My GP has sent me to Edinburgh Royal Infimary so the medics can try to work out what’s going on. A doctor who described himself as a ‘lowly surgeon’ has arranged for me to have an endoscopy today. It wIll happen after other surgeries have been completed and ORs are free, so not until late this evening. (Had my GP requested it, it might not happen for a fortnight or more.)

While the ‘lowly surgeon’ thinks it’s unlikely that I have stomach ulcers, the endoscopy (TV camera down the throat) will be definitive. If and when  ‘surgical’ causes are ruled out, the next step would be a gastroenterologist specialist.

I spent most of yesterday in bed, then spent some time sorting through clothes. (My wardrobe is full to bursting, so it’s high time to get rid of some stuff. It’s only fair to say Elly did the physical work – I just made decisions.) I slept through most of the night, waking a few times from pain and dehydration, eventually rousing well after noon. After lunch, I tried to phone the hospital to find whether my colonography results were available yet.

Continue reading →

I now have a date for a colonoscopy: 15 April. I’m slightly disappointed that I won’t ‘have a telescope shoved up’ (the words of a surgeon last time I was in hospital). Instead, CO₂ will be inserted and x-rays will be taken. I guess this technique is to avoid damage due to the ‘telescope’ scraping innards as it goes around corners. Still it means I will have no chance of seeing my insides on CCTV. Also, this is only an investigation – I don’t know when or if it will lead to a cure to my ongoing gut pains. Also, in the 3 days before the colonoscopy, I will need to go on a starvation diet.

Continue reading →