Friday, January 29, 2010

What a month . . .

January has turned out to be quite eventful for us. It started out slow and mundane. Work was super slow because all of the college kids were home for the break. Now they are back and it's back to business as usual.


We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary by going out to eat and exploring the Snake River. I'll have to post those pictures later because I forgot to download them. It was very pretty and we're excited visit during the summer.


We ended up having to put the truck in the shop to get the ball joints fixed on both sides. That was a pretty penny and always a damper.


Then I had my doctors appointment for my throat. I've been having trouble for the last couple of years swallowing my food. I usually just force it down with water. I couldn't stand it any longer and went and saw my Gastroenterologist. The results could have been one of four.
  1. Cancer
  2. A narrowed esophagus
  3. Scar tissue from my multiple anaphylactic shock moments
  4. Or an inflamed esophagus that creates rings in your throat

The visit was quick and painless. More painless for me then for Jake. I was sedated. Jake had the fun job of repeating himself a million times. A good time had by all I guess! The results were immediate. I have Eosinophilic Esophagitis (or #4). The doctor also said that I was allergic to more then just nuts and shellfish and the biopsy would give us the answer to that. So here are the pictures of my esophagus.
Top Left: Your esophagus should not have rings in it.
Top Right: Your esophagus should not have stretch marks or blood vessels showing. This is a result from my many times of eating nuts.
Bottom Left: a closer picture of my esophagus while swallowing and the stretch marks/blood vessels.
Bottom Right: A look from my stomach up my throat. The black tube thing is the camera.

My esophagus was so narrow that they had to give me a steroid shot to open it to get the camera in.

The good news is this can all be fixed. I will be taking a drug that will be opening my airway. It is called Fluticasone Propionate it is the same steroid like drug used for those with asthma. I will drink it instead of inhale it.

So there you have it. I'll take it over cancer any day.

And last but not least. You may all be jealous for this reason and this reason alone.
What else is there to do in a small town!

11 comments:

Teah said...

Glad that it's no too serious and that some meds will fix it.
p.s. I love wrestlemania.

Mandy and Alex said...

Em, glad its not cancer, of course. Cool pictures! I'm pretty excited for you about Wrestlemania. Be sure to bring ear plugs. Interesting that one is allowed to bring those annoying blow horns but "no laser pens".

Galloping Grandparents (GG) said...

Whew!!! After Travis' experiences we're glad you got a better report. Have you checked the medication out in detail????

Mama Harris said...

As you can imagine we were all praying so hard that things would work out for the best for you. Cancer is not something that a mom wants to hear that her child has (no matter what the age of her child)
I really loved the photos and of course I'm glad that you and your doctor are on top of this now.
Let me know what it is that you are allergic to besides the nuts and the shellfish.
5 bucks it's Jake! (just kidding Jake)

Love you both...
MamaHarris

Kinsey said...

Glad to hear you finally figured out the problem. Even better to hear that it's fixable.

Jacob and Emily said...

Aunt Karen ~ I researched it a little. I know what you're thinking "this is a nasal or asthma spray". I guess it can be a liquid form also. I will know exactly what I'm supposed to take when the lab results from my biopsy come back. I will keep you posted!

Britney and Jaron said...

Oh, I am so glad it isn't anything too serious and it can be fixed! Those are pretty crazy pictures but I am so glad everything is going to be alright! Let us know how the smackdown goes! LOL

Kelli said...

Hi Emily - I check out your blog now and then. Sounds like you are doing really well and I'm glad you don't have cancer! Loved the pictures of your throat. Reminded me of my senior year anatomy class.

Hibbard Family said...

Those pictures are so clear, modern technology is amazing. I'm happy that your condition is managable - stay away from nuts girl!

Josh and Jay said...

Glad you are alright Em.! I remember you always having a heard time swallowing. It's good to know it can be fixed. As for wrestlemania...well, I'm sure my husband is completely jealous!

Jacob and Mindy T. said...

So glad that it's not cancer or something serious that can't be fixed! Man I am so behind on looking at blogs...what a slacker I am! Good to see you're still on top of the blogworld. :)