I'm two minutes away from when I have to drink 4 littres of laxitives so I can go into the hospital today... get an IV which I can't stand, so the doctor can go UP where the sun doesn't shine and DOWN my throat to determine if what's going on inside me is has turned to cancer. He says the condition that I'm in will require me to do this every six months for the rest of my life. Doing anaesthesia every six months, is almost as dangerous as trying to live through it without the all the investigation. I've done this twice before, its never any fun.

I'm sure I'll get through this, somehow I always manage to. But ya can't blame a guy for being sensitive. I've had so many IV's in the past 10 years that my veins collapse all the time, which means I have to be re-poked, this one proceedure I went through, I had 16 IV pokings. I was SO mad at them and so sore that they actually finished what they had to do without the Iv. I said, why didn't you just do that in the 10th time? What the heck!? I was awake through all of this, they only did a local. For my more intensive surgeries, they have to sew them into my neck. Isn't that a treat? I'm just waiting for the stroke... (tick tick tick)

There's no getting used to this.

I'm blabbering, the wife is asleep, I'm now 28 minutes behind. To add insult to injury, I woke up and the dog's ear is all swollen. He must of scratched a vessle or something. He's GOT to go to the vets this morning. Sure, why not compound things? I can handle it. Speaking of handle, where's my prozac? What I really want is to climb back into bed, wake up, it will be late spring, and the two dogs that I miss dearly will be waiting for me by the bridge, the rainbow bridge, I'll see my father and grandparents and all the lost aunts and uncles and friends.

Yeah I remember the probing for a vein thing from when the doctor was trying to put in an IV drip when I had appendicitis. Then they immobilised my left arm and wanted me to sign the consent form for the op. It was then that I pointed out that I was left-handed and why hadn't they done the ******* form earlier

Satisfying gout of blood when they pulled it out too.

All best wishes for you

I can relate to everything you just said... And I do mean everything!

I have been through the same routines and it is NO FUN! I really dispise the whole lot! It is an experience that if you have not been through, you just can't understand... It is how shall I say: "an excercise in humility"...

I wish you the best my friend and I will be thinking of you.

You need to vent sometime feel free to PM me, I am not much for being politically correct on this topic.

Good Luck!

Paul

hang in there, bro, we're pulling for ya.

Good Luck EasyOff.

Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you. Let us know how things went.

Let's keep positive that it' not cancer. I feel for you, I watched my father in law go through open heart surgery and all the probing and sticking that entailed.

Good luck.
Steve

Thanks everyone! Uh, I'm on my last 1/2 pint of that stuff... What a crappy morning this has been. :-)

My wife is eating a nice bowl of cereal, some juice and coffee, it all smells so good. (Looks over shoulder) she doesn't know it yet, but if I'm feeling good enough after I recover from this today, I'm heading for Prime Rib! I'm starved!!!

Gotta run!

Hang in there EasyOff, it'll be over soon.

I too understand everything you're going thru (Been there more than once, done that and got the T-shirt)and you have my sympathy.

I always look forward to the day after the tests!

One of my least favorite proceedures was having a ten inch needle inserted into the center of my right kidney to drain a cyst in the center of the kidney. They give you some local numbing agent, then tell you not to move and stab!!!!!

I'm keeping you in my prayers. Let us know how things turn out.

As I sit here today listening to Elton John "funeral for a friend" for the first time in years, I'm just going to have to say that funeral will have to be for someone else today, its just not my turn.

Yes, it seems that I have once again escaped the gauntlet that separates us from humanity and the unknown. (Wipes forehead) And what a relief that it is! This has been one of the longest month in my life! The waiting is the hardest part isn't it?

Yesterday I went into the hospital for the tests, a section of the hospital that I've never been into before and let me tell ya, they had a hardwood laminate on the floor stained in a deep cherry and all the wood work was of the same color. I felt as if I was being escorted into a "very special" section of the hospital. It felt as if I was on a yacht or a section of the hospital that only the ultra rich get to experience. Honestly, my wife and I are two people that can really appreciate and understand how textures and colors can affect emotion. Your looking at a guy that's seen Moulan Rouge 42 times. Anyway, naturally all the anxieties that go along with the risks of being sedated came with the morning. As I left the house I looked around and took inventory of my life, its all there. My dogs know that something is up, they sensed it. I kissed them as if it could be my last and my eyes began to tear up. For some of us, pets are as close to us, and somethings even closer than our own children. On my way to the car I looked at everything and thought to myself, did I fullfill my wife's expectations? A nod and a smile, yes. I can say this with confidence, our home is humble, and not outlandish, but collectively its everything that my wife could ever wish for. In the driveway sat the SLK 32 her dream car which I drive and her daily driver a 230 kompressor.

In the hospital the nurse that I was blessed to have nailded me with the Iv on the first time. And I've gotta tell ya, she did it sooooooo good that it was virtually painless. Minus the tape that was stuck to arm hair, but hey, I'll take that any time. My apt went on time, perfectly. The doctor that I have is a riot, he's so grounded but soooooo funny...

The results of the day turned out to be colon completely clear.... sweet! But the throat and stomach had ulcers caused by the acid reflux. It sure beats cancer! End results, Divorticulosis, Ulcers and Barrett's Disease which is deterioration of the throat tissue due to acid reflux. I have to be carefull with this, because it can turn to cancer so I'll have to go in every six months for the same procedure to monitor it.

Luckily I was still in the mood for prime rib after everything. Even more so since I didn't get any news of a death sentence. We tried a new place in town and it was outstanding! I had Keylime Pie for dessert. Mmmm.

Thanks all for your well wishes and prayers. It really means a lot to me, I know what people meant when they speak of the Big A as a family. I've had severaly PM's from people along with the notes from folks relating to what I was about to endure right here on the open forum. Thank you all, and may the God of your choice bless YOU in the way that you see most fit for your lifestyle.

Deepest regards

John

Hi John...

Glad to hear that you're all clear! Take care too... catch up with you on IL2 sometime..

good news to hear

in my area they are useing mri technology to do all the scopes now, still have to do the laxative, but no more probes or iv's........... check with your dr and see if its available there.

reb in texas