My Innards

Despite having the day off work I was still up and at my routine by 545am in order to make my scheduled appointment with the gastroenterologist. I completed sit-ups, push-ups and then took Frankie out. Frankie wasn't happy about not having any food or water afterwards, but then again, neither was I. I took Mindy coffee and the pug near 630am. I prepared and left for my run by 650am. I ran only 3 miles. I had little energy and felt really tired, most likely the effects of no pre-run coffee and or water - something my body definitely craves. By the time I was back, Mindy & the kids were up and downstairs, the kids preparing for school like any other day. I was incredibly thirsty but resisted the urge to chug some water, although I did rinse my mouth and sneak a couple very small sips. Mindy left to drop Frankie at the vets office around 8am. Meanwhile, I prepared to take the kids to the bus stop. It seemed a bit odd standing at the bus stop without Frankie in tow. Woodie noticed her absence, and seemed curious of her whereabouts. Mrs. Vanorder confirmed that she's moving the pick-up time to 805am (another 5 minutes earlier) beginning next Tuesday. We'll be back to last year's pick-up time. With the kids on the bus, I headed back home and played on the internet until Mindy got back from dropping Frankie at the vet. She got home around 830am. We didn't plan to leave for my appointment until 915am. Prior to leaving, we both tinkered on our PC's. Among other things, I verified the address of Dr Brogan, which is right up the road from Dr Julie's ophthalmology practice. Mindy asked if I was nervous. I wasn't nervous per se, but was a tad apprehensive about being sedated, and more pointedly, the inevitable woozy peaked feeling that typically follows. We arrived just ahead of the recommended 945am. The waiting room was about half full and with a lot of blue hairs (older folks). That was an eye opening moment. I filled out the necessary paperwork then waited. Mindy wisely brought school papers to grade. While she did that, I read a Time magazine article about the impact summer recess has on the American student. Interesting perspective. The crux of the article was this. An extended summer break dumbs down most kids, especially those without any stimulating summer activities thus placing us/them behind most other industrialized nations. An interesting point made, it's not the number of classroom hours. After all, according to the article, American kids spend more hours in the class room than any other country on the list, but rank towards the bottom for number of class room days as well as having one of the longest summer breaks from learning. Even the article relented, that the solutions wasn't as easy as one might think either. A lot of our economic success is dependent on the extended summer break. Entire industries and even some cities, rely on it. It wasn't long before they called me back. Mindy had to wait, but was told she could join me shortly. The prep area was much like an emergency room with a hospital bed and a curtain used to separate me from the others. I could hear all the other activity outside my little area. I soon met Janice, one of the RN's there to assist. After confirming I was there for an upper endoscopy, she asked me to remove my shirt and dawn a hospital gown. After complying , laid back on the bed and relaxed. Janice retuned to gather information about my condition, current health, and to administer an IV, which for the time being was loaded only with sodium water. Mindy was permitted to come back and sit with me until they wheeled me off to the procedure room. I joked with Janice about my procedure. I also shared my apprehension that they might get Frankie and I's procedures crossed. She didn't quite get it at first. In an attempt at calming my fears, she explained that the endoscopes used for the upper and lower procedures are very different and impossible to get crossed. :) That was good news! It was after 11am when they finally came to wheel me away to the procedure room just down the hall. There I finally met Dr Brogan. I was determined to talk with him about my symptoms before they started the sedation. I wanted to make sure he knew where to look and where I felt the most discomfort. He listened carefully and explained how the procedure would work. The procedure itself, he explained would be no more than five minutes unless unexpected complications arose. He started the sedation and then had me roll onto my left side. I began to feel the meds in a matter of seconds. Last thing I remember, they were placing an appliance in my mouth meant to serve as a portal for the endoscopy. Boom, I was out! I woke in a confused and frantic panic. I remember the nurses attempting to calm me all the while I was gagging and telling them that it hurt. I remember Dr Brogan advising the nurses that the scope was out. I fell back asleep. I didn't wake again until I was back in the recovery room with Mindy. I had no idea of the time or how long I was out. Mindy later confirmed that it was no more than 15 minutes. I had to lie there until I could sip and hold water down. I did so almost immediately after coming to. I don't recall if they gave me the prognosis or if they only told Mindy. However, I do remember them telling me ahead of time that they would send me home with pictures. That pleased me much. I had my camera just in case they would've permitted Mindy to photo my insides while I was out. I wanted to post the pics on my webpage. I felt woozy again as soon as I got in the car. I put the seat back and slept for the entire drive home. At home I stumbled into the house then plopped down on the sofa. At some point Mindy headed off shopping. I remember eating a slice of bread with cheese. I was crazy hungry and thirsty. The food helped ease the peakedness. I woke around 230-3pm feeling substantially better. I ate more bread and cheese, but slowly and carefully. I pulled out the pictures and detailed analysis of my procedure. I was immediately impressed with the resolution of the photos and the analysis. Apparently found everything normal in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, but discovered a 'minor' hiatal hernia and a shatzki ring, which they assumed were the cause of my symptoms. I immediately Googled both to better understand the diagnosis, implications and possible cures. After my Googling, I headed out on the deck where I watered all the flowers. I thought briefly about mowing the lawn but ultimately nixed the idea. I wasn't feeling close to 100%. Mindy got home around 4pm or close to the kids return home from school. We both headed out to intercept them at the bus stop. Their first question, as you might guess, was how Frankie was. Mindy received a couple calls from the vets office through the afternoon. Frankie did fine and was resting just like me! We could pick her up around 530pm. The kids weren't home from school long before Jimaken showed up to pick 'em up for the weekend. Mindy and I left to pick-up Frankie around 530pm. Mindy drove. I was advised not to drive until Saturday morning. It didn't take long for the winding drive through Upper Arlington to get my stomach turning topsy-turvy. Ugh! I asked Mindy to make the turns and stops gingerly. We arrived at the vet's office not a minute too soon. I asked if I could stay in the Honda and sleep, but Mindy wanted me to come inside and help. I felt better after walking around. Inside the vet's office they had several exceptional photos (unusual shots) of pets, mostly dogs, in action. I asked if someone in the practice was also a phodoghraper. The girl at the desk thought not. Suggested they were purchased photos. They brought Frankie to us. She looked tired and lethargic. Gave us two prescriptions - an anti-inflammatory and a pain killer. Also gave us a see-thru lamp shade device to put around her neck that fastened with velcro, presumably designed to keep from chewing her stitches. Cool! Said she should where it for two weeks. Good grief! We headed home, only this time I drove, even after being advised against it. I might've felt a bit tired, but otherwise fine. However, had I rode shot gun, I almost certainly would have gotten sick. Once home, we put Frankie down in yard still on her leash. She made no effort to pee. We took her inside where she wanted nothing more than to lay down. Her eyes looked a lot like mine - droopy. She and I both took a nap. I woke around 630pm feeling one heck of a lot better. I was ready for a visit to Barley's. Mindy and I prepared to leave and did so just after 7pm. The crowd was sparse. Not a lot of regulars in. I didn't mind at all. I was simply happy that it was Friday. I wanted nothing more than a cold Centennial. I'd been thinking about one all week. Mindy ordered a hummus plate. Me, nothing. Tom C. eventually showed up. I talked at length with grandpa Tom and his partner Steve. I ended up drinking four Centennials. I might've eaten about a 1/3 of Mindy's hummus and pita. I knew better than to stuff my stomach. I paid the tab before heading out. Mindy drove. Once home, we walked down to visit Chrissy & Kenny. I took one beer - a CBC IPA. Kenny, it turns out, was already asleep. We hung out with Chrissy and Jake for about 45 minutes. Mindy suggested we walk home before 11pm. We took Frankie out for another walk. Once again, she didn't go. Good night moon!