My Diag-Nonsense, Revisited

[thessalian]

I am: John Brunner His best known works are dystopias -- vivid realizations of the futures we want to avoid.

Which science fiction writer are you?

...Yeah, probably.

Turns out I have a hiatus hernia. Oh, goodie. So now they want to stick some variation of a nasogastric tube in me (basically tube into one's stomach via one's nasal passages - joy) for 24 hours to figure out how much acid my stomach's producing, thus determining whether they should try antacid treatment. Um. I did mention that they already tried that and the side effects weren't worth the near-nonexistent benefits, but apparently we're doing this anyway. I get the impression that if they can't think of a drug course for this, surgery may be the next option. Oh goodie some more, particularly as surgery for this kind of thing is tricky. Apparently, hiatus hernia's really common (how common can it be to have a bit of your stomach caught in your diaphragm?) but most people are asymptomatic. I am, apparently, not that lucky. However, my liver and kidneys and gall bladder and stuff are all normal, which I suppose isn't much of a surprise all things considered. Anyway, they took more blood tests and I'm going to have an appointment for this nose tube thing coming soon and am supposed to see these Royal Free yahoos again in three months. I hate this. So basically what has to happen is that I do this stupid nose tube acid measurement thing and in three months they might stick me on a course of heavy-duty antacids, which they will insist I try for at least a month despite the fact that the last course didn't work for shit. It'll take another three months to see the gastro, so we're looking at six months before anything meaningful happens, and meanwhile I am still in pain.

*grumblemumblefeh*

Comments

[ninja-arzt.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Three days ago, I was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, so I can relate on at least some level.

Problem for me is that rather expensive surgery is pretty much the *only* option.

J

[notorious-oit.livejournal.com]

They are actually quite common. I see a lot of them in my line of work.

That's what I have

[beepbeep.livejournal.com]

Mine is a PITA. I take prilosec for it; none of the milder stuff did a thing except possibly make it worse. Supposedly the dose is 20 mg daily; I have to take at least 40 and I've been on 80 before. Also I can't deal with spicy food, alcohol, fried/greasy food, or chocolate anytime NEAR the time I go to bed...unless I want to spend the night worshipping the porcelain god. Poor dburr has had a lot to live with.

I wish the surgery did work better. I'd be all for just repairing the damn thing!

My mom has this, too, so when they relate mine to my weight I point to her and say "but SHE'S thin!!!"

Re: That's what I have

[beepbeep.livejournal.com]

PS and I never heard of the nose tube thing. Maybe it's not American style.