I promised I would update anybody that may be interested in the outcome of my endoscopy and consultant meeting today. so if your not interested in any of this look away now.
Firstly let me reassure anybody that is considering having an endoscopy but may be a little nervous being put off by the invasive nature of the procedure. Please don’t be put off. It really was painless and easy, mine was all over in about 10 minutes. I was invited to have sedation and did so. He sprayed the back of my throat. I honestly didn’t get a chance to look up at the monitor, it was over that quick. In fact the feeling from the sedation was like that of having a few glasses of wine.
He took 5 pictures, 1.the Larynx 2. the lower oesophagus. 3. the cardia (the neck into the stomach) 4. the lower body (stomach) 5. the Duodenum. All the first 4 pictures apparently showed no damage or inflammation. (good news)
however the fifth picture showed signs of Erosive duodenitis so needs empirical eradication. His diagnosis… Classic erosive duodenitis but nil else of real note.(that’s what it say’s) Apparently this could have been caused by the 2 years on steroids. Or a dietary issue, who knows. I have to take 40mg of omeprazole, 2x20mg a day, also 2 different types of antibiotics. All this for 2 weeks tin the hope this may fix it.
The consultant is also referring me to an ear nose and throat guy to see what the state of the back of my throat and voice box is.
So, still no definitive explanation for my upper chest clearing and occasional horse voice.
They did say I can stop taking the Lansoprozil, so that is good news. I hope that after I have done the 2 weeks Omep and the 2 types of antibiotics. I will be done with that stuff.
Sorry If I have bored anybody, but I did promise I would let you know how I got on.
If anybody has any questions please just ask away. Have a happy and healthy weekend
GB, Ron.
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birdwatcher
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Thanks Birdwatcher for the very useful information,l,am pleased that everything went smoothly for you.l must admit l have always felt rather apprehensive about having an endoscopy,l,have found your post very reassuring .l have a review due in November with my GP.l shall see what he suggests.l,hope that everything goes well for you when you see the ear,nose and throat consultant,l would really appreciate it if you could let me know how you get on with that consultation.Thanks again for your post ,it certainly was not boring .l,wish you a good weekend,remember to put your clocks back !
Hi Ron. You have reassured me so much. I have been referred for endoscopy yesterday and was feeling very nervous indeed. Don’t ever think that anyone would be bored. Thank you so much. Glad your diagnosis is no worse and I wish you a good recovery.
Thank you!! My daughter is about to become an endoscopy suite nurse - so of interest to me!
I have the feeling I have a chest infection and a bit of gunk at the back of my throat/hoarse voice almost all the time and it is worse when I have a flare. I have done during the entire PMR journey and the most likely explanation is that my PMR is more like LVV (large vessel vasculitis) affecting the chest arteries.
Don't forget to tell us what the ENT department says
Of course I will! The symptoms you describe from the back of your throat sound very similar to what I am experiencing. I wonder if it could be a legacy from the PMR in some way. It probably never goes away completely. Also as I said all my symptoms began almost a month after coming off the steroids back in April. I am hoping to have a good conversation with the ENT
specialist.
Although the whole endoscopy went really well, the one disappointment was that the consultant just didn’t want to spend any time with me. He was in a real hurry for me to sign the discharge form, then he was off like a rocket.
No adequate time to discuss the results. He knew I was very concerned about taking two lots of high dose antibiotics plus a high dose of omeprozole, for the next two weeks. I’m dreading what that’s going to do to my gut. I just wish he could have given me a little more time to talk it over.
Hey Ho, what ya gonna do! It’s so tedious and wareing having to almost fight these people.
It's a pity that in the current state of the NHS, consultants are always so rushed. During my last hospital appointment, my rheumy scarcely looked at me and rushed through everything. Fortunately I didn't have any particular concern that I wanted to discuss, because if I had, her attitude would have deterred me from raising it.
If it had been done on the NHS I would agree. However this was done privately through Benendon Insurance, So he was charging by the minute. His consultation fee was £190 and he spoke to me for about 15 minutes. thats's not bad ay! That's separate from the charge for doing the endoscopy. Don't get me wrong I'm not suggesting he shouldn't get paid well for what he knows and does. I'm only saying he could have shown a little more empathy and patients whilst he was doing it
No I'm sorry to say, he just had a lack of respect and no manners. His writing on the discharge note was done so fast, it was a scrawl. I would have been treated better if I'd gone to a vet. Sounds harsh, I know but I still think there is a huge systemic class issue with some of these people. MOAN OVER!!
Well, I've been thinking resentfully that if I were willing/able to pay to see my rheumy privately, I would get more leisurely and respectful treatment - I know she gives private consultations at at least 3 locations. Maybe I'm wrong. To be fair to her, I'd say she isn't generally speaking arrogant or dismissive, so not like your consultant at all. When she first diagnosed me with both GCA and PMR, she was very thorough in her questioning and examination, very kind in her approach and she referred me for a biopsy, an echocardiogram and a DEXA scan immediately. My experience, I suppose, is typical for the NHS, superb when an emergency presents, but rushed and scrappy for everything else.
Thanks for posting. Upper GI issues are my most persistent side effect from prednisone, even as low as 5 mg I still need to take Famotidine daily. It’s interesting to hear your story.
Hi bird watcher, very interesting what you've posted and the journey you've experienced,.The side effects of these meds can be problematic, as the approach for the treatment and cure!
Check out Dr Eric Berg on u tube
And you may find him very helpful.
I've been through Ent consultants for 2 years, Arrogant , and don't listen in detail, seems like trial and error almost.
I stopped my meds as they made me feel worse , especially the steroid preseadone ,messes your gut flora anyway.
I suggest subscribe to Dr Berg
. I hope this may be a turning point, and that it may help
You are never boring, that’s what we are here for and moreover it’s very interesting to me as a fellow sufferer. I have the hoarse voice and saw an ENT consultant where I enjoyed having a telescope up my nose to look at my vocal cords. I was convinced it was all caused by 9 years of steroids however I was wrong, the vocal cord was slightly out of shape. I was referred to a Voice Therapist which I thought was silly, wrong again. We had a Zoom session as she is about 20 miles away. She asked me all sorts of questions about how I was managing and gave me exercises to do. She sent me a lot of information that I printed off and I was shocked to find it was all stress related. It makes sense and I am trying to make changes including breathing properly
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