As I get some trouble swallowing food and have ended up in A&E a couple of times with steak properly lodged, my GP booked me for live camera event (a barium swallow showed nothing last year).
I'd spent a few days humming and ha-ing about wither to be sedated or just go for the anaesthetic throat spray. In the end, I plumped for the latter- it was the least hassle route for getting there and back (on the back of my Bro's bike), I wouldn't end up being dopey and useless for the day (well- any more than usual!) and I figured that I could prepare myself for it being uncomfortable.
While having the pre exam questions, I was sort of nervous but also excited, as I thought I'd get a chance to see inside my body- this fascinates me. Sadly, when in the room, my back was to the screen. I got a quick peek of a picture of my gullet, but not much to talk about. Bit disappointed about that.
And uncomfortable it was!! Serious gagging when the scope entered my throat and at one point they asked if I would control the retching! It felt like a bit of an ordeal, but I got on with it.
In the end, it wasn't much fun, but I've had worse. I think that, even if I'd been able to see the screen, I'd have been more concentrating on coping with it than anything else.
They told me I have a small hiatus hernia, which is causing acid reflux and a bit of a motility issue with the muscles in my gullet- so I guess that'll be why the food doesn't always go down so easy. Next step is to see the GP and see what the next step is!
They pumped me full of air during the procedure- I've had a very uncomfortable swelly belly for the last hour and a half and I think you can guess which way the air's been coming out. At least
that's kept me entertained!
