Turns out, having a CaT scan is not that much fun

[derien]

They made me drink barium sulfide, which tasted like lemon creme, thin cement slurry and antiseptic, and then they pumped me full of a dye that made my throat feel all hot and made me feel as though I had peed myself. I tried to pretend this was sort of like going to a frat party and having someone funnel me a whole bottle of vodka, but I was unable to convince myself that this was fun - there might be a reason I've never been to a frat party.

The whole gist of it was to determine if I had appendicitis or possibly diverticulitis, because I've been having these increasingly annoying pains in my abdomen. I have neither. If I had to choose between the two I would have gone for appendicitis, because you can just have the thing out and be done with it. Diverticulitis means never eating berries again, and having just put up jars an jars of blackberry and blueberry preserves I'd have been devastated.

Earlier in the day they also did urine, blood and breath - the breath is what they do now to see if you have ulcers, which I figured out from reading the literature, even though it never said it directly. The urine indicated some sort of mild infection, which was why they went on to the CaT scan.

And I was kind of excited about that. I'd never had one before, so a new experience, seeing all kinds of cool tech at work. And it sounds so friendly, doesn't it? It was a bit disappointing.

Also disappointing was not finding out what's wrong with me. I'm functional, not too sick to go to work, more's the pity, but sometimes it's a burning sensation, and I've also had stabbing and nasty, and the two actually seem to be different things going on. My doctor is puzzled. I hope it's not lupus, but according to House it's never lupus, right?

Comments

[mizzmarvel.livejournal.com]

It's never lupus...until it's lupus.

And it would indeed be awful to never have berries again. I'm glad you don't have that.

[derien.livejournal.com]

I never really understood the 'it's never lupus' line. Some people have it, and one of those was a friend of Eor's for years. From which Eor can note I'm not having the sun effects his friend did, so that hadn't even crossed his mind until I threw away that line. However, I'll reserve judgement until we determine it's not lupus. ;)

[trista-zevkia.livejournal.com]

check gallbladder, have them use different kinds of tests instead of same test twice. ask about an endoscope, upper and lower.

get better soon!

[derien.livejournal.com]

My doctor said the next thing we will be checking for is gallstones. :) I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy already, since that seems to be where the majority of my trouble (aching to burning sort of thing) seems to be. If she doesn't suggest it herself I'll ask about the upper endoscopy. My doctor is pretty good, I think. It makes me trust a person more when popular opinion seems to agree. ;)

[cygny.livejournal.com]

Blah. I hope you won't have to go through too many exams anymore and they'll soon find what it is and it won't be too serious and you'll get better soon (a lot of 'ands' in this sentence)! *hugs*

[derien.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I do still feel pretty dumb about the whole thing. Today I've eaten well and not a peep of a problem. Yesterday I tried to eat very light and midway through the morning had a very intense burning pain. It seems so random, and that makes me really want to find ~something~ all the more just to prove I'm not just being a complainer and/or worry wart.