No Ulcer!

Let's do the happy no ulcer dance.

The endoscopy was really nothing to be worried about. The nice nurse had me take off my clothes from the waist up and put on a hospital gown. The found a nice gurney for me to lay on.

My first ever IV was relatively painless and they found my vein easily, then I just lay around until we went into the procedure room. It was a bit dark in there, but I didn't care. The hooked me up to monitors, then fed the anesthesia into the IV and I had a nice nap.

I dreamt that there was something going down my throat and it wasn't terribly comfortable (or that's how I experienced it), then it was coming out and soon I was waking up in the recovery area.

I was a little groggy last night but that passed...and my throat hurt a bit when I was going to bed, but that seems to have passed, as well.

But I have a good looking stomach. There were a few red spots that he did a biopsy on, but no ulcer.

B is over this weekend. After I see a client this morning, we'll be hanging out until she has to go to her wedding. I've missed her.

Endoscopy today

So I'm rather interested in distracting myself until then...here, enjoy this!


see more dog pictures

Further proof that dogs are superior to us...

There were lot's of dogs out this morning walking their humans. The best group, though, were a couple who had clearly been running with their golden retriever. The woman was bent at the waist, in a pose of exhaustion and the man was panting. The golden was looking up at them with bright eyes and wagging its tail. Clearly encouraging them to continue their fun activity!

You see, we exercise because we are supposed to, but dogs know that the best exercise is actually play.

Livers and kidneys and spleans, oh my!

I had my ultrasound this morning. The tech was very nice and let me watch the screen. She described what I was seeing throughout the whole thing. I got to see my aorta, the abovementioned organs, and the gallbladder.

There didn't seem to be anything immediately jumping out about the gallbladder, but the tech is just the tech and the radiologist reads the ultrasound. So nothing really new to report (well, except that it is one more down and one more to go for tests).

I did have some moments this morning when I wondered if maybe whatever was happening was clearing up on its own. I wasn't nauseous (I couldn't eat before the ultrasound, though, and it's the consumption of food that's been making me nauseous). I haven't felt significant pain just kind of achiness for several days.

But, no, once I'd drunk the Odwalla protein drink, I started feeling nauseous again. Bleh!

I would seriously recommend, if you ever get to have one done, that you try to watch the screen when they do an ultrasound on you. It's wicked fun!

Mmmmm, nummy

On Friday, after fasting for most of the day, I get to have an endoscope put down into my tummy. This does not sound fun...although I will probably not remember it at all. I'm actually more concerned about the fasting. I'm not supposed to have anything solid after midnight, and nothing at all by mouth after 8:30 a.m. My procedure is at 2 p.m. Bleh!

I'm going to get blood drawn today and I need to make an appointment to have an ultrasound. All of this is to determine whether I have gallbladder issues or an ulcer.

The doctor's visit was, therefore, productive once I actually got to see him. My appointment was at 3:15 p.m. and I think the doctor came in at 4:45 p.m. to see me. Still he was thorough (probably why he was running so late) and friendly.

Still, I felt shaken up afterwards. I went to get some food and called S. He came to meet me at my apartment and stayed with me for a while. He snuggled with me and massaged my feet and took out my trash. He made me laugh. I really do love and miss him.

Not much more to say right now...it's just a matter of getting the tests done to see what's up.

Prince Caspian

This was my big outing this weekend. Yesterday, I went to IHOP for breakfast (wherein I could only eat about half of the order - so sad!), then went to see Prince Caspian.

I ended up having a really long conversation by phone with S about the movie, as he'd seen it the day before and wanted to discuss it with me. He also talked a little about the letters I've sent him and clarified some things. I'm reminded of all the things that I really love about him, and of the things that are upsetting me about all this.

He has been really lovely about asking if I need anything. I told him that I would call him today after my doctor's appointment. There's not much else to tell you all until after the appointment either, so I'll get back online and update you this evening.

Oh! I did really enjoy the movie (with the exception of exceedingly unlikely trebuchet that seemed to reload continually).

ZOMG!

I've been thinking about getting a bike. I'm sure that many of us have...this morning I wanted to get a car wash for my poor beleaguered Civic, so I went to fill up at the station that has the car wash...regular was over $4.

But here's the thing - I've been wondering about my weight and bike safety. This is not something that most people who ride probably worry about, but then most people you see out riding around here look like a cross between and alien and an insect trying out for the Tour de France. I will never be those people - it's not in my genes to be (besides, I'd lose that cute ass I have). And I know that certain things are only built for certain weights of people.*

So I typed "weight" and "bike" into google. I, of course, found a lecture about not getting too hung up on the weight of the bike. Yeah, that's not really my concern. Then I typed in "bike riding for fat people" and I found Super Sized Cycles. How absolutely fabulous is that?

The drawback? I'm guessing, when I buy one, it's going to come in a box all set for me to put it together.

*My father climbed a ladder (a ladder that he had climbed many times before) which was rated for something like 400 lbs. He was painting the side of our house at the second story when the ladder gave out from under him. Apparently, according to the lawyers for the company my parents tried to sue, everyone should know that when the ladder is extended the weight of the person should be multiplied by 2 (or some such nonsense). The fall shattered my father's ankle, and they lost the lawsuit.

Hot, hot, hot

It's supposed to cool down today, but the last 2 days have been scorchers. I think, on principle, I'll have to go to the movies to be in the cool air. I want to see Prince Caspian, so my principles and my desires are in alignment. It's nice when that happens.

SS was over last night. We went for dinner and she did some Reiki on me. I don't know if it works, but it helped relax me. I did notice, though, that it was hard for me while she was doing it to not tell her to stop. I'd felt that way getting a chair massage this week. I think it has to do with the idea that I'm feeling sick and kind of alone and am in the "I need to just deal with taking care of myself" mode. So I tried to let go of the feeling.

I'm doing okay right now, in terms of discomfort/pain. I was able to eat last night without wanting to upchuck it immediately. Yay! I am not sure when I was looking forward to a doctor's appointment more.

Today, I'm off to see clients, then I'm not sure what I will do. I'll probably come home and nap because I stayed up last night later than I should...then I'll maybe slowly clean another part of my apartment. B is coming to visit next weekend. It needs to be somewhat clean.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Saturday!