Got a diagnosis!

I have been sick for several weeks now. First, I had the toothache…which wasn’t actually a toothache. We found out it was a combination of me grinding my teeth and a bad sinus infection. The sinus infection went away, but I have this cough that won’t quit! It is horrible! It happens especially when/after I drink and eat! I was driving Ray and my coworkers absolutely bonkers. And of course, I was going mad too! So, I called up my allergist and told him that something else was wrong. When I went in to see him, he ordered an Upper G.I. for me. That test was hell for me. I had to drink baric acid water. It was horrible. It felt like explosions were going on in my stomach and up my throat! TORTURE I TELL YOU!

I got the results of it this morning. Let’s see how I can make this sound as gross as possible! I have ACID REFLUX! Doesn’t that sound disgusting?! It isn’t really though. Basically, when I drink or eat, food particles/droplets of liquid that I just swallowed, along with some stomach acids come back into my esophagus (throat). That causes me to feel like I am choking. And I just keep doing what my doctor calls a “non-productive cough”. That just means I cough and cough with no result. It is absolutely miserable. I’ve always done this. I always diagnosed myself with overactive salivary glands. Basically, I thought I was choking on my own saliva! Ray’s prediction was that my food and drink was going down the wrong pipe. Obviously, both of us were wrong. Perhaps we should go to med school before making diagnoses! From what the doctor said, the flap that is supposed to hold down the acids doesn’t do its job well. I found a picture of it for you incase I am not doing the greatest job explaining it.


I’m very glad they found out what has been making me (and everyone else) so miserable. I told Ray that I got a prescription that will give me some good results after taking it for a few weeks. He said, “What is it called?” I said, “Nexium”. He said, “Hmmmm….” I said, “It is called the purple pill. It has stripes on it. Have you heard of it?” He said, “Yeah, that is a common drug. I see it advertised on TV all the time, but isn’t it an old people drug?” I said, “Ray!!!!” He said, “No, I mean, isn’t acid reflux mostly an old person thing?!” I couldn’t help but laugh and said, “Yes, baby! I guess it is!” :)

~"Tish"