More Medical Fun

Since my last post about this I've been to two more doctors (a general surgeon who handed me off to a gastroentronologist, just in case anyone is filling out bingo cards). The first doctor handed me Nexium as a "poor man's test" for ulcers. The second doctor (the "tummy doc" as a friend refers to hers) handed me more samples (to protect my stomach from all the Ibprofrin I'm taking) and ordered a CAT scan and an endoscopy. Both procedures involve an IV (the CAT scan to inject dye and the endoscopy both to draw blood (for lab work) and to inject a sedative). Both procedures are relatively quick and (since I will be knocked out for the endoscopy) relatively painless. Except the IV part.

I feel silly admitting this but the truth is those things terrify me. I HATE having something STAY IN MY ARM. When they did bloodwork and an IV at the ER I went into hysterics and, considering they sprung it on me out of no where and I was trying to stay calm, I hadn't exactly worked myself up in advance. I'm not sure if this will be better or worse since I *do* know what's coming this time and it's *really* not worth 20 min of hysterical crying. Really. It's not. Luckily for me, I will have my hubby with me for the endoscopy next week (when they are drawing blood). However, due to the short nature of the procedure and the fact that it is smack in the middle of the work day...I'm going to be going it alone tomorrow. Hopefully, working tomorrow morning will take my mind of things and it will be over before I know it. But I'm still a bit panic-y just thinking about it.

Based on the tests the doctor is running and the questions he was asking, it looks like he is trying to rule out an ulcer. From the little online diy doctoring websites, I have a number of the symptoms of "worsening ulcers". Of course, everything is so tied together with everything else that such diy diagnosing is next to useless. The "tummy doc"'s opinion was that it wasn't a stomach thing, it's something muscular.

All I know is that I want to know what to do to make the pain stop for good and not just what pills will dull it. I'm all for pills in the short term, but that is not a viable long-term option.

In happier news, I went back to work today! And made it though the whole day! AND found cookies that I'd packed the last time I was in at work and left at my desk. Being homemade, they were a bit dry but still edible. Oatmeal cookies are tough cookies. ; P