The Last Test -- The Dreaded EGD

I am finished with the testing now and to be very honest, I am very relieved.  I have been psychoanalyzed, tested for heart and lung issues, and now had a pencil sized tube with a camera on it shoved down my throat to see if my stomach would pass the test.

Well, besides a few polyps found and removed, it passed.

For those who might not know what an EGD, also known as an Upper Endoscopy, is, it is a test to examine the lining of the esophagus (the tube that connects your throat to your stomach), stomach, and first part of the small intestine. It is done with a small camera (flexible endoscope) which is inserted down the throat.

 Thankfully you are put to sleep for this procedure!  Once the IV is in place, which for this time was in my right hand, and it was my time, I was wheeled into the OR where I was greeted by KISS playing "Lick it Up".  Not really my kind of music anymore.  They were very accommodating and actually changed the music for me while I was awake.

I am lying on the bed, and I am told to lie on my left side in a fetal position.  After I do this, I am asked to bite down on a tube that looks like it was built out of PVC pipe.  Since I had already gone through the VO2 Max testing, this is no big deal to me.  The reason for this?  So I don't bite down and damage the forty thousand dollar camera!

 After this the anesthesiologist injected the knockout juice into my IV and I think I was awake for maybe four to five seconds once it hit my body and then I was out!  As for the "knockout juice" used, I will say that it did burn some coming into my body.  Not a bad sensation, but one that you could feel.

After having some very interesting dreams, I was woken up by the nurse in the recovery room.  My throat was raw and hurt!  She offered juice or ice water and I chose the latter.  Ice Water never felt so good on my throat!  Just one piece of advice to anyone getting this procedure: DON'T DRINK TOO FAST OR TOO MUCH!  If you do you will not like the sensation of the water coming back up!  I didn't vomit, thank God, but I did cough several times which was not pleasant.

After getting dressed I was on my merry way home via Jason's Deli.  I hadn't eaten since 6:30 that morning so I was sort of hungry.  I was fully recovered by eight o'clock that evening.

After all that, I am still cleared for surgery unless I hear otherwise.  They did find some polyps in my stomach and removed them to send to the lab.  The doctor performing the procedure told my wife that everything looked normal and if I don't hear from him then the old adage, no news is good news applies.

Onward to being sleeved!

Eric