if you've been paying any attention, you would already know that i've been having stomach problems.

after i went to my gastroenterologist on wednesday, he suggested that i get an endoscopy (which is what ma dukes suggest i ask him about). and what luck - there was a 7:45am appointment slot available on friday.

it's a non-invasive procedure. the doctor puts a long tube down my throat and looks around with a camera that is at the end of the tube, as well as takes a biopsy so the lab can run some tests. this all happens while i'm consciously sedated.

the night before i wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight (but i stopped way before that). the following day, cavin drove me to the clinic where i signed in and waited only 10 minutes or so before the nurse called me back and informed me of exactly what was going to happen, and to have me sign some waivers and what not.

i changed into my hospital robe and i was escorted to the room where the procedure was to be performed. i was quite nervous - the idea of having a long tube stuck down my throat into my stomach is not very appealing to me.

there was a european lady nurse in the room verifying all my personal information verbally, and putting the oxygen tube into my nose. she sounded like she could have been german or austrian based on her accent, and she had a very soft-spoken voice. i'm sure she was trying to present a soothing voice to put me at ease before my procedure, but it was a little too soothing for me. there was also another nurse setting up the iv in my arm for the demerol while the euro lady was talking to me. the doctor was in the room, but he was on the phone dealing with work related stuff and was rather busy.

after the iv was set up but not yet administering the demerol, the euro lady told me to open my mouth, stick my tongue out and say 'ahhh' while she sprayed a cherry-flavored numbing agent towards the back of my throat. she said, 'what lovely teeth you have!' and i felt like i was a character in the little red riding hood.

then the doctor said they were going to administer the sedation in the iv, and then the last thing i said was, 'i'm getting sleepy', and i think i saw a grey tube sitting next to me.

i don't know how much time passed (i was told that the procedure only takes 30 minutes tops), but when i awoke i was lying on my left side (which is the last position i remember being in) but in the recovery room with the curtains drawn all around me. i felt out of place and really strange, like my body had been invaded: my neck was sore, and i was really dizzy and just plain out of it. it reminded me of the seinfeld episode where jerry goes to see tim whatley (the dentist) and when he wakes up after being anesthesized, he sees tim whatley zipping up his pants and the hygenist buttoning up her shirt.

now, i am not saying that i was violated in anyway - in fact, i have received the most professional service at all times, but i guess i just don't like the feeling of being konked out and not knowing exactly what happened. afterwards when i asked the gastroenterologist how it went, grinning, he said, "you were quite comfortable," which didn't help alleviate the weird feelings i had.

cavin came into the room when the doctor was giving his preliminary results of the pictures, and he said all he could see was mild inflammation. i guess that's good, right? there's nothing wrong with me, that the doctor could tell. i'll have to call back in a week to get the results of the biopsy, though.

i'm glad there's nothing wrong with me, but it's discerning to know that everything seemed ok from the endoscopy, yet i'm still experiencing stomach pains.

i got a copy of the report which has pictures of my stomach and what not (which is where these pictures came from). it's kind of gross, yes, but it's also kind of fascinating. i mean, how many times do you get a chance to see the inside of your stomach?

---

Labels: random