July 12 2018 appointments with ENT and Pulmonologist
Otolaryngology
To refresh your memory, months ago I saw a gastroenterologist because swallowing had started to become more difficult. I had been able to swallow my pills with milk (milk is thicker than water). After awhile that became difficult, so I started using applesauce. It wasn't an urgent problem, but seemed to be getting worse over time, so I wanted to get it checked out before it did become unbearable. First, I had a swallow test done, which came out fine. Then, I saw a gastroenterologist, who performed an EGD (I was sedated while she put a scope down my throat to take a look). That, also, came out fine. The gastroenterologist referred me to an ENT.
This past Thursday was my appontment with the ENT, at the Department of Otolaryngology at Georgetown. After she and her PA sprayed an antihistime and a numbing agent into my nose, I sat for a few minutes while the numbing agent took effect. Then, they inserted a tiny camera on the end of a long cord down my throat through my nose. I felt it only twice, and they started to take it out just as the gag reflex started. Perfect timing.
Although it feels a bit like things get caught on the right side of my throat, what they found was two small polyps on the left side. The doctor told me that having these on the left side can cause stress to the right side, causing my problem. She also told me that the polyps can be irritated by acid reflux. So, she prescribed Prilosec, and told me to:
Pulmonology
The next stop for the day was with a polmonologist. My latest CT scan, done in April, showed patchy groundglass opacity in my right lung. This is new. The pulmonologist pulled up the images on his computer and showed my husband and I the area of concern. As my oncologist had already ordered at CT scan for the end of this month, he modified the order to be high resolution, which will show the groundglass opacity more clearly. [On a side note, this is one of the reasons I like going to Georgetown, a major teaching hospital. All of my specialists in one place, with access to all of my reports, test results, etc. Also, this way, I have only one CT scan done instead of two.] I will follow up with the pulmonologist the week after the CT scan. He said that he is not too terribly concered about the findings; it is probably merely inflammation.
Unrelated to the new whatever-it-is in my right lung, I spoke with the pulmonologist about maybe using the CPAP machine again. My primary care doctor had given me an at-home sleep test and prescribed the CPAP machine a while ago. It didn't seem to make a difference, so I stopped using it. On the advice of my cardiologist, I broached the subject with my new pulmonologist. Since the AHI number was a low 5 and a score of only 6 on the ESS (test he gave me in the office), he doesn't think I need to use the CPAP machine. Good news.
~~~~~~
So, that's the day. It took me so long to write about it because I was so overly tired after we got home, and the next day. The day after that wasn't any better, which leads to today. Still tired, but functioning better.
So there you have it -- the latest update. It's a waiting game for both, but more than likely nothing to worry about.
To refresh your memory, months ago I saw a gastroenterologist because swallowing had started to become more difficult. I had been able to swallow my pills with milk (milk is thicker than water). After awhile that became difficult, so I started using applesauce. It wasn't an urgent problem, but seemed to be getting worse over time, so I wanted to get it checked out before it did become unbearable. First, I had a swallow test done, which came out fine. Then, I saw a gastroenterologist, who performed an EGD (I was sedated while she put a scope down my throat to take a look). That, also, came out fine. The gastroenterologist referred me to an ENT.
This past Thursday was my appontment with the ENT, at the Department of Otolaryngology at Georgetown. After she and her PA sprayed an antihistime and a numbing agent into my nose, I sat for a few minutes while the numbing agent took effect. Then, they inserted a tiny camera on the end of a long cord down my throat through my nose. I felt it only twice, and they started to take it out just as the gag reflex started. Perfect timing.Although it feels a bit like things get caught on the right side of my throat, what they found was two small polyps on the left side. The doctor told me that having these on the left side can cause stress to the right side, causing my problem. She also told me that the polyps can be irritated by acid reflux. So, she prescribed Prilosec, and told me to:
- avoid caffeine (I drink only one to two cups of coffee per day; switching to decaf is an easy switch; I'll switch from Coke to caffeine free Coke or Sprite, but drink mostly grape Propel);
- avoid alcohol (I drink rarely anyway);
- avoid spicy or acidic foods, such as tomato based sauces, citrus, mints (I had slowed down on acidic foods anyway as they started not agreeing with my stomach; I've never really been able to eat spicy foods);
- not lay down for two to three hours after eating (this one is the one that will take the most effort, lol);
- sleep with my head elevated (I do this anyway);
- and chew food finely and swallow food slowly.
Pulmonology
The next stop for the day was with a polmonologist. My latest CT scan, done in April, showed patchy groundglass opacity in my right lung. This is new. The pulmonologist pulled up the images on his computer and showed my husband and I the area of concern. As my oncologist had already ordered at CT scan for the end of this month, he modified the order to be high resolution, which will show the groundglass opacity more clearly. [On a side note, this is one of the reasons I like going to Georgetown, a major teaching hospital. All of my specialists in one place, with access to all of my reports, test results, etc. Also, this way, I have only one CT scan done instead of two.] I will follow up with the pulmonologist the week after the CT scan. He said that he is not too terribly concered about the findings; it is probably merely inflammation.
Unrelated to the new whatever-it-is in my right lung, I spoke with the pulmonologist about maybe using the CPAP machine again. My primary care doctor had given me an at-home sleep test and prescribed the CPAP machine a while ago. It didn't seem to make a difference, so I stopped using it. On the advice of my cardiologist, I broached the subject with my new pulmonologist. Since the AHI number was a low 5 and a score of only 6 on the ESS (test he gave me in the office), he doesn't think I need to use the CPAP machine. Good news.
~~~~~~
So, that's the day. It took me so long to write about it because I was so overly tired after we got home, and the next day. The day after that wasn't any better, which leads to today. Still tired, but functioning better.
So there you have it -- the latest update. It's a waiting game for both, but more than likely nothing to worry about.
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