Health Update

A lot has happened since the last time I posted.  Let's recap.

The same day I posted the last journal, I went to the ER.  They did some blood work/xrays, told me it was reflux and to follow up with the gastroenterologist, and sent me on my way.  Needless to say, I was not satisfied with my care.

The 9 days that followed were agony.  I learned that Ensure is gross.  My throat kept getting worse and worse and hurting more an more.  I had a bout of reflux that lasted for 5 hours one night, my throat and vocal chords on fire.  The next day, my throat was raw and my voice was hoarse.  I had to start sleeping in the recliner to keep myself upright at night.  I cried.  A lot.  Then finally, the day of my appointment arrived.

The gastroenterologist was the first doctor to do a proper exam.  He actually touched my throat and looked in my mouth.  When he did so, he remarked that I very obviously had oral thrush, and that it was most likely in my esophagus as well.  Turns out the antibiotics the first doctor put me on gave me a yeast infection from hell in my throat.  Then every doctor I saw after that proceeded to misdiagnose the malady because they never did a proper exam.  So I had to suffer almost 3 weeks without proper care, resulting in my dropping 12 lbs.  The gastro set me up on a 2 week regimen with meds and also set me up for xrays and an endoscopy so we can address the reason I actually came to him, my reflux and possible throat-narrowing.

That was a week ago.  My throat is on the mend, and I already had my special xray (called a barium swallow) yesterday, but I'm still waiting on the results of that.  I still can't really eat anything.  I miss food.  I'm trying to keep my anxiety down, to keep calm, but feeling the natural urge to eat but having your body deny you the ability is really psychologically damaging.

I'll keep you guys posted on how things go.  I just want to feel normal again, but I have a feeling it's going to be a long while before that happens.