As we all know, life never goes according to plan, ESPECIALLY when you're sick, at least that's the way it seems to me. Today I was supposed to have a two-fer at Kaiser, have my nerve conduction test and then go downstairs and have my endoscopy where they were going to inject my pylorus (the sphincter-like opening at the bottom part of my stomach) with botox to paralyze it open. Well, I get to my Neurologist's office on time and commence to wait and wait and wait for over and hour to the point where it was getting time for me to be downstairs for the endoscopy. So my nerve conduction test was rescheduled to Friday morning at 10am (and I see the Ophthalmologist at 4pm on Friday) and then I "ran"--Christine's version of running, which is more like a healthy person's slow walk--to Gastroenterology and get checked in.
When they call me back they asked me when the last time was that I ate and I explained to the nurse that I don't actually eat solid food, but I had a protein shake at 7:45 this morning, but proceeded to evacuate it at around 11:30am, so there's nothing in my stomach. Then when they tried to start an IV, I was dehydrated, so it took two stabs to get an IV in. The first one they tried, the vein blew...I guess that's a sign of dehydration. Then the next thing I know I was wheeled into the procedure room where I quickly asked my doctor about referring me to a nutritionist because, if this botox procedure works, I will be able to eat some things but not other things, so I feel like I need some guidance. My doctor totally agreed to it (he's a cool guy) and then they proceeded to load me up with meds and the next thing I know it was done!
In recovery, my mom got to come and be with me and my doctor came by to talk with us. I don't remember much of what he said because I was in and out of consciousness (I was LOADED), but I do remember him saying it would take about 2 weeks before we would really know whether or not the procedure worked or not. If it DOES work, then the effects can last up to 9 months (I think) then when it starts wearing off he will have to do a surgery where he permanently opens up the pylorus. If it does NOT work, then it's kind of back to the drawing board. It could mean a number of things for me: TPN (an IV feeding tube that goes down the neck), a feeding tube in the stomach, or a surgery to remove part of my stomach and attaching it to my small intestines. I'm cautiously optimistic that the botox is going to work...I don't want to get my hopes up, only to have them dashed if it doesn't work, so I'm trying to just be kind of indifferent about the whole thing. I've just been ill for so long and had several medications not work for me that I've learned to not rely too heavily on the reliability of any medication or procedure.
Friday is going to be a long, interesting, and fun day all wrapped up into one. I have the nerve conduction at 10am, the test that I "lovingly" refer to as the "zappy zappy" test because the doctor will literally be shocking me. Then at 4pm I see the Ophthalmologist because the Neurologist thought he had seen something cloudy behind my right eye, so he's having that checked out. Now, I don't know if the eye doctor is going to dilate my eyes or not. If she does, I'm in trouble because I'm going to my friend's bridal shower after that and everyone will be signing! The last time I had my eyes dilated, they stayed that way for HOURS and I couldn't see much of anything, so this could be potentially problematic.
That's the latest and greatest news in Christine's Dizzy Life!
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