google is not my friend...

LeenieLane

Hi Ladies -

Random, but has anyone ever had an endoscopy before? I've been having ridiculous stomach issues - at any given time my stomach just decides to hate me for whatever I try to eat and I get violently ill. I've been to the ER a few times in the past 2 weeks, GI specialists and we've ruled out liver/gallbladder issues. Next step is the endoscopy and some other tests, but I am absolutely bugging out over this!

I Googled and then YouTubed. O. M. G. Bad, bad, bad idea. I'm sure it is no big deal, but the thought of the scope and then possibly making my stomach hurt more is making me nevous.

Any advice?!

Dreamergirl8812

Ok, so hopefully I can be helpful. I've seen a lot of animals scoped. I used to work at a veterinary specialty center. Scoping is a very simple procedure. The incision is very small. You will be sore afterwards but it sounds like you already are. With a lot of intestinal issues an FNA (fine needle aspirate) does not collect a big enough sample to biopsy. An endoscopy is halfway between an FNA and full-on surgery, but still collects very small samples so that shouldn't cause pain. It really can yield a lot of information and if you have something serious then you need to start treatment asap.

And remember: the internet is not medical advice (yes, even this post). I can't count the number of people who would consult with one of our doctors (for $100) and then argue that the internet said differently. Or that their neighbor's cousin experienced something different. You should question your doctor but don't rely on anecdotal evidence.

LeenieLane

Dreamer, you were sweet to respond...thank you for that! I know the internet isnt the best source for medical advice, but I'm the type of person who has to talk/obsess something to death before I move on!! I am most definitely excited to get more answers and really, really hope these tests provide them!

On a side note, those poor little animals my heart breaks to see children or animals sick or in pain.

Dreamergirl8812

Yeah, seeing animals in distress is the hardest part. But we help. And people who are paying $1200 to scope their animals take VERY good care of them so that was nice. And, again, the scoping usually gave some answers that assisted in treatment.

HobokensFury

Don't worry Leenie. DH just had one the week before Christmas.  They are going to give you a sedative and you'll be asleep during the entire thing. When you're done you'll get juice and cookies.

JadziaDax

I had it done and I don't remember it being so bad. They will put you to sleep and you'll wake up and it will be over. The anticipation was worse than the procedure, at least for me. I didn't feel pain afterwards, maybe just a little bit of a sensitive stomach. 

LeenieLane

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_google-is-not-my-friend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:67b90a75-f39a-47d6-a3bf-0333307db899Post:453b27d1-fe33-4f9c-9d2a-bf4af4798bc4">Re: google is not my friend...</a>:
[QUOTE]Don't worry Leenie. DH just had one the week before Christmas.  <strong>They are going to give you a sedative</strong> and you'll be asleep during the entire thing. When you're done you'll get juice and cookies.
Posted by HobokenBride2012[/QUOTE]

I think they'll need to give me an elephant tranquilizer! I am wound so tight over this. Juice and cookies sounds awesome though. Cookies make everything all better! Hope Mr.Hoboken is feeling better. ;)

HobokensFury

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_google-is-not-my-friend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:67b90a75-f39a-47d6-a3bf-0333307db899Post:b81ca1a1-4a2f-4852-adc1-cfcd137918b8">Re: google is not my friend...</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: google is not my friend... : I think they'll need to give me an elephant tranquilizer! I am wound so tight over this. Juice and cookies sounds awesome though. Cookies make everything all better! Hope Mr.Hoboken is feeling better. ;)
Posted by LeenieLane[/QUOTE]

They put him on some meds and he has to get another one in 3 months.  It's been a bad weekend. First the flu and now stomach issues.  I don't know if they're related or not but looks like we're going to the dr tomorrow.

warpedredpenguin

This is perhaps a silly quesiton, but have you had any ultrasounds or MRIs? I had a very similar problem, and it turned out to be a giant cyst between my diaphragm and stomach. 

Also, I've had endoscopic surgery, and I wasn't up to running marathons for a few days, but that was about it. 

allychase

O.m.g I could have written this OP word for word. I have gastritis and have been dealing with a sensitive stomach, nights where I've been awoken with severe nausea to the point I thought I 

caught the stomach virus, indigestion, heartburn, bloating.. sorry maybe TMI but I feel your pain. I too was in the ER with what was thought to be gallbladder problems but that's when they realized my stomach issues.

I have to wait for clearance from my cardiologist before getting my endoscopy but after my wisdom teeth surgery I think it'll be a breeze! If you've never been put under you may be really nervous, I was shaking so bad before I had my wisdom teeth out but afterwards realized it really is NOT a big deal, you're just going to sleep pretty much. And I would soooo rather be asleep during something like that.

I have a ton of other health issues- bladder problems, heart problems, TMJ, and googling is NEVER, EVER, EVER  a good idea. I'm also a slight hypochondriac due to my nursing career and being more aware of my body, and had I listened to google i'd have brain tumors, ALS, be infertile, etc... google always predicts the worst. 

Good luck! Try to remember deep breaths and you'll be out like a light and awake in no time during the procedure.

LeenieLane

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_google-is-not-my-friend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:67b90a75-f39a-47d6-a3bf-0333307db899Post:03071d0b-fe0e-4571-b9b2-4b73b1de234b">Re: google is not my friend...</a>:
[QUOTE]This is perhaps a silly quesiton, but have you had any ultrasounds or MRIs? I had a very similar problem, and it turned out to be a giant cyst between my diaphragm and stomach.  Also, I've had endoscopic surgery, and I wasn't up to running marathons for a few days, but that was about it. 
Posted by warpedredpenguin[/QUOTE]

I have had ultrasounds, MRIs, hida scans and now the endoscopy and colonoscopy (overshare. sorry. it's mortifying). I thought I had food poisioning when this all started but then my symptoms literally went away with the blink of an eye! I was vomiting and couldn't keep anything down for a few days, then it went away. It came back and I thought maybe this time it was the flu, but then found out I had hpylori after a ton of blood work and other unpleasant tests. I took some antacid meds and and high dose of cipro and felt better, but it took a solid month before i felt like my stomach was semi-normal.

About 3 months ago, these little flares started up again and I've had extreme pain in the area of my gallbladder so I figured it must have been that. Went to the ER w/ high fever and vomiting - they were convinced it was my gallbladder too. They did scans and wouldn't take it out because it appeared to be perfect based on the images. I went for a hida scan a few days later (couldn't do it immediately because I was too dehydrated and they couldn't get the IV in me) to check the actual activity of it and again, it looked perfect. The only thing the ER was able to confirm for me was that I had bilirubin in my urine but they discharged me and told me to follow up with my GI. I've been bouncing between GI and ER for the past few weeks because it gets SO intense, I literally do not know what to do with myself. Nothing other than zofran gives me relief (medicine to stop the throwing up). Medicine to stop the symptoms arent actually resolving what is going on and I'm so sick of feeling like this :(

Tuesday I get tested for a billion GI related illnesses to see what can be ruled out. My GI dr said it's easier to rule out what it isnt rather than prove what it is. Chrons, Celiac, bleeding ulcers, biliary duct something...and hpylori to see if it has returned :(

LeenieLane

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_google-is-not-my-friend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:67b90a75-f39a-47d6-a3bf-0333307db899Post:39f98c36-46d0-4c93-8de6-0610115ce379">Re: google is not my friend...</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: google is not my friend... : They put him on some meds and he has to get another one in 3 months.  It's been a bad weekend. First the flu and now stomach issues.  I don't know if they're related or not but looks like we're going to the dr tomorrow.
Posted by HobokenBride2012[/QUOTE]

Good luck on his follow ups. I hope he gets some answers soon too!!

LeenieLane

Hey Ally, I'm glad someone can relate! My FI is supportive obviously, but he thinks not eating certain things (pasta, ice cream, salad, breads) will cure all of my issues! The thing is I can drink water and yield the same results of eating Taco Bello. It's just crazy!!

I did find based on the hida scan results that my liver is slightly enlarged, but nothing of concern. My GI said that my gallbladder contracts as it should, but my body disgests rapidly and I produce a ton of acid. If I'm not eating, because I'm really not able to some days because I get so sick, my body is producing acid and it's just sort of hanging out in my stomach making matters much worse.

I know there are far worse things in life, but a bad stomach has to be up there!

allychase

Yikes! It does sound like I have it a little better. I've noticed if I stick to bland foods like toast, pasta with no sauce, lots of water, chicken, etc, I'm alright. Although sometimes the overall acid production just builds up and I have days where I wanna lay in bed all day with a stomach ache. It really sucks cause it's basically debilitating.. when you feel like you're gonna puke there's really not much activity you can do. 

If you don't mind me asking, when you say you digest rapidly, does that also mean your metabolism is high? I am typically underweight for my height (5'9) and have trouble putting on weight due to these problems with not eating a lot of calories a day with the bland foods. I suppose I can't complain because it's usually the opposite but was wondering if it affected your weight as well. I'm wondering if I also digest rapidly. I'm still in the early stages of getting all this checked out. I was diagnosed with the gastritis in October but it's been slow progression since then. 

LeenieLane

That's a really good question. I'm not entirely sure it's the same as metabolism but it very well could be. I think digestion is how it breaks down the food and metabolism is how fat is stored or reused for fuel for the body. I am 5'7" and 145, so pretty average I think. As of the last 9 months or so my weight fluctuates / 10lbs. I haven't gone over 150 but my stomach also hasn't been solid enough to stop the vomiting and other pleasantries, so I've never been given the chance to gain more. It's probably the only plus to any of this! Haha! I will definitely ask my dr Tuesday about digestion vs metabolism. You've got me curious now! Good luck to you and I hope you feel better and get your medical issues under wraps too! Sorry if the spacing is wonky, I'm on my cell

brittany634

I've had one done, and I don't remember it being so bad- I have quite a few diff health problems, but I'm sure you'll be fine, just Relax.

And whenever I google symptoms I always end up with lukemia- bad idea!

lls31

I had an endoscopy done years ago when my doctor was looking into my stomach issues (ended up being my gall bladder, but that's beside the point).  I am a HUGE baby and the endoscopy was a piece of cake.  Quick and painless.  

ETA: My endoscopy found nothing, but I ended up going in for a disida scan a few weeks later and learned that my gall bladder had stopped working.  That test was much more painful for me than the endoscopy.

MairePoppy

My stomach hates me, too. I've been through many endoscopies and colonoscopies, usually I have them done at the same time. The worst part is the prep for the colonoscopy that I do at home - liquid diet for 24 hours and plenty of laxatives to flush everything out. There is no prep, other than fasting, for an endoscopy, alone. My doctor uses propofol for both so it's fast and painless. The entire procedure from administering the anesthesia to wake up is less than an hour. And then I go home a sleep for several hours after that.

LeenieLane

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_google-is-not-my-friend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:67b90a75-f39a-47d6-a3bf-0333307db899Post:1c7c20ec-d78b-4d02-92bf-ada81138660f">Re: google is not my friend...</a>:
[QUOTE]My stomach hates me, too. I've been through many endoscopies and colonoscopies, usually I have them done at the same time. The worst part is the prep for the colonoscopy that I do at home - liquid diet for 24 hours and plenty of laxatives to flush everything out. There is no prep, other than fasting, for an endoscopy, alone. My doctor uses propofol for both so it's fast and painless. The entire procedure from administering the anesthesia to wake up is less than an hour. And then I go home a sleep for several hours after that.
Posted by MairePoppy[/QUOTE]

Hi Maire, I'm getting the two-for-one-deal as well. Lovely! Tomorrow at this time, it'll all be behind me. :)

Thanks to everyone for the advice!

MairePoppy

I know what you're doing tonight, then. Tomorrow, you can tell everyone how easy it was. Good luck with your flip flop - that's what my doctor calls it.