My earlier phone calls to the GI Consultants had taken and Dr. Suresh Raj emerged to handle my care. Dr. Raj had been our family GI for procedures in the past and I was blessed to have his attention. Dr. Raj performed the Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedure which yielded two results. First, the source of the upper GI bleeding was an ulcer which was repaired. Second, varices, expanded blood vessels, were discovered my esophagus and duodenum. Varices are caused by pressure buildup in the veins, symptomatic of a blockage of flow through the liver. Reading on the internet this is a classic symptom of liver decease and thus an easy diagnosis. Thus the focus of concern turned to my liver.
Also through the day my hemoglobin dropped to trigger ordering two units of full blood. I had already been joking in honor of the new Twilight movies that I was turning into a vampire and was getting a taste for blood. When they brought in the units I remarked, “ahhh diner”. Turns out this did me a lot of good. My 55th birthday was on 7/2 the previous week and because of my illness I was feeling quite fatigued and weak. Before knowing I was sick, I was thinking that if this is how I feel at 55, I won’t ever reach 70. Anyone who knows me well knows that I sleep only about 5-6 hours and work all day. Now I had been sleeping 10+ hours and needed power naps to get me through the day. Now a week after the transfusions I am again up at 4 am and going strong all day. Blood, it does a body good.
No comments:
Post a Comment