Anyone here ever had an endoscopy performed on them? http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/upperendoscopy/ After a weekend of consuming a fair amount of alcohol (no driving of course), I expected a typical amount of heartburn and acid reflux to kick in on Sunday. For the past two years I have battled a pretty strong case of acid reflux and GERD. It all originated with a fateful evening in Philadelphia two years ago in which I consumed an insane amount of alcohol and then ate a half pound of pepperoni (the deli meat, not the pizza – dam* the 24-hour WaWa store) before passing out. I think that course of events damaged my esophagus and triggered my reflux. Well, on Sunday my chest was actually feeling a bit better than expected. That is, until I went to Freebird’s. Typically, acid reflux/GERD is caused by one of several things: too much alcohol, too much fatty food, too much spicy food, or just simply overeating. I covered all of these bases by wolfing down a “monster” sized burrito. At about 7:00pm it hit me. A sharp, burning paid gripped my sternum. It felt like I had a small animal inside my chest that was lodged in my windpipe. Breathing was difficult, standing up or lying down was impossible, and the pain was intense. I slept a total of 1 hour last night. Well, today I sucked it up and went down to the medical center to have a doctor look at it. After telling him about the pepperoni incident, he started laughing hysterically. I was not exactly comforted by this behavior. While I recognize that having 15-20 units of alcohol and a half-pound of pepperoni chaser isn’t exactly normal behavior, you would think that a doctor’s ethical training would prevent him from openly laughing at the plight of a patient. This guy was like 55 years old to boot. Anyhow, he said that I needed an “upper GI endoscopy” performed on me. I was fine with this until I discovered that it involved STUFFING A TUBE DOWN MY THROAT AND INTO MY STOMACH. I am not looking forward to this procedure. Apparently I will be sedated during this procedure, but it is my understanding that I will not be unconscious. This is mildly troubling. Aside from the indignity of being sedated with a tube down your throat, this procedure will all but certainly put me out of commission for any SuperBowl related reveling. I’m curious to hear if anyone had had a similar procedure performed on them and what their experience entailed.
Drinking binge in honor of President Bush: $200 Pepperoni's to cheer on the GOP: $20 10 bottles of Pepto: $60 Deep throating like Monica Lewinsky and being OWNED!: PRICELESS
Enjoy the sedation. I hope the tests don't find anything serious. I've treated my body shabbily in the past, but some health issues (not related to the shabby treatment) prevent me from having as much fun as I used to, not that I don't on occasion anyway. I've been lucky to have an ironclad stomach. (knock on wood) I wouldn't wish invasive tests on anyone... even our resident conservative comedian.
If you want to feel good, DON'T read the following... I warned you... About 4 years ago, my grandmother underwent scheduled tests that included both a colonoscopy (which was scheduled for a later date) and an endoscopy. Well, she went in for the endoscopy and it was supposed to be routine. What happened was truly horrendous. *WARN* While she was sedated (I don't recall if she was awake or not), she apparently 'choked' on the tube. Now this happens VERY RARELY at best. Skipping some of the details, I recall that she had to undergo emergency surgery to remove the tube (that I guess was stuck or something). This involved getting access to the throat and such areas (again, I'll spare the details). She was in the hospital for weeks, most of which not being able to speak or eat and in pain. This was a 76 (just turned 80 the other day) year old woman. Worst of all, the doctor didn't bother to stick around; rather, he decided to head on vacation for a week without contacting anyone. She turned out alright I suppose; no problems of any kind, but the anesthesia had an affect on her because her memory has been absolutely terrible since then. Scary. In an unrelated note, I was to undergo (I was scheduled 3 times) a colonoscopy a few times in the last 5 years or so because of my Crohn's. I never did, mainly because that awful laxative I could never finish.
Uncle just had one a week ago, Unlike his colonoscopy, he returned to normal eating and other activities in a day. So dont worry, if alls well, you can enjoy your superbowl fiesta
I laughed when I read about the pepperoni incident too. Not a schadenfreude laugh, mind you, but a laugh at your comic escapade rather than your misfortune BTW, speaking of Freud, did you ever consider the homoerotic implications of getting hammered and then craving a nice big ole pepperoni log? Something to ponder.
I had this procedure done about 5 years ago for acid reflux. I remember getting a shot and then waking up in a wheelchair on my way out building. It was not a big deal and after it was done I could get the good medication for my reflux and insurance would help pay for it. I don't remember how long it took to eat after it was done though.
Good luck....sounds pretty bad. I have a friend who has the same problem and who needs to get that procedure done also. I am a little worried now, I mean, come on, most of us get drunk once in a while, I don't want to get that!
I have the same thing and it sucks. I like to drink too much, eat too much, and I love spicy food. What't the other thing? Oh yeah.....to much fatty food. Check me off for that one as well. Acid reflux really sucks when it wakes you up in the middle of the night. It's basically like a bit of puke travelling back up from your stomach just to give you the pleasure of tasting it in the far, back reaches of your throat. Occasionally however, it's stong enough for you to get a mouthfull......which can easily ruin a good night's sleep. About two weeks ago, I had the worst. I had eaten mightily at Kanamwon......ridiculously spicy (at least the way we order it) Thai food. We had also knocked back an unknown number of bottles of wine. This time the acid reflux was stong enough to not just give me a mouthfull, it even gave me a nosefull. Nothing like having your nasal passages coated with number ten on the Thai scale spicy, hot liquid puke. Guaranteed to make you endlessly sit bolt upright in the nearest chair......too tired to stay awake, too scared to fall asleep.
When I first saw this title, I was like "Whoa, TJ just got done watching one of the most infamous p*rn movies of all-time!" I am like here I am watching "The Shining" (Kubrick's version, not the inferior Stephen King re-make) last night and he is watching THE p*rn movie! Seriously, that sucks, man. Hope it turns out okay. I probably need to go see a doctor myself as I have still yet to completely recover from a pulled muscle in my upper right back that started 10 days ago. Somehow or another, the strain has spread itself to my chest or right pectoral muscle. It is a good thing that I know that my heart is on the other side or I would really be worried that I was having a heart attack. Oh well, I have to see my doctor on Thursday for a physical, maybe I ask him about this.
The doctor laughed so hard because he saw the true nature of your pain - a bleeding liberal heart. You can't fight it forever...
I've had an endoscopy and it wasn't a big deal at all. They say that you won't be unconcious, but I don't remember one bit of the procedure. I was fine and eating normally later that day. I've also had a colonoscopy, which also wasn't a big deal...just a bit uncomfortable afterwards. Open up wide T_J!
Judging by the responses of the "liberals" (as the term is used in the US) here on the board...is it fair to say that there are no compassionate "liberals"...only compassionate conservatives?
