than i ever had before.

the ring is not life threatening, or cancerous..so if you are not having trouble swallowing at this point... don't let them try to just get money out of you. dilating the esophagus.. does nothing at all for the reflux, or the hernia... they just want your money. and it is painful. i couldn't eat or take meds (except liquid) for like 4 days afterwards. not a fun time.

so a little advice.. ask if they plan to do that before you go in... because no one even mentioned it to me until after they did it. and now.. i'm worse than before.

as for the reflux and pain etc.. they did give me a med called protonix.. it works better than any i have tried in the past and i have tried them ALL.

hope you get all fixed up and feel better soon.
thanks for comin around soul land.. i am sorry i have been slow gettin back to people, but i'm tryin to get caught up.

have a good night.

SpringMist said...

Cheryl,
I am sending you wishes of good health.
I have also heard endoscopy can be painful.

Get plenty of rest and take good care of yourself my friend.

marykay said...

Cheryl,
I am so glad it is treatable my mom has it and nexium seems to help and no mexican food(if she does eat it she is sorry afterward)Good wishes and even better dreams!

captain corky said...

Glad to hear that you're ok and everything is treatable!

The sun kicked my ass yesterday. I'm so tired of this freaken heat!!!

Summer said...

Wow. You must be so relieved.

Cheryl said...

Thanks for all the comments and well wishes. Soul...that was a lot of information. I'll definitely want to go the medication route first. I've heard a lot of good things about various prescriptions. The pain is not unbearable by any means, especially now that I know what's causing it.

Jamie said...

I know there are many good medications out there for the problems you describe. Hopefully, that is all that you will need. I will say a little prayer for you. :) Have a really good Tuesday!

fiwa said...

I'm so glad it was nothing life threatening. Now you can breathe a sigh of relief and move on with getting better.

I agree with you about sushi - it is really beautiful, and it's neat to watch it being made. That's turned into my favorite lunch recently.

bonnie said...

Phew! I am relieved for you. Does your esophagus spasm? My dad used to have the worst episodes of a spastic esophagus. It made my heart ache to watch him suffer with it. The thing I hate most about health issues is the way they turn me inward on myself. I can hardly hear anyone through my worries. Hey, you are welcome to visit my studio anytime. It would be nice if I got it fixed up first.

Happyone said...

At least you now know what the problem is and that it is treatable. That is half the battle.
You are in my prayers.

Andrew said...

Glad things aren't more serious. Hope it can easily be solved by diet and medications. Thinking of you today and I hope work wasn't too hectic.

Andrew

SOUL said...

good .. hope it helped some to get it firsthand . :))
good luck to you, let us know how it goes.
latah

josie2shoes said...

I know you were much relieved to get a diagnosis you can live with, and not something more dire, Cheryl. Now I hope they get to resolving the problems quickly!

jAMiE said...

So glad to hear your problem isnt life threatening...and now you know what you are dealing with, which is much better than the unknown (i think). Take care of yourself, i know you must be relieved.

CRUSTY MOM-E said...

Oh that's so good. Keep on top of yourself my dear!! So glad the results came back with answers for you and good answers too! Now you can kick that 300LB gorilla off your back and tell him to go home! :)
Always,
Crusty~

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