Went and had my endoscopy done today.

The doctor found "many" ulcers in my stomach. He also took three biopsies.

I was on Versed, and Demerol, but don't remember getting an answer to my question of "how many?".

Patty was there, watched the whole procedure. She said that there were several ulcers. She said more than three, though she wouldn't commit to an exact number. She also said the biopsies were SAP with all those ulcers present, not to worry.

I'm concerned, not worried.

I have never had any discomfort, any pain that one would associate with an ulcer. And if they take a biopsy, it's for a reason. It may be CYA, or he may have seen something that really needed to be investigated further.

He prescribed meds, said we could heal the ulcers in as little as eight weeks. But there will be no band placed until the ulcers are healed.

So, here I am, ever waiting, still ever hopeful, I can do this, I can heal the ulcers. I actually heal very well. Gotta stop the ibuprofen for the arthritis tho. They figger that's the bugger that gave me the ulcers.

Don't mean to dump, but I had to vent a little, somewhere. I'm going to take off work tomorrow, and go for a long leisurely ride all by myself. I'll ride to Lake Michigan. There's a different kind of healing there.

Ryan - I am sorry you didn't get to take the day off and go riding, but you sound as if you got your head straight anyway. Just think of how everything will be better for you once you get all healed up. You can do it!

Betty

Ryan -

With the clear inner mind that you have, I feel like I WAS on that ride with you, and feel refreshed. Hopefully your imaginings are as powerful for you...

((hugs))

Thanks for thr literary treat, even though you didn't get to go. It was a delight to read, brought a smile to my face. Hoping you heal with Godspeed.

Just an update and I'll try not to whine.

First of all, let me say that Dr. Cudjoe is very thorough. Maybe too thorough, but if he does make a mistake it will be on the side of caution.

Went to the pulmonologist. He said everything was fine, but wanted a chest x-ray. Chest x-ray shows something in the right lung. Now I go for a chest ct. I think it's the pneumonia I was diagnosed with when I went to him, but he is adamant.

Went to the cardiologist, got an EKG. He now wants an ultrasound of my heart as well as a stress test. Says his decision was based on a combination of my family medical history and today's EKG, plus my own medical history.

So, ulcers, spot on the lung, and a bad EKG reading.

I feel pretty darn good for a fella in my condition! The only thing that hurts is my knees when I go upstairs. I don't get out of breath, and I don't feel my heart racing. Ever.

If you want to be thoroughly evaluated and you live anywhere near here, Dr. Cudjoe is the fella.

Sheeesh.

Wow, Ryan...

Don't take this the wrong way, but you're starting to remind me of my remodeling projects... lol

I want to do something that seems easy and straightforward, like replace the outside door with a REAL door, and as soon as I make the decision, the problems start unfolding... lol

Can't get a door the same size, so have to make the opening bigger.

Once the old door is out, and the opening is bigger, I see that the wiring will not accomodate a taller door.

Once the wiring problem is solved, I see that the header isn't going to work like I thought...

Once the door is in, it's virtually impossible to level, and the bolts don't line up with the receiving holes... (ARGGGGHHHH!)

But you know what? In spite of the trials and tribulations, the delays and setbacks, I FINALLY got the silly new door, and it's EVERYTHING I hoped it would be, and I LOVE it. Although the whole process was extremely painful and frustrating, in the end it was all worth it.

Hopefully your path to your new band won't make any more downs, but you WILL get there, and when you do... It will have all been worth it. Like Mothers and childbirth... As soon as the baby arrives, the nine months before, and the pain of delivery fade into distant memory... (or so I've been told! lol)

**hugs**

Ryan, get all of this stuff checked out now! Then you can really appreciate your band even more. It does sound like you have an excellent surgeon.

Ryan, By the sound of if, you'd never know anything was wrong with you if you weren't going for the Band. Please keep us posted.

OK Donali

Like Mothers and childbirth... As soon as the baby arrives, the nine months before, and the pain of delivery fade into distant memory...

All this baby talk and the video with the baby....What's up?

Ryan, by the time they get you all fixed up, you'll be a brand new man! I know it's hard, but hand in there, things will get better.

Yeah Donali, what's all the baby talk? Are you trying to tell us something?

:D

Betty

Sometimes I feel like I'm the pathetic star in a Jerry Lewis movie. Everything he touches gets worse.

This has always been my way. On the same day that all my shirts are scorched, I break a shoestring, have a flat tire, find that my regular gas station is closed, and that they're doing construction on my normal path to work. And I still get there with time to spare.

I'll get there. And I'll be pretty self assured health wise when I do. But in the meantime, one can't help but wonder, just what the heck is going on.

Perhaps I am being tested to see just how bad I want it.

Ah me. It could be worse, it could be raining.

Listen,,,,,,,,,,, Was that thunder?

I'm certainly crossing my fingers and toes and everything else that all your tests will reveal is the 'go ahead' for your surgery. I hate when they keep us in limbo. But, I'd rather know if I had some health challenge BEFORE undergoing surgery. Either way, we'll all remain here rooting for you and we'll be here to support whatever the future sends your way!

You know Ryan, I really believe that things happen as they should, or for a reason, as they say. One thing good has surely come of all this, you know that your surgeon is thorough and has your true interest in mind. That has to be a comfort.

Don't worry too much about the chest x-ray. It has been my experience that they always overdiagnose problems on a conventional film. Twice in the last 10 years, I have been advised to get follow-up films because they thought they saw something, and it has turned out to artifacts in the film. I hope that it is the same for you. Chin up dude, keep us posted.

Denise

Hi Ryan...

Sorry you're going through all this...but I do agree with Neicy and have ALWAYS believed that "Everything happens for a reason". It sounds like what I have been going through since my first consult with the surgeon in February. "So, ulcers, spot on the lung, and a bad EKG reading."....I developed horrible neuropathy from my diabetes so had to add another medication; the medication made me too sleepy so yet another added to keep me awake; had an abnormal Pap Smear so needed to see a specialist to make sure it was nothing serious before the surgery; there was a big mix-up at the insurance company which delayed the surgery for 7 months because a lack of communication; had my endoscopy the first week on my liquid diet regimen before the lap band due to stomach pain and diarrhea so it was recommended then to do it before the surgery.

I agree totally that the workup for the surgery is very thorough and like another bandster said, we would never know about these things if they hadn't come out now. I would rather find out about a possible cardiological problem now than on the table! My Stress Test came out fine....I think the palpitations were just a result of the stress waiting for the surgery!!!

But just think....in a short time you will be writing about how well you're feeling and it will be post-surgery.......so just hang in there!!! All good things come to those who wait....and in the the words of Martha Stewart..."it's all good"....wait...maybe that was a bad analogy.....anyway....my thoughts and prayers are with you too!

Nancy

Thanks guys. I appreciate all you have said.

I guess I'm pretty tough at this medical stuff when I take my wife, but when it's me? Well, it is definitely different.

My parents didn't take us kids to the doc much. I went at the ages of six, nine, twelve, twenty one, thirty five, forty nine, and fifty two.

I take my wife weekly, and sometimes daily. I now have more prescriptions in my name than I have had in all my previous life.

They tell you something is wrong, and little else, then you wait several weeks to find out the real skinny. What gets me is the waiting.

Well, it's okay. Thanks to you all, I'm getting over it. If I am to have this surgery then nothing can stop me. If I am not to have it, then nothing can make me.

If there are things wrong, things I must attend to, then I must. I am a caregiver for an ill spouse. If I don't keep myself healthy I'll fail as her caregiver. So finding this out is good. No surprises. Fix the ulcers, lung thing, and heart thing while I feel good, hale hearty and strong.

Then, get banded, lose a little and be a better, healthier happier me.

I wish all of you the best, and, as ever, I'll be here.

Oh, and I'm posting all this chronologically over at my little forum, so I will have a record of this. In retrospect it will certainly be that I am making much of nothing.

Jeez, you're having a rough year. I admire how you're keeping as positive as possible. When 2004 is over, and these current trials are memories, you'll have a clean slate, ready for new beginnings.

Sending you warm thoughts across Lake Michigan. . .

The waiting is definitely the hardest part. When I was diagnosed with Lupus way back in 1983 and I was a 23 yr old mother of a 2 yr old. It was the longest 15 days of my life.

The best thing I've learned since then: no matter what the circumstance; time never suspends. You just keep moving through it. What matters is the grace with which you handle it.