I learned some new stuff after my procedure. Wiki

Apparently my bellyache, which I've had for years even before I quit drinking,
may be a combo of Barrett's esophagus,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett%27s_esophagus

gastritis,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastritis

Quote:

Common causes include infection with Helicobacter pylori and use of NSAIDs.
Less common causes include alcohol, smoking, cocaine, severe illness,
autoimmune problems, radiation therapy and Crohn disease, among others.

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some Duodenitis (inflammation at the top of small intestine)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duodenitis

a duodenal ulcer,

and some of this ( often a consequence of portal hypertension, commonly due to cirrhosis)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esophageal_varices

Helps explain why it felt like the pain was moving around sometimes.
Biopsy was taken.

Today I'm getting an MRI for hearing/inner ear problems.

?
. . .

CookieCrumbs said:

I'm well overdue for an endoscopy but the idea of a tube going down my throat freaks me the fuck out.

Is it as bad as it sounds?
Also I'm glad you got a diagnosis man. Having a name to your problems goes a long way in dealing with them.

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Quote:

...the idea of a tube going down my throat freaks me the fuck out.

Is it as bad as it sounds?

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Less annoying than my liver biopsy or colonoscopy was.

I showed up an hour early for my 11AM slot. Apparently,
everyone else was an hour and a half early.

Actual procedure took less than 10 minutes.(propofol)
Mostly I hung out on my gurney, IV running, curtained off,
along with the 5 or 6 mostly spanish speaking women waiting their turn.

Staff was young, cute, professional and either forgot I spoke English
or just didn't GAF; talking about men, their bf's, boss, clubbing, music tastes,
lunch(which was rude because all patients were fasting)...

I joked with them about the shit music they were listening to,
I requested they play rock & roll when I went under.
They said I don't want to know what they play during the procedure, lol.


Biopsy was negative, head MRI inconclusive as far as my hearing loss,
ear popping, tinnitus, balance issues go.
Friday morning I had an abdominal ultrasound, results next week.

None of this doctoring would have ever happened
if I had not quit drinking 2 years 9 months ago.


Take care of yourselves while you can.
Took me 45 years of use to accept that
Alcohol and tobacco are pretty shitty drugs.

On the plus side, my lungs, heart and Johnson seem to be working fine...
. . .