GI Appointment & CT Scans

I had my appointment with my new GI doctor, Dr. Lawrence F Johnson, MD yesterday. I was VERY pleased. Dr. Johnson was a really nice guy who actually took more than two and a half seconds to listen to my concerns and decide on a course of action. I also met with his fellow, George B Smallfield III, MD, who was very friendly as well. Compared to the monkey I went to last time, I felt like this was a much more productive visit.

So right now the plan is to have an endoscopy done while I am inpatient this time and I may also have a repeat of the Barium Swallow study. He wants to take a closer look at some of my lab levels because upon palpitation my spleen felt enlarged. He said this could simply be due to the fact that I am currently fighting off an infection, but just wants to make sure.

I also had a CT scan yesterday for my sinuses, so will need to schedule an ENT consult while I am inpatient. I already know from the way my sinuses feel that a sinus surgery is probably in my near feature and I *dread* that fact. I swore off all sinus related procedures about ten years ago when my last sinus surgery didn't go well.

Well, that's all for now folks. UAB just called to tell me that my bed is ready and I haven't packed a bag yet. I will update later and let everybody know where I am.

GI Appointment

Well, I had my GI consult this week. Let's just say it did not go as I had hoped. Overall, I was not impressed with the plan of care that he offered. He said that the dose of Nexium and Reglan I'm on is OK, even if it's not working 100%. I told the nurse (prior to seeing him) that meat and breads are the things that tend to aggravate the problems most, so he told me "don't eat meat & bread." Well, hell, if I could live off veggies for the rest of my life, I might. But I enjoy a big, juicy steak every now and then.

He also added another medicine (Actigall) because "all CF patients EVENTUALLY have liver / gall bladder problems," so his theory is that I should just start taking another med, which is probably (at this point, at least) unneeded and unnecessary. They have never done any tests on my gall bladder or liver and I have never had any blood work come back abnormal. Geez. What an idiot. He was really nice and cracked corny jokes, which I found somewhat amusing, but I was so frustrated by the time I left (and more so now, especially the more that I think about it) that I don't think it was worth it.

Talked with my nurse to find out what she thinks. She asked me to at least try this new medicine until I come to clinic on the 22nd, where we can discuss it further. She did remind me that it may be that this med will work in conjunction with the other meds that I am already taking. I haven't started the medication yet, but will on Monday. That will give me a little more than ten days to decide if I like it and if I think it is worth continuing. Fortunately, this was only a $10 prescription, but I just dread the thought of having to take ANOTHER pill. At last count, I was up to about 25 a day (I think).