E.'s been having trouble swallowing. Food seems to get stuck in the lower part of his esophagus and won't go all the way down. Usually he coughs and clears his throat a bit and tries to wash things down with water. It is clearly uncomfortable. Last week, stuck food actually made him throw up.
So, to the doctor we went. Dr. N . . . the gastroenterologist. Dr. N. reviewed E.'s symptoms with him and suggested doing an endoscopy immediately. An endoscopy is a procedure where a tube with a camera is inserted down the throat to check things out; it can also remove tissue and collect samples to biopsy. Dr. N. indicated that he suspected some definite gastric reflux (stomach acid which 'backs up' into the esophagus) and possibly a case of "Barrett's Esophagus" (long-term acid reflux which actually changes the cells in the lining of the esophagus, and which is often a pre-cancerous condition). Dr. N. further explained that if the lining of the esophagus had become irrated and then healed repeatedly, the build-up (I'd imagine similar to scar tissue) could make the passageway smaller and make passing food difficult. If that is what Dr. N. discovers during the endoscopy, he will insert a "balloon" and inflate it, thereby expanding the passageway again.
E.'s endoscopy is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
S.
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E, some of the most powerfull prayers come from people we dont even know.
ReplyDeleteI am one of those people, my prayers are on the way!
Dear E. I am praying for you and S and the kids. If there is anything I can do please don't hesitate to call me. I talk to Patrick every night so I have an In with the big man upstairs. Luv Ya BMCG
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