Good health news...

[seawasp]

... after seeing my doctor yesterday, we are reasonably certain that the symptoms are, indeed, gastrointestinal tract related. A re-examination of the barium swallow films showed that I have a hiatal hernia (basically this is an inversion at the stomach-esophagus interface), and a Schatzki ring higher up. A Schatzki ring is basically a web or outgrowth around the interior of the esophagus which can indeed catch food and cause the pains/spasms I've been feeling. These phenomena are reasonably easy to treat; I have an appointment with a specialist next week, and hopefully within a few days after that they'll actually treat it and the problems will be mostly behind me.

This is a great relief.

Comments

[howardtayler.livejournal.com]

Awesome news.

(Insert obligatory "that's not so hard to swallow" or "don't bite off more than you can chew" pun here.)

Congratulations.

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

(He's probably had a gut full of those, and is sick of them)

If they do a balloon dilitation, one thing they may forget to tell you is that swallowing may be painful for the first day after it. It's something that heals pretty quickly though.

I need...

[seawasp]

... a minute to ruminate on those puns before I can digest them. I had a gut feeling someone would start in on them and soon I'll have more than I can stomach. So I figure I'd better go for the throat right away.

[shana.livejournal.com]

Yay!

Hope you're feeling better soon.

[strega42.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you have a definitive diagnosis, and that it's something so very routine. Hope it goes quick!

[autopope.livejournal.com]

It's good news indeed, but bear in mind you'll need to keep an eye on it in future; IIRC, the damage caused by the reflux can lead to an increased risk of oesophageal or stomach cancer in future. (On the other hand, if you know that and you're keeping an eye on it, you stand a much better chance of surviving such an illness than someone who doesn't know it's a risk ...)

[corvidophile.livejournal.com]

glad to hear you'll be okay!

[julesjones]

Excellent. Just knowing what it is must be a great relief.

[xyzzysqrl]

So how did they MISS the hernia and the webbing of tissue around your throat the first time? That sounds... distinctive.

[burger-eater.livejournal.com]

Good news. I hope this all resolves quickly for you.

[cordova829.livejournal.com]

You weren't kidding about us authors having gastro diseases left and right... Maybe it's a plot thing, helps us feel our character's pains? Something I should ask the doctor about at least...

[dkaine.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the good diagnosis.

[sorek.livejournal.com]

glad to hear it.

[mazarinade.livejournal.com]

*exhales*.


Didn't want to say anything before, but the last acquaintance of mine who presented with those symptoms is now dead of throat cancer these five years past. Do keep an eye on it, eh?

[von-krag.livejournal.com]

Ook! I guess this means I don't dare send the habanero jelly I made?

No one...

[seawasp]

... said anything about avoiding hot foods... Do you think I am WEAK?? BAH!

[franseca.livejournal.com]

I am glad to see the problem was identified, and that the news was not nearly so bad as was feared. :-)

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

Hmm, sounds a lot like what I was diagnosed with. I know I have some kind of ring, but I can't remember if they called it a Schatzki ring or not.

Hopefully the treatment is as effective for you as it has been for me.

[nycshelly.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear it's something easily treatable. Good luck with that. :)