Another diagnosis and upcoming surgery

It's been a crazy few weeks, running back and forth from my local hospital, Duke, and Wake Forest.
Thank goodness I haven't driven to the wrong hospital.

As you guys know from previous posts, I've had tons of problems with my esophagus and gi tract. I'm unable to swallow with any regularity, and can't hiccup, burp, or vomit. Not a ton of fun

So, after way to many tests and manometry studies(small tube inserted through nose down to stomach, where muscle coordination is studied while swallowing saline), I've been diagnosed with a subtype of achalasia III. You guys are totally think I'm making this up, but this subtype is found in about 30,000 folks in the US. Really, Truly, that is what the posse of Drs have stated. Not joking or lying-crazy, right?

I go down to Wake on the 1st for a couple more studies, and then to meet with anesthesia since I have some issues that affect surgeries. Then on the 8th I'll have surgery down there as well. The muscles of the lower esophagus are cut and separated, and then the upper stomach is brought up to attach to the area. The surgery will be complicated due to multiple previous surgeries in that area, open g/j procedure and a nissen fundoplication, and then a partial letdown, and other surgeries as well.

Lots of stuff coming up, and lots of stuff I have no control over. I hate not having control.

rocky I wish you all the best! You've been through so Much! May God's Peace be always with You! Good Luck with those tests and your up coming surgery!
White Beard

Thanks all
I don't of myself strong in any way, I just feel like I'm trapped on some crazy ride that just keeps going up and down, and round and round.

Finished up the last studies needed for the 8th.

The barium study ended up taking much longer than they expected. There was what looked like to be some sort of obstruction which channelled the barium into one thin trickle down my throat. They moved me every sort of way imaginable-I offered to stand on my head for entertainment in exchange for covering my copay Turns out that it was a HUGE pocket of air, which makes sense since I can't burp or hiccup. After it was identified, I got sympathy hugs from the nurses. Explaining the pressure and the spasms, and how they are so incredibly painful, has been a bit difficult. The barium highlighting the gas pocket allowed them to finally understand when I say it's like there's a softball in my throat.

The J part of the feeding tube is for a slow infusion of formula, and the G portion is to allow my stomach to vent. I know it's icky, but if I need to throw up, which happens quite a bit, opening the tube allows the pressure and lovely contents to come out. Unfortunately, the trapped air/gas in my throat sits there until it's somehow resolved.
Monthly Cytoxan infusions are on hold since it knocks out my immune system. I really need to get them restated as soon as possible. I'm typing this in a dark room with the screen on super-duper almost blind mode. I have uveitis in both eyes, basically means that there are white blood cells where they shouldn't be, and light is killing me. I've been wearing sunglasses in the house, which obviously makes me look like a cool hip parent. The joints are super uncomfortable, but the steroid increase is helping there. Right now, it's my bones that hurt the most. It's like something is trying to explode my bones from the insides. Just crazy crazy dull pain and pressure.

I know there is no quick fix, shoot, sometimes there is no fix, but I'd love to have even one area of my body in slightly less pain.

As I had recently posted, surgery was supposed to be a fairly simple where the muscles at the base of my esophagus were to be cut and widened so that I'd be able to swallow regularly. And I'd finally be able to hiccup, burp, and vomit. You don't realize how much you love that, until you are unable to do so
Well, in true Becky fashion, I had to make it so much more complicated. I won't know why until rounds in the morning, but apparently my surgeon decided that my spleen deserved to see the rest of the world. The post up notes are not yet in my chart and the surgeon who's on call overnight has no idea.
My spleen and I had developed quite an attachment over the years, she'll be greatly missed.
Pain's been hard to control, they're trying. Like many of us, I have the tolerance of a water buffalo.
Not sure about the hospital stay. Nate's last day of school is Wednesday, and I wasn't worried about it.
We go to the pool and meet up with friends. The club is open until 10, and the boys love swimming in the lighted pool.
Always an adventure in my world.
And, of course, nowhere near home