Hard to Swallow

   
                                       My Current Health Story -Part 1

Dateline- From early September 2019

29 October 2019 : Let's go back 6-7 weeks ago when I found any food I was eating was going down ok until it reached the gateway into my stomach. It seemed to digest very slowly, mounting up, not choking me, however being really uncomfortable to bear. I was not alarmed, thinking reflux or a temporary symptom of acid build up that would soon disappear.

It (the food) would eventually complete it's mission and collapse into my stomach, encouraged by water or any fluid within reach. I'd mentioned it to my Hematologist, I'm dealing with an Immune sytem matter called Immune Purpura, so it was a side issue that still did not seem important or a serious health risk at that time. We thought it might of been a result of the tablets/steroids I was taking to boost and maintain my platelet levels.

So we moved on, however the symptoms would not dissipate so I went to my family Doctor here in Seaford and told him about my swallowing food difficulties.He didn't hold back and immediately organised a referral for a Gastroscopy at Direct Endoscopy (D.E) in Frankston.

However my platelets were not quite at the number to ensure that there would be no internal bleed with the camera down my throat and the depths of my oesophagus. So a fortnight went by now back on the steroids until they (the platelets) reached an acceptable level agreed to by my Hematologist.

So I was ready and last Wednesday 23 October I went to D.E in Frankston. The time for the procedure was mid afternoon I'd done my fasting and I was thirsty but ok, just a bit apprehensive. I checked in and sat in the waiting room among people of all ages all sizes all with differing ailments. It was a darkish room where there was always people moving about doctors and anaesthetists, receptionists taking an extraordinary amount of calls and a front desk checking in patients to fill out forms that tell their story, I was now one of those.

A doctor entered the waiting room and said "Charles' so as no-one else moved I knew it was my time. I was ushered into a room met the Camera Doctor and the anaesthetists and walked into the 'procedure' room and rolled onto the hospital bed and told to lay on my left side and bring my knees to my chest.

The nurse stuck a rubber cylinder into my mouth and the anesthetist and I started talking football, nerves I guess.

He is a Western Bulldogs supporter and did not want to tell the doctor I followed Collingwood, wonder why?.. He was talking about the value of getting Bruce from StKilda I said Schache was going to be a great asset after another preseason and that 3 tall's are a crowd up forward we disagreed... I woke up 24 minutes later.

Glass of water, cup of tea and 2 biscuits later my stay in the procedure room was over. I was asked to wait in the Doctors room for the Gastroscopy results.

The diagnosis was described as an 'irregular' growth at the base of the oesophagus at the point of entry into the stomach. I was booked immediately for a CT Scan the next day Thursday 24 October.

The procedure included several biopsy's that would take a week to determine just what the growth represented.

Being a numbers man I asked the doctor was it a 70% chance of a cancer he agreed but upped it by 10%.  Upon leaving I was given two letters one for a Surgeon in Mt Waverley whom I booked to see Thursday 31 October.

I was also perscibed a tablet that may help my digestion, it gave me some hope. For the record I can eat a lot more normally since taking it. However it's another tablet I take to start my day, hate them.

I was a bit shaky after that and thought about all the years I'd been bullet proof, no more. I will say that antibiotics and there continual use weaken your immune system quite significantly, I link to a degree to what has happened with my Purpura and now 'irregular' growth at the base of my oesophagus to being hit with two bouts of pneumonia over a six month period that broke down my barriers in July 2018 and January 2019.

Thursday 24 October, time for the CT Scan, up to Frankston Private I go. Bit more light in this waiting room, some sad faces and some on their phones, no kids running about.

More forms and sign to accept any reactions good or bad for the liquid they'll pump into me I accept as normal and there is no shared responsibility for any dehabilitating aftermath. .

So I'm quickly called up and down the corridor I go and into the room where the uninviting donut shaped machine with a short tunnel in the centre sits.

Without the machine in use you can feel the x-ray tube power and x-ray detectors buzzing, infiltrating around you.

I'm told to drop my pants to my knees lay on the narrow table that slides in and out and under the tunnel, Oh they placed a white towel around the top of my quads.

I accept what is ahead and give the operator the all clear. She plugs me with a liquid that will show up any defects in my system, honing in on any acute and/or chronic changes in my system, next to crutch.

She says it will give you a warm feeling in your head and your body, did it ever, you could have cooked bacon on my head and boiled an egg with my spittal ( I know that sounds disgusting, but hey it's real).

Take a deep breath a recorded voice yells from above me and I gulp and comply, now breathe comes the next instruction, you bet I will. I'm honestly unsure how many slides in and out I had but I do recall doing as I'm told by the deep voice beaming at me at least 3-4 times.

It stopped, Relieved I got my senses back and stood up and re dressed myself, thanked everyone and left. Upon paying and leaving reception the receptionist said the CT Scan results will be sent to all the Doctors I'd noted.

I left, I was driven home by my Rotarian friend and Welfare Director Marie, I was again shaky, this time bilious and filled with anxiety but got home and fell on my bed, feeling relieved, headachy and all over weakened. Just not used to this I guess.

The days and weekend that followed brought moments of uncertainty, apprehension, unbalance and some concerns about the future. Never in my life had this feeling ever been on my what's next list.

Monica and I did housework on the cold, wet and windy Saturday, well I did some, and got up about as best I could on Sunday with ride around the new track that stems from the new Hybrid Sky rail in Seaford and followed it back into Frankston, got back as the rains came.

We come to today, the first day of this blog and the results that came my way.

My Hematologist is at Peninsula Private every Tuesday, I knew I had to inform her about the Gastroscopy and CT Scans. I called and spoke to reception (Lana or Jo, doesnt matter whom they both know me now) with Dr Kay in they would pass on the message and obtain the results of the Biopsy (rememember I'm not due to be told until Thursday 31 October) but they obviously need to know, Reason being the information of my current immune attack needs to be passed onto the surgeon I'm with on Thursday.

About an hour later I got the call, the biopsy shows I have oesophageal cancer-adenocarcinoma.

The surgeon on Thursday will have many questions from me as we prepare to do whatever it takes pending what stage I'm at for what lays ahead.

Part 2 will reveal some more, me, I've had my emotions explode today, my armour is weakened but not my will.

Out in the summer rain, we will meet again....

Charles...