The endoscopy last Thursday went well. It might be a minor thing to some people but to me, it wasn't that minor...
Most people in Singapore undergo sedation to do the scope. I went without it because the doctor was afraid sedation might affect my existing heart condition, however mild that condition might be.
There was an LA given to numb the throat and oesophagus and that was it. The tube that they stuck down my throat was as thick as my thumb. I remember my gag reflex went into action the moment it felt the tube going down the throat....I gagged and retched...and gagged and retched somemore...The nurse covered my eyes and ears with a towel. Coupled with the tube stuck in my throat, it felt a little claustrophobic.
They pumped air into my stomach to distend it so they could see better. It was uncomfortable. Not painful but very uncomfortable. My stomach muscles contracted reflexively several times as well. I retched and the air came out involuntarily several times in big belches. It was pretty embarrassing. I sounded like a hog.
I was glad it was over in 5-7 minutes. It felt more like twice the time taken though.
There was nothing found. Which is good. All results came out normal from the scope. No lesions, no H. Pylori bacteria, no ulcer, no breaks in the food pipe.
I don't feel very happy though. Because while there are no major issues, the diagnosis of whatever I'm having is still a very abstract thing to grasp, and to manage, and to treat.
The diagnosis is still that I'm having "functional dyspepsia". A presence of symptoms affecting the upper gastrointestinal system. Symptoms include nausea, vomitting, early satiety, bloatedness, smaller appetite, reflux, etc.
No medication to cure. Just lifestyle changes to manage it. Medications can only help manage the symptoms abit. And the doc didn't put me on any...getting me to try adjusting lifetsyle first....only seeing him in 3 months' time. Good luck to me in the meantime.......
Feeling nausea, bloating and lack of energy (breathless) everyday. It's like I'm having morning sickness, just that there's no baby. Gets worse when I'm in office as I can't lie down to rest or anything...and the aircon and bright ceiling lights don't help much too. Taking each day as it comes.
Fighting.....
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