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02 November 2017

PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE INSIDE

endoscopy camera

Okay, I did it and I never want to do it again. Do what, I hear you ask. I am, of course, talking about photography, but not the sort of photography you thought of. Mine was an attempt by doctors to view me from the inside. It worked, so I believe, although at this stage I haven’t had the result of the investigation.

Everyone told me there was nothing to the procedure of having a camera inserted in the mouth and down the throat, though they did tell me that it would be tiny instead of my imagined camera and tripod!! They didn’t tell me how it would feel or how I would feel. 

I was advised by the hospital staff to go for a local anaesthetic rather than sedation on the grounds that I would have nobody to escort me home after a bit of a sleep. This meant I was fully aware of what seemed like a great lump of steel being shoved down my throat. Swallow, the doc said, and I tried, but the blessed camera seemed to be in the way. I did my best to relax and the nurse who was holding my head and my hand kept telling me I was doing really, really well. I believed her for a while, that is until it felt like the camera was twisting round inside me.

There were lots of ‘strings’, mainly pink ones, which the doc’s assistant kept pulling away. As she did so she gave each one a number and a name. I presume it was some kind of film but I didn’t dwell on it because I was too wrapped up trying not to pass out. And then it was over, done and dusted as they say. I reckon the procedure lasted about ten minutes but I may be wrong on that score. I was forced to have a bit of a rest afterwards even though I wanted to get the hell out of there, but the nurses kept popping in to make sure I was okay. As I'll ever be, was my thought!

There's only one word for the nursing staff ... brilliant,  what's more they were friendly (unlike two unfriendly ones I had the displeasure of meeting at another hospital) and full of little jokes. One of the jokes was given to me at the end of the procedure, when my head holding nurse laughed and said there would be no more today but they would have another go tomorrow … and to think I almost believed her.

Strangely enough the back pain lessened as soon as the operation was over.  You should have heard me bragging to my neighbours as we sat in their house drinking tea and eating cake. The cake was homemade and gorgeous bearing in mind I’d had nothing to eat for very many hours. What a pity the pain returned to spoil the day, now it comes and goes!

It is a week since the procedure and today I tried lying on the floor to relieve the back pain. It worked - hell at first but it gradually loosened up. Now I’m thinking I should get back to the chiropractor and resume the treatment I had to stop because of the other overwhelming problem.

I await the doctor’s comments when he gets the hospital report. Will everyone please keep their fingers crossed that the news is good. 

13 comments:

  1. Valerie, as I was reading about your experience I couldn't help but recall a similar experience that happened to me when I was in the hospital dealing with that lung issue I had in 2015, remember that? I had to have my lung drained and ended up being in the hospital for two weeks. Isn't it something how vulnerable and frightened you feel prior and during a medical procedure? Like you, I had a local, not a general, so I was aware of what was going on. Yet thankfully, like you, I too had some of the BEST medical staff/nurses caring for me. BRILLIANT!

    So glad that this is all over and you will now get the doctor's report so that they will finally know and mend what's causing the pain.

    Please keep us posted, okay?

    You take care, my friend. Wishing you a restful, peaceful, and pain-free weekend!
    X

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  2. Oh Ron, I remember your experience, was it really two years ago. I also remember worrying about your absence because you didn't mention a problem beforehand. I hope you are feeling on top of the world now. I will be glad when I hear the result of my experience and will definitely let you know.

    Gosh, weekend already. Where does time go? Have a good one, dear friend x

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  3. That certinly was an experience Valerie. Do hope this will let you know what the problem is and hopefully the pain will go away. Keeping fingers - and toes - crossed for you :)

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  4. Denise, part of me hopes they find nothing, but there has to be a reason for what happened. You can tell I am a coward.

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  5. I can definitely do that for you, Val. I will even cross my eyes if that helps. =) Take care.

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  6. Ah … you had a gastroscopy. I have now had three, and you describe it very well. I had no preconceptions for the first, exceot that OH had had one and told me it was a doddle. Like you, I had the anaesthetic spray in the throat and it was NOT a doddle. When they said they wanted to do another, I said they’d need to sedate me, so they gave me intravenous Valium. It did nothing, and if anything, the experience was worse. To add insult to injury, they told me I had been practically asleep and was for all intents and purposes ‘out’. I felt everything, but was frozen with horror. I had a mini meltdown about that.

    When they said I needed a third, I said, no way unless I’m actually unconscious, so they reluctantly sent me down to a larger hospital. That was also a grim experience, but this time because I had a laryngeal spasm as I came round, due to the stomach acid in my throat - dragged up, one assumes, by the camera on its way out.

    My problem - which does sometimes cause what feels like a backache - was an ulcerated oesophagus due to untreated acid reflux. Try Gaviscon, which prevents the acid from rising, and as an emergency measure, make a sort of ‘custard’ by thickening hot milk with cornflour to the point where you almost have to eat it with a spoon. Try to drink/eat it without sugar, and obviously wait for it to cool to nicely warm rather than hot. If it gets rid of your backache, chances are, that’s your problem, too. My ulcer is healed, by the way, but I have to keep on top of the acid reflux.

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  7. My fingers are definitely crossed for you.... I met and endoscope down my throat too. But it was very brief as having my wife drive me I could opt for the "Put me out procedure" as I wanted no memories of any part of it...:)

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  8. Thanks for making me smile, Matt, but don't cross your eyes. If you do that you might see something you shouldn't.. grins.

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  9. TB, I hope I don't need a second scan but if I do I will try and coax one of the neighbours into providing me with a lift home.

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  10. Jay, yes, a friend said it was a doddle... now I know she was lying, either that or she has a bad memory. I used to take Gaviscon but was told to stop when I had the scan.... perhaps I should start again. At present time I don't think I need it. I don't yet know if the pain in the back is a medical problem or a need to get back to the chiropractor. I will take your advice and try the Gaviscon again.

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  11. I am also hoping that this procedure will bring you some answers on what causing your discomfort, Valerie. We both regularly go to a chiropractor and then for a therapeutic massage afterwards. It has helped relieve some back pains I've had and for Pat it's his shoulder that gives him problems.

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  12. I had a couple of endoscopy procedures years ago, but was sedated for them. Sorry you had to endure that without being out. Also sorry you're having pain. Hope you're feeling better real soon. (hug)

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  13. CrystalChick, TWO? Jeez, I hope one is enough for me. I haven't had results yet so I'm hoping that no news is good news.

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